Defending champions France lose to Croatia in Nations League, Denmark beat Austria

France lost their Nations League title and faced the dim prospect of relegation after losing at home to Croatia 1-0 on Monday. Meanwhile, their group leaders Denmark beat Austria 2-0 to boost their 'Final Four' bid. Denmark have nine points, two more than second-placed Croatia with only the group winners going through.

Austria are third with four points and rock-bottom France have two after a fourth game without a win. The team in last place is relegated. Croatia scored with a fifth-minute penalty from standout midfielder Luka Modric at the Stade de France.

It is where he played so commandingly for Champions League winner Real Madrid in the final just over two weeks ago, and he belied his advancing years with a display full of astute passing and clever movement into space. Croatia's fans chanted, “Luka, Luka,” to their inspirational captain as he gave them a thumbs up after the game. In Copenhagen, wide forwards Jonas Older Wind and Andreas Skov Olsen got Denmark's goals in the first half.

Croatia host Denmark in a table-topping clash on September 22. France coach Didier Deschamps finally dropped first-choice forward Antoine Griezmann, who has not scored for the team since early January, and instead selected Christopher Nkunku in attack alongside Karim Benzema and Kylian Mbappe. It was Nkunku’s astute pass which set up Mbappe’s late equalizer in a 1-1 draw in Austria on Friday.

Perhaps to rouse the players, the band stopped playing at the start of the “La Marseillaise” and most of the 77,400 crowd at Stade de France sang it A cappella style. The home fans fell quiet when Croatia won a penalty after Ibrahima Konate fouled Josip Brekalo for the penalty. Mike Maignan started in goal ahead of long-standing No.