A champion class from Luka Modric ensured that Scotland would leave Euro 2020 in the group stage, with the midfielder making one and setting up a new one in a 3-1 victory for Croatia at Hampden Park
Croatia took the lead on a quarter mark thanks to Nikola Vlasic. CSKA Moscow man volley ball past David Marshall after a wonderful knock-down nod from Ivan Perisic on the back post.
Scotland pushed forward in search of an equalizer after falling behind, with John McGinn spurring two decent chances in 90 seconds – the first was a nod over goal, the second was a rather tame first-time strike from the penalty spot.
They deserved an equalizer just before half time, via a fantastic strike from the edge of the box from Callum McGregor.
After the two sides traded the chance – which was missed by Croatia’s Josko Gvardiol and Scotland’s McGinn – Croatia took the lead through Modric. The best midfielder of the last decade (no argument, this is a fact) curled the ball in the top corner of Marshall’s net with the outside of his foot on the hour mark to make it 2-1.
Croatia then added a third in the 77th minute via an Ivan Perisic header from a Modric corner.
The result means that Croatia qualifies for the round of 16 after finishing second in the group, while Scotland bends in last place.
Okay, let’s go into some player ratings.
Tough night in the office of McSauce / Pixsell / MB Media / Getty Images
David Marshall (GK) – 5/10 – It was good to deny Gvardiol at the beginning of the second half. No goalkeeper in the world would have come close to saving any of Croatia’s goals.
Scott McTominay (CB) – 5/10 – Could have helped O’Donnell out a little more than he did for, well, it was pretty clear that Perisic beat O’Donnell all night.
Grant Hanley (CB) – 5/10 – Underwent an injury during the first half.
Kieran Tierney (CB) – 5/10 – Sometimes struggled to handle Vlasic’s movement.
McGinn missed some good chances / Lee Smith – Pool / Getty Images
Stephen O’Donnell (RWB) – 4/10 – Jumped out of Perisic in the lead until the opening goal and generally not quite at the competitions in the same way as he was against England.
Stuart Armstrong (CM) – 4/10 – Honestly, I felt a little sorry that he had to go up against Modric.
John McGinn (CM) – 5/10 – Discarded two relatively decent chances in the first half, and then threw a glorious one in the second half.
Callum McGregor (CM) – 7/10 – Scored Scotland’s first tournament goal since 1998, and it was a pretty great goal if you ask us.
Andy Robertson (LWB) – 6/10 – A typical Andy Robertson show. You know what it is, you’ve seen him play a million times.
Scotland lacked end product / Pixsell / MB Media / Getty Images
Che Adams (ST) – 5/10 – He is brilliant at holding up the ball and finding space pockets in front of the defense to take advantage of, but only lacks some real goal-setting instincts.
Lyndon Dykes (ST) – 5/10 – Probably too similar to Adam’s to play with him. Worked hard but to be fair to him.
Scott McKenna – 5/10 – Fought well when introduced. Missed a great chance at extra time.
Ryan Fraser – Not applicable
Lovren does what he does best: argues / Pixsell / MB Media / Getty Images
Dominik Livakovic (GK) – 6/10 – Couldn’t do anything about McGregor’s goal, but was fantastic when he came off his line to handle posts in the box.
Josip Juranovic (RB) – 6/10 – Retrieved for Sime Vrsaljko, and made his mark immediately with a pre-assist (look at that football nerd word) for the opener.
Dejan Lovren (CB) – 6/10 – Had a Lovren show. Good in the air … not so good anywhere else … but it did not matter because Scotland’s striker just did not bother to run behind all night.
Domagoj Vida (CB) – 5/10 – Horrible cleaning in the lead up to the goal. And awful baby too. We’re not sure which is worse to be honest.
Josko Gvardiol (LB) – 6/10 – Went well, especially at the beginning of the second half when he ran into the box and missed a chance to give his team the lead for the second time. Looks like a real player.
Unstoppable / Pixsell / MB Media / Getty Images
Mateo Kovavic (CM) – 6/10 – Looked pretty unstoppable when he broke between the lines with the ball. Did not do it as often as you would have liked.
Luka Modric (CM) – 9/10 – This man. What more can be said about him? Scotland’s midfield could not get close to him all night, he undoubtedly scored the best goal of the tournament so far (Patrik Schick of course does not agree) on the hour mark and then he set up the third with a lovely corner kick. For. Good.
Marcelo Brozovic (CM) – 7/10 – Really good football player. Fought well against an energetic Scotland midfield.
Perisic always shows up for Croatia / Paul Ellis – Pool / Getty Images
Ivan Perisic (RW) – 8/10 – Always seems to turn on when you play for his country, right? Perisic set the opening goal with a knock-down header in the way of Vlasic and hit the third with a close post.
Bruno Petkovic (ST) – 5/10 – Did not look like he could control a football until the second half, when he finally did it and set up Modric for his goal. Be relaxed soon after – the fantastic touch seemed like a desire to be honest.
Nikola Vlasic (LW) – 7/10 – Set his sixth Croatian goal in the 15th minute with a successful half volley. After that, Scotland’s backline caused a lot of problems.
Andrej Kramaric – N / A
Borna Barisic – N / A
Luka Ivanusec – N / A
