<p>Paris: France overturned a two-goal deficit to qualify for the Nations League Final Four by eliminating Croatia 5-4 on penalties after a 2-0 victory in their quarter-final second leg at the Stade de France on Sunday.</p><p>Dayot Upamecano scored the winning spot kick in a nail-biting shootout in which France keeper Mike Maignan made two saves, sending Les Bleus into the semi-finals against Spain.</p><p>Michael Olise opened the scoring and Ousmane Dembele doubled their lead 10 minutes from time to send the tie into extra time after their 2-0 loss in Split on Thursday.</p> .<p>France had a total of 22 chances while Croatia could not manage a single shot on target in 120 minutes.</p><p>It was a tense affair at a simmering Stade de France and Les Bleus were a side transformed after their catastrophic outing in the first leg.</p><p>Pressing high and playing with confidence, they pressured Croatia from the start and finally converted some of their chances in the second half with their attacking players combining well throughout.</p><p>In the shootout, Maignan, a penalty specialist, saved efforts from Martin Baturina and Josip Stanisic with Franjo Ivanovic skying his attempt over the bar.</p><p>Theo Hernandez and Jules Kounde missed the target for France but Kylian Mbappe, Aurelien Tchouameni, Randal Kolo Muani, Desire Doue and Upamecano converted.</p><p>"We got up this morning with the idea it could be a great night," Mbappe said.</p> .<p>"We were convinced we were going to do it, we needed a game like this to get our fans back with us."</p><p>Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic said it was a frustrating night for his side. "It was really hard for us we could not do what we did in Split. We gave everything."</p><p>France got off to a strong start with eight attempts in the opening 20 minutes and had their first clear chance in the 16th minute, only for Tchouameni's header to brush the post.</p><p>Their first shot on target, however, came on the stroke of halftime when Bradley Barcola's angled shot from close range was deflected away by Dominik Livakovic.</p><p>With Mbappe asking for the crowd's support - and getting loud roars from the Stade de France faithful - France were all over Croatia and they were rewarded after the break.</p><p>Olise, who had been a menace throughout the first half, broke the deadlock as he curled a splendid free kick under the bar in the 52nd minute.</p><p>France kept up the pressure and the visitors cracked 10 minutes from time with Dembele slotting the ball home from Olise's cutback after a nice one-two with Mbappe.</p><p>Substitute Doue tested Livakovic twice in extra time and Mbappe had a golden chance, only for the Croatia keeper to deny him with a firm hand.</p>
<p>Paris: France overturned a two-goal deficit to qualify for the Nations League Final Four by eliminating Croatia 5-4 on penalties after a 2-0 victory in their quarter-final second leg at the Stade de France on Sunday.</p><p>Dayot Upamecano scored the winning spot kick in a nail-biting shootout in which France keeper Mike Maignan made two saves, sending Les Bleus into the semi-finals against Spain.</p><p>Michael Olise opened the scoring and Ousmane Dembele doubled their lead 10 minutes from time to send the tie into extra time after their 2-0 loss in Split on Thursday.</p> .<p>France had a total of 22 chances while Croatia could not manage a single shot on target in 120 minutes.</p><p>It was a tense affair at a simmering Stade de France and Les Bleus were a side transformed after their catastrophic outing in the first leg.</p><p>Pressing high and playing with confidence, they pressured Croatia from the start and finally converted some of their chances in the second half with their attacking players combining well throughout.</p><p>In the shootout, Maignan, a penalty specialist, saved efforts from Martin Baturina and Josip Stanisic with Franjo Ivanovic skying his attempt over the bar.</p><p>Theo Hernandez and Jules Kounde missed the target for France but Kylian Mbappe, Aurelien Tchouameni, Randal Kolo Muani, Desire Doue and Upamecano converted.</p><p>"We got up this morning with the idea it could be a great night," Mbappe said.</p> .<p>"We were convinced we were going to do it, we needed a game like this to get our fans back with us."</p><p>Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic said it was a frustrating night for his side. "It was really hard for us we could not do what we did in Split. We gave everything."</p><p>France got off to a strong start with eight attempts in the opening 20 minutes and had their first clear chance in the 16th minute, only for Tchouameni's header to brush the post.</p><p>Their first shot on target, however, came on the stroke of halftime when Bradley Barcola's angled shot from close range was deflected away by Dominik Livakovic.</p><p>With Mbappe asking for the crowd's support - and getting loud roars from the Stade de France faithful - France were all over Croatia and they were rewarded after the break.</p><p>Olise, who had been a menace throughout the first half, broke the deadlock as he curled a splendid free kick under the bar in the 52nd minute.</p><p>France kept up the pressure and the visitors cracked 10 minutes from time with Dembele slotting the ball home from Olise's cutback after a nice one-two with Mbappe.</p><p>Substitute Doue tested Livakovic twice in extra time and Mbappe had a golden chance, only for the Croatia keeper to deny him with a firm hand.</p>