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Maignan into the spotlight after spot-kick heroics
The Straits Times
|March 25, 2025
France produced a great attacking performance to overturn a two-goal deficit against Croatia and level their Nations League quarter-final tie, but it was goalkeeper Mike Maignan who stole the spotlight with his penalty heroics in a 5-4 shoot-out victory on March 23.
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PARIS - France produced a great attacking performance to overturn a two-goal deficit against Croatia and level their Nations League quarter-final tie, but it was goalkeeper Mike Maignan who stole the spotlight with his penalty heroics in a 5-4 shoot-out victory on March 23.
Maignan made two saves and saw one Croatian attempt fly over the bar to maintain his impressive record on penalties with France, becoming the only Les Bleus goalkeeper to win two shoot-outs.
"We know that with Mike, we start a shoot-out with an advantage. He makes a difference," captain Kylian Mbappe said.
Maignan was on the bench when France lost the 2022 World Cup final to Argentina on penalties, with goalkeeper Hugo Lloris unable to make a save in the shoot-out.
The March 23 game at the Stade de France was a breath of fresh air for Maignan, who has been struggling with AC Milan lately.
This story is from the March 25, 2025 edition of The Straits Times.
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