The current holders of the Nations League – France have completely failed to qualify for the final four after losing 1-0 at home to Croatia on Monday, and have remained winless in the competition.

The world champions have already lost two games and drawn two, putting them at the bottom of Group 1 with two points, five behind Croatia, who won due to a Luka Modric penalty early in the game.

Ibrahima Konate fouled Ante Budimir early in the game, leaving the referee with no choice than to award a penalty to Croatia, which 36-year-old Luka Modric converted on his 153rd appearance for his country.

With two games remaining in the group, France will be unable to catch up to Denmark, who defeated Austria 2-0 to stay on top with nine points, leaving the French side in risk of relegation.

THERE IT IS! #Croatia's first ever victory over @FrenchTeam – courtesy of @lukamodric10 early penalty! Congratulations! 🎇🎉 #FRACRO 🇫🇷🇭🇷#Family #NationsLeague #Vatreni❤️‍🔥 pic.twitter.com/tNKbDdarZV

— HNS (@HNS_CFF) June 13, 2022

Following the return of Karim Benzema to the France squad for their Nations League matches, Olivier Giroud was withdrawn from the squad.

Due to injury, Benzema was unable to join Didier Deschamps’ last squad, and in his absence, Giroud found the net in friendlies against Ivory Coast and South Africa.

Those achievements enabled the AC Milan striker close in on Thierry Henry’s all-time France goal total of 51.

France have been unable to win a single game since the 35-year-old was left out of Didier Deschamps’ team, causing outrage among fans.

Sorry but something has to be said: Dropping Olivier Giroud from the France squad has got to be one of the worst decisions Deschamps has made. Giroud is still so disrespected despite being the nations’s second all-time top goalscorer and being a huge part of that team. Legend. 🇫🇷

— Pablo Woolls-Blanco (@PabloWBOfficial) June 13, 2022

France after dropping Olivier Giroud from the squad. This is what happens when you try to fix something which isn’t broken. pic.twitter.com/CQ1uGXApxz

— Dubois (@CFCDUBois) June 13, 2022

They thought Giroud isn't important. Sometimes you need that Striker that can give you more than G/A. It's that simple. A little low block with counter attack and they're off. https://t.co/sklOC1ECOr

— 𝐏𝐔𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐈𝐂̧𝐀𝐓𝐄 (@Pulisicate) June 13, 2022

Would be important to note how France has been shitty without Pogba -Kante and Giroud pic.twitter.com/b7TWf6wvUL

— CLEF (@Clef_97) June 13, 2022

France is just an international Man utd 😅. Without Giroud the team lost balance man. Deschamps is now clueless and doesn't know where to run. pic.twitter.com/t2H2ld6wVH

— Son of the Soil (@rinogatusso) June 13, 2022

Even Karim Benzema can't understand why Olivier Giroud is not in the French National team. pic.twitter.com/kHa6P38He1

— Albanus 10 (@Kiswili_10) June 13, 2022

4 games without Giroud
4 games without a win for France

The Glue@_OlivierGiroud_ pic.twitter.com/wj115EetvI

— OG18 ™️ (@Giroudinhoo) June 13, 2022

Whether you agree or not, France with Giroud is a much better team than France with Benzema.

The likes of Griezmann and Mbappe need someone to hold up play for them and create spaces, with Benzema they don't get that

— KOMBO™ 🇦🇷💙❤️ (@ultimate_kombo) June 13, 2022

Giroud has proven to be a consistent servant for his country when called upon, having played a major role in the 2018 World Cup-winning squad.

This season, he has maintained a decent domestic record, scoring nine goals in 28 appearances in Serie A.

The switch is unsurprising, given that Benzema was by far the most deadly forward in European football this season.

This season, the Real Madrid attacker has 27 goals in 31 La Liga appearances, as well as 15 in the Champions League, where he has guided his team to the final.

𝑳𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒕? 𝑷𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒆 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒂 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒙!