June 22, 2021 - Croatia tops Scotland 3:1 in the final Group D match for 2nd place and a spot in the round of 16! 

Croatia and Scotland met in the decisive Group D match for a spot in the EURO 2020 round of 16. The two nations met at Hampden Park in Glasgow on Tuesday night. 

Both teams entered the match with one point. Croatia drew 1:1 against the Czech Republic and lost to England 1:0. Scotland drew 0:0 with England and lost to the Czech Republic 2:0. Both teams could make the round of 16 only with a victory, and if the match ended in a draw, both Croatia and Scotland would be eliminated.

About 11,500 fans were in the Hampden Park stands, and maybe 100 or so Croatia fans expected. 

Lineups

SCOTLAND: Marshall - McTominay, Hanely, Tierney - O'Donnell, McGregor, Armstrong, Robertson - McGinn - Adams, Dykes.

CROATIA: Livaković - Juranović, Lovren, Vida, Gavrdiol - Brozović, Kovačić - Vlašić, Modrić, Perišić - Petković.

Coach Zlatko Dalić thus left Kalinic, Sluga, Vrsaljko, Barisic, Caleta-Car, Brekalo, Kramaric, Budimir, Pasalic, Rebic, Badelj, and Ivanusec on the Croatia bench. 

The game started promptly at 20:00 GMT. Scotland received a corner kick in the first few seconds of the match. 

Croatia had their first attacking play in the 3rd minute thanks to Juranovic, Vlasic, and Modric moving up the right-wing. Petkovic received the ball in the offside position. 

A cross from Robertson into the box found McGinn for a close encounter in the 6th minute which Livakovic saved from a goal. 

Juranovic, Vlasic, and Modric attacked again in the 8th minute. Adams retaliated with a shot on goal moments later. 

Scotland was dangerous again in the 12th minute which Livakovic cleared. They shot right at Livakovic for an easy save one minute later. 

But a former Hajduk combination eased Croatia's nerves. Juranovic and Perisic found Vlasic who scored for 1:0 Croatia in the 17th minute!

Modric nailed a rocket at the Scotland goal in the 21st minute which touched the fingertips of the keeper but the ref called a goal kick. 

A shaky and slippery Croatia defense nearly saw Scotland score three times in the 23rd minute, but Livakovic kept the result at 1:0. 

Croatia possessed the game for the remainder of the half. Gvardiol launched a play up the left to Perisic and Juranovic who shot over the goal in the 37th minute. It's safe to say Croatia was looking far better than the first two games. Another Croatia attack moments later saw Perisic shoot over the goal. 

But Scotland came back with the equalizer after a quick counter and mishap in the Croatia defense. Livakovic could not save the day here - it was 1:1 in the 42nd minute. 

The match ended 1:1 at the half.  

Dalic went into the second half with no changes to the lineup. 

A Croatia attack saw Josko Gvardiol and the Scotland keeper collide in the 49th minute. Croatia had their first corner of the second half in the 53rd minute. 

Croatia had a brilliant chance in the 55th minute, but Modric played Perisic offside which Marshall saved in the end. 

A Scotland ball to the far post almost found McGinn for the Scotland lead but Croatia was lucky to keep it 1:1.  

Croatia went back into the lead thanks to their faithful leader. Luka Modric scored with a classic outside of the boot shot for 2:1 Croatia in the 62nd minute!

Slobodan Kadic

Dalic subbed off Petkovic for Kramaric in the 69th minute. Barasic went on for Gvardiol in the 70th. 

Kovacic shot at the keeper in the 74th minute but Croatia continued to attack. 

Vlasic came out for Luka Ivanusec in the 75th minute. 

A sequence of two Croatia corners brought incredible luck. Modric crossed into the box which touched the top of Perisic's head for 3:1 Croatia in the 77th minute!!

Slobodan Kadic

A Croatia corner in the final minute of regulation time was played short to Kramaric. The ref added 4 minutes to the end of the game.  

Slobodan Kadic

A Scotland corner in the final two minutes was unsuccessful. Croatia finished 2nd in Group D for a spot in the round of 16!!!!!!

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June 21, 2021 - Coach Zlatko Dalić and vice-captain Ivan Perišić addressed the press to speak about Croatia ahead of Scotland on Tuesday. 

