Perisic, making his 141st appearance for his country, set up Ante Budimir for the opener before netting his 34th international goal with a brilliant finish. 

Croatia was handed a golden chance to take the lead in the eighth minute when a ball into the box was handled by Ibrahima Konate, a decision that was confirmed by VAR. 

Andrej Kramaric assumed responsibility for the spot-kick, but his tame strike down the middle was saved by the legs of Mike Maignan, who had delayed the taking of the penalty. 

Croatia, however, went in front soon after, with Maignan once again involved. 

A teasing cross into the area from Perisic was headed towards goal by Budimir. Though Maignan got his hand to the effort, the ball spun into the back of the net off the post. 

The host felt should have been awarded another penalty just before the break when Budimir took a tumble under William Saliba's challenge, though those appeals were waved away. 

In the first minute of first-half stoppage time, Perisic rifled Croatia two goals ahead with a fine half-volley into the bottom-left corner, off the back of Martin Baturina's blocked effort. 

France improved after the break, though. Kylian Mbappe fired an incisive pass into Ousmane Dembele in the box, but the Paris Saint-Germain forward found the side netting. 

Dembele continued to look like Les Bleus' most threatening player, forcing Dominik Livakovic into a save from a volley before sending a strike narrowly past the near post.

Livakovic was the busier of the two goalkeepers in the second half, and he had to be on his toes to prevent Mbappe's curling effort from creeping in. 

But Didier Deschamps's side was unable to make its pressure count, with France now having it all to do in the second leg at the Stade de France on Monday.