Nations League: Kramaric penalty earns Croatia a draw against world champions France

Hoffenheim slots home late penalty to cancel out Rabiot's opener as Denmark win in Austria to top group

Antoine Griezmann of France runs around Dominik Livakovic of Croatia during the Uefa Nations League League A Group 1 match at Stadion Poljud on June 06, 2022 in Split, Croatia. The match ended 1-1. Getty Images

Antoine Griezmann of France is challenged by Luka Modric of Croatia. Getty Images

Luka Modric of Croatia runs with the ball. Getty Images

France's Christopher Nkunku, front, duels for the ball with Croatia's Luka Modric. AP Photo

Croatia's Andrej Kramaric, left, scores his side's equaliser from the penalty spot. AP Photo

Croatia's Andrej Kramaric celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's equaliser from the penalty spot. AP Photo

Croatia midfielder Luka Modric speaks with France forward Karim Benzema after the match. AFP

Luka Modric of Croatia controls the ball whilst under pressure from Christopher Nkunku of France. Getty Images

Goalkeeper Mike Maignan of France in action against Luka Sucic of Croatia. EPA

Croatia players celebrate. EPA

Croatia's Mislav Orsic in action with France's Antoine Griezmann. Reuters

France defender Lucas Digne fights for the ball with Croatia defender Josip Juranovic. AFP

France's Lucas Digne, left, duels for the ball with Croatia's Luka Modric. AP Photo

Andrej Kramaric's late penalty earned Croatia a 1-1 draw against world champions France in their Uefa Nations League clash in Split on Monday.

The Hoffenheim forward held his nerve to convert seven minutes from time to cancel out Adrien Rabiot’s opener.

The result means both sides remain winless in Group A1 of the competition with a point apiece.

Rabiot made the breakthrough for France on 52 minutes after combining with Ben Yedder in a well-worked move.

Croatia finished strongly and were given the chance to level when Jonathan Clauss fouled substitute Kramaric amid a scramble after Mike Maignan saved from Luka Sucic. Kramaric made no mistake by sending Maignan the wrong way from 12 yards.

"We did some good things taking into account all the changes. We were ahead and we could have got the second goal. It's a shame we gave them the equaliser with the penalty," France coach Didier Deschamps told M6.

"Of course the result doesn't fully satisfy me. But there's tiredness to factor in and with all the other matches I'm forced to make changes. It's an ideal preparation for the World Cup."

The sold-out crowd of some 30,000 cheered Croatia captain Luka Modric in his 150th appearance.

“It was a phenomenal feeling, I am happy and proud of my 150th match for Croatia,” Modric said.

Denmark leave it late against Austria

Substitute Jens Stryger Larsen struck in the 84th minute as Denmark followed up Friday’s last-gasp win over France with a 2-1 success in Austria to move clear at the top of the group.

The Udinese defender curled home a fine shot to put the Danes back ahead in Vienna after Xaver Schlager cancelled out Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s opener.

Austria’s Marko Arnautovic and Denmark’s Christian Eriksen both hit the woodwork in a game that kicked off late following a power failure.

Iceland drew for a second time in Group B2 as they were held 1-1 by Albania in Reykjavik.

Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson scored the equaliser for the hosts four minutes into the second half after Taulant Seferi put Albania ahead on the half-hour mark.

Kazakhstan moved top of Group C3 with a 1-0 win over Slovakia in Trnava. Aslan Darabayev scored the only goal after 26 minutes.

The other match in the group between Belarus and Azerbaijan ended in a goalless draw. Azerbaijan finished with 10 men after midfielder Gismat Aliyev was sent off in the closing minutes.

Arturs Zjuzins’ 73rd-minute goal took Latvia to the top of Group D1 as they beat Liechtenstein 1-0 while Andorra and Moldova drew 0-0.