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 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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