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!!!!!!

To follow the latest sports news in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

To learn more about sport in Croatia, CLICK HERE. 

June 18, 2021 - Croatia and the Czech Republic played 1:1 at Hampden Park in Glasgow for their second-round Group D match of EURO 2020. 

After losing 1:0 to England at the start of the competition, Croatia chased a victory against the Czech Republic to hopefully bring them closer to the knockout phase. Any other result would significantly complicate their fate and a victory against Scotland in the last round would be imperative. 

Slobodan Kadic

Lineups

Croatia: Livaković; Vrsaljko, Vida, Lovren, Gvardiol; Modrić, Kovačić; Brekalo, Kramarić, Perišić; Rebić

Czech Republic: Vaclik; Coufal, Čelustka, Kalas, Boril; Holeš, Darida, Souček; Masopust, Jankto, Schick

Slobodan Kadic

The match started promptly at 17:00 GMT. 

The Czech Republic came out hungry and already had a dangerous opportunity in the 2nd minute.  Their first corner came one minute later which was headed just over the goal by Soucek.

Croatia's first corner came in the 6th minute after Perisic's ball across the box went long. Kovacic and Modric went short which was defended by the Czech keeper. 

A foul on Rebic in the 8th minute gave Croatia a free-kick from 30 meters.  Lovren shot and hit over the crossbar. 

The Czech Republic was dangerous again in the 12th minute with a shank over the goal.  

An unusual Modric mistake in the midfield saw him head the ball straight to a Czech player which prompted a quick attack and nearly a goal. Croatia's defense remained solid for the goal kick. 

Rebic took advantage of a weak goalkeeper clearance which deflected off his back and almost into the goal in the 20th minute.  

A quick one-two between Gvardiol and Brekalo resulted in a corner in the 22nd minute. Modric went short to find Kramaric, who went back to Modric then Perisic at the top of the box. Perisic aimed right at the Czech keeper. 

Slobodan Kadic

An aggressive Croatia moved the ball to Vrsaljko on the right-wing in the 24th minute who crossed to the keeper. 

Croatia possessed well and moved the ball up the pitch in the minutes that followed. Gvardiol crossed into the box but it was another easy save for the Czech keeper. 

The Czech Republic had a corner in the 32nd minute. Croatia was robbed shortly after. Lovren and a Czech player went up for a header and a penalty was called for the Czech Republic after a VAR review. The Czech Republic scored for 0:1 in the 36th minute. 

Brekalo played the perfect through ball to Rebic just after the kick-off which he shot miserably wide. Kramaric shot in the 43rd which gave the keeper no trouble. The ref added the minutes to the first half. 

Slobodan Kadic

A Kovacic foul outside the box resulted in another dangerous free-kick for the Czech Republic which was hit over. The match ended 1:0 for the Czech Republic at the half. 

Zlatko Dalic made two changs to start the second half. Bruno Petkovic went on for Rebic, and Luka Ivanusec for Brekalo. 

Croatia was awarded a free kick in the 46th minute which Modric played short. Croatia had their chance a minute later - Perisic was played down the left side, carried the ball into the box and onto his right foot, and nailed the goal far post for 1:1! 

Slobodan Kadic

Croatia came out hungry to start the second half as they knew what was a stake. An incredible defensive backline in the 56th minute kept the game even. 

Vrsaljko fouled outside the box in the 60th minute. The ball went out for a corner which was headed over.

Vlasic came on for Kramaric in the 60th minute. 

The Czech Republic had a few dangerous played in the next five minutes, one of which saw Modric sprint back to get the ball out for a corner.  

An excellent Croatia attack between Gvardiol and Perisic found the foot of Vlasic who shot just over the goal in the 71st minute. 

The Czech Republic got fresh legs in the game with two subs in the 75th minute. 

Croatia tried to push plays down the left wing to Perisic which the Czechs defended well. Dalic subbed on Marcelo Brozovic for Kovacic with 3 minutes to go. 

Petkovic had a chance which went out for a corner in the 88th. Another corner came as a result of it which the Czechs cleared away. The ref added three minutes to the end of the match. 

The match ended 1:1.  

Croatia will play Scotland in their final Group D match on Tuesday, June 22, in Glasgow. 

To follow the latest sports news in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

To learn more about sport in Croatia, CLICK HERE.