Mbappe strike gives France 2-1 win in Croatia

Croatia's defender Borna Barisic (left) vies for the ball with France's forward Kylian Mbappe during the UEFA Nations League Group A3 soccer match between Croatia and France at the Maksimir Stadium in Zagreb on Wednesday - AFP

ZAGREB (Reuters): France stretched their unbeaten run against Croatia to eight games after a late goal by Kylian Mbappe gave the world champions a 2-1 win in their Nations League top-tier Group 3 match on Wednesday.

The result left France second in the group on 10 points from four games, behind Portugal on goal difference after the European champions brushed aside Sweden 3-0. Croatia have three points and the Swedes none.

France beat Croatia 4-2 in the 2018 World Cup final before defeating them by the same score in last month’s reverse Nations League fixture.