Rangers full-back Borna Barisic was benched as Croatia faced off against France in a repeat of the 2018 World Cup Final in Russia.
The Rangers star was dropped for the trip to Paris after the Balkans nation was humbled 4-1 by Portugal in a crushing defeat in Lisbon.
It’s the first time the two nations have met since that fateful night in Moscow and rather poignantly it was a repeat score-line as the French ran out 4-2 winners.
This case of international déjà vu was made even more strange by the fact that, just like in the final, Croatia conceded an own goal and a penalty.
The Croats had the lead midway through the first half when centre-half Dejan Lovren struck a sweet left-foot strike into the bottom corner after taking the ball down very neatly with his right from a corner.
France forward Antoine Griezmann – who scored in the 2018 Final – had France level with a tap into an empty net just before the break.
Croatia goalie Livakovic would then be desperately unlucky as an Anthony Martial effort came back off the post just minutes earlier and rebounded off the keeper’s back into the net.
The Croatians would then equalise just after half time as Josip Brekalo forced the ball through the French defence and into the back of the net.
RB Leipzig centre-half Dayot Upamecano would then restore the French lead from an Antoine Griezmann corner before Oliver Giroud rounded off the scoring from the spot.
Rangers star Barisic will be disappointed that he wasn’t involved against the World Cup winners and will return to Glasgow for the visit of Dundee United this weekend.
***SINCE THIS STORY WAS PUBLISHED THE CROATIAN TEAM DOCTOR HAS CONFIRMED BORNA BARISIC WAS CARRYING A KNOCK FOR THE MATCH WITH FRANCE***
