World champions France are no longer on a winning run after their run of five straight wins was stopped by visiting Denmark in their opening match in Group A1 of the ongoing UEFA Nations League. The Danes came from behind to stun France 2-1 at Stade de France in Saint-Denis.

France had beaten Finland 2-0 at home in a World Cup 2022 qualifier to start the five-match winning run on the back of a 1-1 draw with hosts Ukraine. France then thumped Kazakhstan 8-0 at home in a World Cup 2022 qualifier to make it two straight wins before a 2-0 away win over Finland made it three successive wins. The successive international friendly wins over Ivory Coast (2-1) and South Africa (5-0) in March took the winning run to five games and they were on the way to make it six consecutive wins when in-form Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema gave France the lead against the Danes in the second half after a goalless first half. Benzema scored six minutes after the interval off the assist from RB Leipzig attacker Christopher Nkunku who had come on for KylianMbappe at the start of the second half.

The French team made a breakthrough in the game against Denmark with the introduction of Nkunku and it was the turn of the Danes to benefit from an inspired substitution after Andreas Cornelius came on for Kasper Dolberg on the hour mark. Cornelius produced two goals for Denmark to turn the game on its head and give his team a big win. His equaliser came eight minutes after his introduction, while his winner came two minutes from time.

France would be hoping to bounce back when they travel to Zagreb to take on Croatia tomorrow in a repeat of the World Cup final in Russia four years ago. The Croatians began their Nations League campaign in Group A1 with a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Austria. Denmark would be the guests of the Austrians in the other game in Group A1 tomorrow.