Andrej Kramaric waited for goalkeeper Mike Maignan to move before rolling the ball into the netDefending champions France have one point from two Nations League games after being held by Croatia in Split.
They looked on course for victory when Adrien Rabiot's cool finish from Wissam Ben Yedder's ball gave them the lead.
But Andrej Kramaric scored a fine penalty after the video assistant referee awarded him a spot-kick following a foul by Jonathan Clauss.
France now face an uphill battle to reach next year's Nations League finals after throwing away two leads in five days.
Croatia had chances to win the game but Nikola Vlasic was denied by goalkeeper Mike Maignan, who was making his competitive debut, and Luka Sucic dragged a shot wide.
France handed first competitive starts to Arsenal pair Matteo Guendouzi and William Saliba and Leipzig's Christopher Nkunku.
New Aston Villa signing Boubacar Kamara came on for his France debut in the second half.
Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric won his 150th cap for Croatia.
The other game in Group A1 - Austria v Denmark - was delayed because of a power failure.
Line-ups
Croatia
Formation 4-3-3
1Livakovic
22Juranovic20Erlic21Vida3Barisic
10Modric11Brozovic8Kovacic
4Majer17Budimir7Brekalo
1Livakovic22Juranovic20Erlic21VidaBooked at 21mins3Barisic10ModricSubstituted forSucicat 79'minutes11Brozovic8KovacicSubstituted forVlasicat 79'minutes4MajerSubstituted forPasalicat 63'minutes17BudimirSubstituted forKramaricat 69'minutes7BrekaloSubstituted forOrsicat 63'minutesSubstitutes
2Vrsaljko5Sutalo6Pongracic9Kramaric12Labrovic13Vlasic14Sucic15Pasalic16Jakic18Orsic19Ivanusec23IvusicFrance
Formation 4-2-3-1
16Maignan
2Pavard17Saliba3Kimpembe18Digne
8Tchouaméni6Guendouzi
20Diaby12Nkunku14Rabiot
9Ben Yedder
16Maignan2Pavard17Saliba3KimpembeBooked at 84mins18Digne8TchouaméniSubstituted forKamaraat 62'minutes6Guendouzi20DiabySubstituted forClaussat 79'minutes12Nkunku14Rabiot9Ben YedderSubstituted forGriezmannat 62'minutesSubstitutes
1Lloris4Konaté5Koundé7Griezmann10Mbappé11Coman13Kamara15Clauss19Benzema21Hernández22Hernández23AreolaLive Text
Match ends, Croatia 1, France 1.
Second Half ends, Croatia 1, France 1.
Attempt missed. Luka Sucic (Croatia) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Josip Juranovic with a through ball.
Mattéo Guendouzi (France) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Borna Barisic (Croatia).
Offside, Croatia. Mislav Orsic tries a through ball, but Luka Sucic is caught offside.
Corner, Croatia. Conceded by Lucas Digne.
Attempt missed. Antoine Griezmann (France) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right.
Corner, Croatia. Conceded by Mike Maignan.
Attempt saved. Nikola Vlasic (Croatia) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Jonathan Clauss (France) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Borna Barisic (Croatia).
Presnel Kimpembe (France) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Presnel Kimpembe (France).
Luka Sucic (Croatia) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Goal! Croatia 1, France 1. Andrej Kramaric (Croatia) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
VAR Decision: Penalty Croatia.
Penalty conceded by Jonathan Clauss (France) after a foul in the penalty area.
Penalty Croatia. Andrej Kramaric draws a foul in the penalty area.
Attempt saved. Luka Sucic (Croatia) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Mislav Orsic.
