GLASGOW: An inspired Luka Modric curled home a magnificent finish as Croatia shrugged off a slow start to Euro 2020 to beat Scotland 3-1 on Tuesday and reach the last 16 in style, leaving their opponents again on the tournament scrap-heap.
Nikola Vlasic and Ivan Perisic were also on target for Croatia in a victory that lifted Zlatko Dalic’s side — so leggy and unconvincing in their first two games — to second in Group D on four points.
They finished ahead, on goals scored, of the Czech Republic, who lost 1-0 to group winners England.
Croatia, lambasted by their own fans and media after their first two games, next face the runner-up of Group E — where Sweden, Slovakia, Spain and Poland are still jockeying for position — in Copenhagen on June 28.
Scotland, who scored their only goal of the tournament through Callum McGregor, finished bottom of the pile on one point, despite a positive performance against England lifting hopes of reaching their first knockouts of a major tournament.
Modric’s form had been called into question at the tournament, but the 35-year-old shaped a delightful finish into the corner of the net with the outside of his foot in the second half to make it 2-1.
“After tonight’s performance, we’d have been able to walk off the pitch with our heads high even if we had lost,” said Modric, now both Croatia’s youngest and oldest scorer at the Euros.
“The goal I scored means a lot to me, I am glad it helped us win but the most important thing is that the whole team looked the part.”
Deprived of Billy Gilmour, who failed a Covid-19 test, Scotland seemed lacking in midfield and Croatia bossed the ball, before deservedly taking the lead after 17 minutes as Vlasic scored a sixth goal for his country.
SCOTLAND MISS KNOCKOUTS AGAIN
There seemed little danger when a cross floated towards the far post but Perisic towered above his marker to head down for Vlasic to swivel and finish low into the bottom corner.
The goal drained the life out of Hampden Park and Scotland’s fortunes did not look like improving as Croatia stroked passes around, but just as the World Cup finalists seemed likely to turn the screw further, Steve Clarke’s side struck back. As the clocked ticked towards halftime, Croatia failed to clear a cross and it fell at the feet of McGregor just outside the box. — Reuters
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