Euro 2020: Croatia reaches last 16 after beating Scotland
- by croatiaweek
- in Sport
Luka Modrić celebrates after scoring the winner
GLASGOW, 22 June 2021 – Croatia has advanced through to the last 16 at Euro 2020 after beating Scotland 3-1 at Hampden Park in Glasgow on Tuesday night.
A goal either side of the break was enough to give Croatia all three points and see them finish second in the group.
Zlatko Dalić made four changes from the side which drew with the Czech Republic on Friday, starting Josip Juranović, Marcelo Brozovic, and Nikola Vlašić and it was he who would give Croatia the lead with their first real attack of the game in the 17th minute.
Juranović would cross from the right, finding Ivan Perišić who would nod back down into the path of Vlašić and he would evade three defenders to steer the ball with his left foot past David Marshall in the Scotland goal to make it 1-0.
Vlašić scores
Croatia looked far better than they had in the opening two matches at Euro 2020 and they started to control possession as they pushed for a second.
Luka Modrić went close with a long-range shot and Perišić had an attempt on target.
Scotland themselves created chances of their own and just before the break they drew level after Croatia failed to clear and the ball would come back to Callum McGregor who drilled it low past Dominik Livaković.
The goal was Scotland’s first in a major tournament goal for 23 years.
Croatia had 45 minutes to find a goal which would send them into the last 16 and it nearly came in the 50th minute when Joško Gvardiol combined well with Vlašić but the young defender was denied by Marshall diving at his feet.
Croatia finally took the lead in the 62nd minute and what a goal it was.
Steady build up around the box saw Petković lay off the ball to Kovačić, who in turn teed up Modrić and with the outside if his foot he would find the top corner past the hapless Marshall.
Modrić scores the winner
Dalić made changes with 20 minutes to go, brining on Andrej Kramarić in place of Petković, Luka Ivanušec for Vlašić and Borna Barišić at left back for Gvardiol.
With 12 minutes left on the clock, Croatia extended their lead when Perišić rose highest at the near post from a Modrić corner to glance the ball past Marshall to make it 3-1.
Although Scotland fought hard, Croatia were far superior and had too much quality in the end.
Croatia will now meet the second-placed team in Group E in the last 16. Currently Sweden (4 points) leads with Slovakia (3) second, Spain (2) and Poland (1). That match would take place in Copenhagen on 28 June at 6 p.m.
