SCOTS BOW TO MAGIC MODRIC
IT’S END OF THE LINE
STEVE CLARKE’S Tartan Army will have to think again.
The dream of progressing out of the group stages of a tournament for the first time in 67 years was ended by the genius of Luka Modric.
With the outside of his right boot, he brilliantly caressed a 25-yard curler into the top corner of the net to give Zlatko Dalic’s side the lead after an hour and extinguish any real hope of a Scotland victory.
For now, being at their first finals for 23 years will have to be the first stepping stone of progress for a young and improving squad.
At least Scotland broke their Euro goal duck. Callum McGregor’s first-half strike did the trick.
But after a Group D campaign that was lethargic, Modric stepped forward to rekindle the swagger that took the Croats to the World Cup final three years ago.
Patriotism, revved-up players and a smattering of star men from the Premier League could only take the Scots so far. But it was fun while it lasted.
Appropriately it was the anniversary of the last time Scotland were knocked out of a major tournament, when they were defeated 3-0 by Morocco in France ’98.
Boss Clarke admitted losing creative force Billy Gilmour to Covid was a “shock” but Stuart Armstrong slotted in. Croatian boss Dalic moaned about Scotland having an advantage with their home crowd. And the atmosphere generated by 12,000 Tartan Army fans was fierce as befitting a game in which both nations needed to win to get out of the group.
Quick out of the blocks, John McGinn had a curler tipped wide with Che Adams close to getting a touch. But it turned flat after 17 minutes. Ivan Perisic nodded down a cross from Josep Juranovic into the path of ex-Everton midfielder NikolaVlasic.
The 23-year-old smashed home left-footed on the half volley from 12 yards, hooking it around Scott McTominay’s attempted block.
After disappointing against England, Croatia were clearly up for this one.
Clarke’s men did not lie down – and when Juranovic scuffed his clearance to the edge of the box in the 42nd minute McGregor snapped up the loose ball, drilling home from 22 yards.
It set up an all-or-nothing second-half tussle but Croatia dominated. Perisic scored a third with a glancing header from Modric’s corner after 77 minutes.
CROATIA (4-3-2-1): Livakovic 6; Juranovic 6, Vida 6, Lovren, Gvardiol 6 (Barisici 72); Kovacic 7, Brozovic 7, Modric 8; Vlasic 8 (Ivanusec 76), Perisic 7 (Rebic 81); Petkovic 7 (Kramaric 70). Goals: Vlasic 17, Modric 62, Perisic 77.
SCOTLAND (3-4-1-2): Marshall 7; McTominay 6, Hanley 6 (McKenna 33, 5), Tierney 6; O’Donnell 6 (Patterson 84), Armstrong 5 (Fraser 70, 5), McGregor 7, Robertson 6; McGinn 7; Dykes 5, Adams 4 (Nisbet 84).
Goal: McGregor 42.