France won the Nations League in 2021, while Croatia lost in the 2023 final
France produced a superb recovery to fight back from a two-goal first-leg deficit to eliminate Croatia on penalties and move into the semi-finals of the Nations League.
Croatia had won 2-0 at home on Thursday, but, at a packed and passionate Stade de France, Didier Deschamps' side dominated the second leg and scored twice to take the tie to extra-time before booking a meeting with Spain in the final four following a dramatic shootout.
France goalkeeper Mike Maignan saved Martin Baturina's first penalty and Franjo Ivanovic shot over as the hosts had the advantage only for Jules Kounde and Theo Hernandez to both miss as it went to sudden death.
But Maignan again saved, this time from Josip Stanisic, and France defender Dayot Upamecano held his nerve to score the decisive spot-kick for a 5-4 success.
It was a deserved victory for the hosts, looking to win the competition for a second time after success in 2021.
After a goalless first half, the hosts finally made the breakthrough in the 52nd minute when Bayern Munich's former Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise whipped a 25-yard free-kick over the Croatia wall with goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic nowhere near it.
Despite sustained pressure from the French, Croatia, beaten in the 2023 final by Spain, were 10 minutes away from progressing before the hosts got a deserved second goal when the in-form Ousmane Dembele swept home Olise's cutback.
That took the tie to extra-time, with France continuing to dominate as Kylian Mbappe had three chances to win it, but was repeatedly denied by the impressive Livakovic.
But it was the other goalkeeper, Maignan, who proved to be the hero in the shootout as France scraped through to set up a semi-final against European champions Spain in June.
By winning the quarter-final, France will also go into World Cup Qualifying Group D along with Azerbaijan, Iceland and Ukraine, while Croatia will be in Group L with the Czech Republic, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar and Montenegro.
Before the match, former Arsenal and Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud was involved in a celebration of his career on the pitch. He is France's all-time top goalscorer with 57 goals in 137 international appearances
