GROUP D
Scotland 0-3 Croatia
Perisic '42
Modric '63
Rebic '79
Duncan Gordon
Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland
Tuesday 23rd June
Luka Modric’s stunning long-range effort came in the middle of a swaggering second half performance that marked Croatia’s return to their brilliant best. Their opposition, Scotland, had shown some green shoots of hope in the previous two matches to suggest they might qualify from the group but they failed to show up to the big occasion this evening and the flowers of Scotland wilted in the Glasgow rain.
Scotland manager Steve Clarke, known as ‘the pirate’ to his players, said before kick off that this team was on the cusp of becoming the greatest side in the country’s history. While it would be hard to stake a claim that Leigh Griffiths is a superior striker to Kenny Dalglish, or John McGinn as accomplished a midfield enforcer as Graeme Souness, on paper he was right. A win in front of the Hampden faithful tonight would ensure Scotland’s progression to the second round of a major tournament for the first time ever.
Their opponents, 2018 World Cup finalists Croatia, boast some of the world’s most talented footballers but had been underwhelming so far in this European Championships. There have been whispers that this Golden Generation are now the Golden Oldies, with most of the big names now well into their thirties. The Croatian team bus arrived into a hostile Hampden Park as thunder struck and the heavens opened. They knew they would need to weather the storm and escape with at least a draw to be sure of progressing. Scotland had to win at all costs. You could sense the nervous excitement in the supporters before the game, and even the thunderstorm failed to break the tension.
Both sides started nervously as the wet ball failed to stick to feet and passes went astray. A few rogue challenges caught the referee’s attention, as Scotland striker Griffiths, playing on his own up top again, was booked for a reckless tackle on Chelsea’s Mateo Kovacic after just three minutes.
It was anyone’s guess as to who would come out on top during these opening exchanges but after 15 minutes, Scotland thought they had scored a famous goal. An Andy Robertson cross from the left was headed out to the edge of the penalty area, where Ryan Christie chested the ball down before drilling it into the bottom corner, with the help of a deflection. Christie threw his arms into the air and leaped for joy as Hampden Park exploded in delight at a home goal for the second time in this tournament. The Croatian players, led by captain Luka Modric, immediately surrounded the Albanian referee Enea Jorgji.
Scotland sensed something was not right when the referee put his hand to his ear piece then jogged to the pitch side monitor as the cheers in the stands turned into whistles. The verdict was unmistakable; Christie had controlled the ball on his upper arm rather than his chest before striking it and the goal was ruled out.
The incident knocked Scotland back rather than galvanizing them and for the remainder of the first half they dropped back and invited Croatia onto them. That is not an advisable thing to do against a team containing the likes of Modric, Barcelona’s Ivan Rakitic and Internazionale’s Ivan Perisic. As Scotland backed off, it gave the Croatians the time to get into their stride and the passing began to flow. The Hampden crowd withdrew into themselves and resorted to attempting to drown the Croatians in whistles (as well as the rain) while they were in possession, which was a healthy 64% of the time in the first half.
Scotland retreated deeper and deeper until the entire team were almost camped inside their own penalty area. Eventually the pressure told a few minutes before the break as Ivan Perisic worked himself a yard of space on the edge of the box, shrugging off the challenge of Sheffield United’s John Fleck, to rifle the ball into the top corner with his left boot. The travelling support behind the goal, dotted among home supporters who had snapped up any tickets they could, celebrated respectfully, as though it was just a matter of time until the goal came and they didn’t want to rub it in too much. The Scotland players hung their heads and already seemed defeated at just a goal down. Half-time couldn’t come soon enough.
The Croatians started the second half in confident mood, stroking the ball across the midfield, in complete control. Steve Clarke screamed at his players to keep hold of the ball, but each time Scotland threatened to string a few passes together, someone miscontrolled or the ball slipped out of play. They simply failed to get a grip on the game. Old habits die hard.
Then it happened. On 63 minutes, Real Madrid man Luka Modric received a drilled low pass into his feet from Kovacic with his back to goal and John McGinn tight behind him. He feinted right before flicking the ball to his left with his right foot behind his left leg. Poor old McGinn was left spinning around looking for the ball while Modric raised his head, picked his spot, and let fly. It was a curling, dipping ferocious strike into the top right-hand corner. The Croatian team congratulated their talismanic captain while even some of the home support stood and applauded the quality of the shot. Scotland may be going out, but it is not every day you see a goal like that.
Scotland were gone and the Croatian exhibition continued. With 10 minutes remaining, Ante Rebic added the third, tucking home past Marshall after Modric turned provider with a well-weighted through ball.
The skies had cleared by the time the referee blew the full-time whistle. Scotland already knew the game was up, and news trickling in from Wembley suggested that their considerable efforts over three matches would not be enough even for third place. The sun set over Glasgow and it is goodnight Scotland after a tournament that has returned some pride to this football-loving nation, even if some old weaknesses remain. Meanwhile, Croatia sailed off down the Clyde and beyond looking forward to the second round and surely expecting to progress to the latter stages of Euro 2020.
Man of the Match: Luka Modric