Stanišić beats Díaz, assist for Olise

Orlando, Florida – Thursday’s U.S.-based friendlies offered a rare club-versus-club subplot as Bayern Munich teammates became international adversaries, with Josip Stanišić’s Croatia edging Luis Díaz’s Colombia 2-1 while, 1,300 miles north in Foxborough, Michael Olise’s vision helped France subdue Brazil.

Croatia v. Colombia Inside Exploria Stadium, Colombia struck after 120 seconds when Jhon Arias finished smartly to stun the 2018 World Cup runners-up. The lead lasted four minutes: Hamburg teenager Luka Vušković thumped in the equaliser, and Freiburg forward Igor Matanović rifled the winner on 36 minutes. Díaz, operating on his familiar left flank alongside former Bayern playmaker James Rodríguez, tested Croatia until his 71st-minute withdrawal. Stanišić, introduced at the interval, spent the second half directly up against his clubmate and helped shut the door on a late Colombian rally.

France v. Brazil At Gillette Stadium, Didier Deschamps’ star-studded side faced a Brazil squad spearheaded by Vinícius Júnior, weeks before the Real Madrid man meets Bayern in the Champions League quarter-finals. Kylian Mbappé broke the deadlock on 32 minutes, and after Dayot Upamecano was dismissed for denying Wesley as last man ten minutes later, France still found a second. Olise, ubiquitous on the right, carved open Brazil with a sumptuous outside-of-the-boot pass that Liverpool’s Hugo Ekitiké tucked away in the 65th minute. Bremer’s header gave the Seleção hope, but Les Bleus held on for a confidence-boosting victory.

Road ahead All six nations remain stateside. Brazil will look to rebound against Croatia in Orlando on Tuesday evening, while France meet Colombia in Maryland on Sunday as the final World Cup tune-ups intensify.