The Croatia national football team coach Zlatko Dalić and vice-captain Ivan Perišić addressed the press the day before the decisive match for a spot in the EURO 2020 round of 16. 

After losing to England (0:1) and drawing to the Czech Republic (1:1), Croatia will face Scotland on Tuesday at Hampden Park. The stakes are high; for both teams, the victory brings the round of 16. 

It was announced this morning that Billy Gilmour tested positive for COVID-19. This hurts Scotland considerably, but does it change anything for Croatia?

"The rules are the same for everyone; we have to concentrate on ourselves and our victory; the rest is irrelevant. Some play at home; some can’t even have fans on away pitches. We have to get together and try to get through the group. There is no fear for tomorrow," said Ivan Perišić.

"It is not easy for any national team when they lose an important player. Scotland has a solution, they will be ready for us; they play in front of their fans, but we are concentrated on us, and a lot will depend on us," added Perišić.

How does Zlatko Dalić see the situation?

"Before the Euros, we knew that the third game would be decisive. This is the last chance we have to advance. That was the goal, and we must do everything to achieve it," said Dalić.

Chelsea midfielder Billy Gilmour tested positive and has to go into ten days of isolation, but not the whole team. Dalić believes that his absence will not weaken Scotland much, but he also adds that Croatia is damaged because they are playing without its fans.

"We are damaged around this situation; we are certainly stronger with the fans. We play against two hosts, and various things about the coronavirus have been surrounding us for a month. It will be very difficult; we are playing against an opponent who has the quality and who is motivated. We have to go out on the field as favorites. We must not lose patience; we must not lose our heads. Patience will be very important," added the coach.

"We travel every three days; these are not realistic conditions. I would not want Croatia to do something outside the field, but I think that the conditions must be the same for everyone, and they are not. But I want Gilmour to recover and everything to be resolved on the field."

Players are constantly being tested, and of course, there is the pressure of whether they will be positive.

"We are all under pressure about positive tests. We are all in psychological uncertainty that something will not happen and that someone will not be positive, so that we all go into isolation. I really wouldn’t want it all to expand; I hope there won’t be anything more. We are worried about COVID-19 in the Scotland national team, but we have to play that game."

Asked if any of his players had asked him not to play due to the positive result, Dalić said they had not yet been able to talk because they had just arrived.

"We just arrived in Glasgow, had lunch, and of course we'll talk. It is clear that everyone is in fear and uncertainty, but we have to play the game and focus on the game and forget the rest. Such is the situation throughout the championship. We are all negative and very careful, but you never know what might happen."

Is the absence of Gilmour a gain for Croatia?

"Every player is an absence for the team. Gilmour played well against England but entered that game as a reserve. Scotland has stronger players; I don't see that as a win for us. Scotland is a strong team, they play at home, and that one player who is not standard and will not play is not our advantage," added Dalić.

Source: HRT

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June 19, 2021 - Zlatko Dalić addressed the press in Rovinj after drawing 1:1 with the Czech Republic on Friday night in Glasgow. Croatia changes against Scotland, their opponent in the final group stage match on Tuesday, have been announced. 

Croatia coach Zlatko Dalić addressed the press in Rovinj one day after the draw against the Czech Republic in the second round of EURO 2020 and thus kept their chances of the round of 16.  

"Of course, I'm not happy and satisfied. I don't feel comfortable; it's not the Croatia I imagined and wanted. We are not playing well, but we got another chance to fix it in the last game of the group stage and move on with the victory. I am aware that this is not good, and this is not the Croatia I want," said Dalić.

In the last round, on Tuesday, June 22, Croatia will have to win against Scotland to compete for a place in the round of 16. The match will be played at Hampden Park in Glasgow.

"I will not look for the culprit, alibi; it is up to me that we are not good. We don’t look like we should; we’re not compact. Seven, eight players came to the gathering injured; we failed to sort ourselves out. We played a bad first half yesterday; the opponent was better. But they didn't give us a chance. The penalty was not for me; Lovren did not want to hit the player; he jumped like any defensive player. We also had the opportunity with Rebić. We were better in the second half, but not enough to win," Dalić explained.

The coach pointed out that Croatia is not at the level to fight among the last 16. 

