Croatia’s Ante Budimir and Ivan Perisic struck in the first half as France slumped to a 2-0 defeat in the first leg of their Nations League quarter-final in Split.
Defeat could have been even heavier for Didier Deschamps’ side had Andrej Kramaric not missed from the penalty spot in the opening minutes.
Yet the 2022 World Cup runners-up will still face a huge task to retrieve the tie when the sides meet again in Paris on Sunday.
Croatia were gifted the opportunity to take an early lead when Ibrahima Konate was penalised for handball in the area after just five minutes.
Kramaric stepped up to take the resulting penalty but shot tamely down the middle and Mike Maignan, despite diving to his right, saved with his feet.
Kramaric tried to hook back towards goal on the rebound but miscued and France cleared.
The visitors were indebted to Maignan again when he kept out a long-range effort from Manchester City defender Josko Gvardiol.
France had their first serious opportunity after 16 minutes when Kylian Mbappe tried his luck from a tight angle but Dominik Livakovic palmed away.
Mbappe tested Livakovic again from outside the area after being teed up by Lucas Digne but was denied once more.
Croatia took the lead in the 26th minute after Perisic got to the byline and picked out Budimir in front of goal with a fine cross.
Maignan initially did well to keep out the Osasuna forward’s powerful header but he could not prevent it bouncing and then spinning back over the line.
France rallied in the closing stages of the first half but were unable to make the most of their possession and were stung in stoppage time.
This time William Saliba got in a block to thwart Martin Baturina but Perisic reacted quickest to the rebound to double the lead with a first-time strike.
Mbappe played in Ousmane Dembele as France sought a response after the break but he shot narrowly wide after beating Gvardiol.
Mbappe then brought a good save from Livakovic from distance.
France tried to enliven their attack further with the introduction of Bradley Barcola and Eduardo Camavinga but the former missed the target from a Matteo Guendouzi cross.
Dembele also shot wide and was denied another opportunity by a fine challenge from Gvardiol. Livakovic then produced a fingertip save to keep out another Mbappe effort.
Michael Olise and Mbappe had further chances in the closing stages but Croatia held on.
