Is Ousmane Dembele Playing Tonight? Ousmane Dembele’s Availability for France vs Croatia UEFA Nations League Quarterfinal Tonight

Les Bleus are aiming for a comeback in the UEFA Nations League quarterfinal second leg.

France faces an uphill battle as they prepare to host Croatia in the UEFA Nations League quarterfinal second leg. The match, set to take place at the Stade de France on Sunday, promises to be a thrilling encounter. Didier Deschamps’ side suffered a 2-0 defeat in the first leg.

Croatia, who fell to France in the 2018 World Cup final, are now just one step away from the Nations League semifinals. Zlatko Dalic’s side dominated the first leg, with goals from Ante Budimir and Ivan Perisic, while France struggled to find their rhythm.

𝙏𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙩 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙤𝙣𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 ⏳

🇫🇷🇭🇷
Kick-off at 20:45#FRACRO #FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/X9iu41OsS1
— French Team ⭐⭐ (@FrenchTeam) March 23, 2025

Les Bleus nearly conceded another goal from an Andrej Kramaric penalty but goalkeeper Mike Maignan saved it. Even with a star-studded squad and a strong history in the competition, France has struggled in recent Nations League home matches. They’ve won only two of their last six home games.

In the first-leg defeat, their ace Mbappe was quite ineffective. However, Dembele’s energy shone through the match, so he could become key in this match. With their semifinal hopes hanging in the balance, many eyes will be on Ousmane Dembele.

Also Read: Kylian Mbappe’s salary: How much does Kylian Mbappé earn per week in LaLiga?

Will Ousmane Dembele Play Tonight Against Croatia?

Dembele is fully fit and there is very little chance that the coach will keep him away from the playing squad. Even so, whether he will start the match or come off the bench will depend entirely on the coach. He had a strong second-half display in the previous match.

Deschamps initially deployed him as a central playmaker behind Kylian Mbappe and Randal Kolo Muani. This made France’s attack narrow and defensively vulnerable. When the coach replaced Kolo Muani in the second half, Dembele managed to move to his natural right-wing position.

France’s attack immediately looked more dangerous. France will need more attacking firepower. Deschamps is unlikely to repeat his first-leg mistake. Hence, Dembele could play on Sunday and could be deployed in a wide role. Thus, giving the PSG star a key role in Les Bleus’ comeback attempt.

Also Read: Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr’s Brotherhood Is Fake and for the Camera Says Pundit

France vs Croatia Game Details

Time: 3:45 PM ET

Venue: Stade de France in Saint-Denis, France

France Team News

Adrien Rabiot (calf injury)

Croatia Team News

Luka Sucic (Injury)

Croatia

France

France vs Croatia

Nations League

Ousmane Dembele

Moumita Dutta

soccer

Football writer at The Playoffs. I’ve been obsessed with the beautiful game since I was a kid.. Eventually, I realized I could combine my passion for writing with my love for football, and I’ve never looked back. My favorite part of the job is everything—when you’re doing what you love, even a late-night deadline feels like extra time in a thrilling cup final. Lastly, Lionel Messi is the GOAT.