"We did not impose ourselves at this Euro; it is not Croatia as it should be. We are not at the level, but we have a chance to repair; with the victory, we can go further," said Dalić.

"We were looking for the best solutions on the go. Someone always had some minor problem," said the Croatia coach.

"Scotland will be terribly aggressive and motivated. We weren't working on plays for no reason. We tried to get the best we saw in training."

Is the problem more in the physical or mental state?

"I think it's both. The opponent ran more than us yesterday, and that shows in the result. For us, the result is indispensable for everything to be arranged differently.  We can’t get into a normal rhythm without it. As for physical preparation, some players have problems that they came up with, but we didn’t solve them."

He also commented on Dejan Lovren's free kick.

"The day before, we practiced free kicks and his went in. Luka left it to him because he felt good. There is no logic for the stopper to shoot free kicks, but he did not do it on his own; Luka left it to him because he felt ready for it."

He said Scotland has the quality it has already shown at the Euros and will be difficult.

"Borna Barišić will start training today, and then we will see what condition he is in," said Dalic.

"My whole life is a struggle, but I believe in the boys that we still have the strength, spite, and pride to show and play a good game on Tuesday. They all wrote us off and crossed us off; that must be our motivation. I understand criticism and attacks, I don’t run away from it, but it’s not all lost. God has given us another chance."

Dalić announced changes to the team for Scotland.

"We will have to make two, three changes and find more energetic players for Scotland. I’m not changing because I’d like to change, but because I want the best. The only reason to replace Marcelo Brozovic for the Czech Republic is that I wanted more players on the offensive. He is definitely returning to the team," Dalić explained.

Nikola Vlašić did not start any game.

"Vlašić has been without games for the last month at his club. He comes from a knee injury, which is why he lost out in the preparations. We used him as another player from the bench. He was our best player in the qualifications; he did not lose his status and position. He had a complaint about his adductor, so he had to spare himself a little," said Dalić.

"Gvardiol has been playing left-back at Dinamo all year, maybe he is a stopper by profile, but he also brought some things yesterday. In my opinion, he plays well. I don't watch who is from which club; I watch training and what we need," said Dalić.

He also commented on Luka Modrić's game.

"Luka received the award for the best player of the match. He spent a lot in that position; it wasn't easy for him; maybe he made a mistake sometimes. He had a lot of demanding tasks, but he was the player of the match. He is ready and has no problems," Dalić concluded.

Source: HRT

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June 19, 2021 - A victory for Croatia against Scotland is now imperative for 2nd or 3rd place in Group D. 

The second round of EURO 2020 Group D finished on Friday and Croatia currently sits in third place. After two draws on Friday, Croatia and the Czech Republic 1:1 and England and Scotland 0:0, the Czech Republic is in first, followed by England in second, Croatia in third, and Scotland in fourth, reports Gol.hr.

Croatia must beat Scotland on Tuesday if they want to go further and can no longer pass as the group winner. Finishing first in the group is not the best option, anyhow, as first place in Group D crosses over with the 'group of death' - Portugal, France, Germany, and Hungary.

Croatia's position will also depend on the second game in the group. Namely, if the Czech Republic and England play a draw in the last round, Croatia can only continue from third place, no matter how large the victory against Scotland. However, they will need a better goal difference to be placed among the best third-placed national teams.

If England wins minimally, Croatia must beat Scotland by three goals for second place, and any major England win will mean that Croatia needs a goal less to skip the Czech Republic. 

If they have the same goal difference as the Czech Republic, second place will go to the team that has fewer yellow and red cards.

If Croatia doesn't go as second place, it seems that being among the best third-placed national teams in the competition is a probable option.

It should be noted that Scotland can also win third place with a victory, so it will be an all-or-nothing match.

Second place in Group D crosses over with the second-placed team from Group E (Spain, Poland, Sweden, Slovakia). If Croatia finishes third, they will play the winner of Group B (probably Belgium), the winner of Group E (Sweden or Spain), or the winner of Group C (Holland).

Theoretically, Croatia could go even further with a draw against Scotland, i.e. with only two points, but a lot has to coincide. Namely, Switzerland and Turkey have to draw in a direct clash for third place, Germany would have to lose to Portugal and still draw with Hungary in the end. 

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