Croatia overturned the result against Scotland, but VAR saved it in the last minute of the game
CROATIA – SCOTLAND 2:1 (Matanović 37′, Kramarić 70’/Christie 32′)
Croatia: Livaković – Šutalo, Ćaleta-Car, Gvardiol – Perišić (Jakić 90’+1′), Modrić, Mario Pašalić (P. Sučić 46′), Sosa – L. Sučić (Baturina 62′) – Kramarić (Petković 71′) ), Matanović (Budimir 71′)
Scotland: Gordon – Ralston, Souttar, Hanley, Robertson – Gilmour, McLean – Doak (Gauld 77′), McTominay, Christie – Dykes (Adams 77′)
On Saturday, Croatia won over Scotland, which until then was a “black cat” for our national team. In the third match between them, Scotland was defeated on Croatian soil for the first time. This victory of the Flames brought a significant step towards the quarterfinals of the Nations League. The Dalić team fully deserved the celebration in Maksimir, turning the game around with a better game in the second half.
Also, it’s worth pointing out that the Flames turned the game around, as they were behind at one point after the Scots took the lead. They showed exceptional desire and energy, which the fans at Maksimir rewarded with applause and cheers. We saw a lot of positive aspects in the game of our national team, and there were far fewer weak moments, which is a reason to be satisfied.
From the beginning, the Fire dominated possession, as expected, while the Scots looked for opportunities with long balls and clearances from their half to the Croatian side. Already in the fourth minute, there was a crowd in the Scottish penalty area, with a bit of panic in the away defense, but they still managed to defend themselves.
Not long after, Matanović was brought down about eighteen meters from the goal. Although Luka Sučić took the northern stand and called for Luka Modrić to the free kick, the ball ended up in the living wall of the Scot. After that initial thrill, the game settled down. Only Guardiola’s slip and a poor shot by Livaković gave the Scots a chance, but everything was resolved in time without any significant problems.
As the match progressed, the guests became bolder in their attacks. In the 20th minute, Billy Gilmour sent a powerful shot from about twenty meters away, but Livaković stopped it without any problems. In the next Croatian attack, Kramarić shot from a good position of 18 meters, but the Scottish defenders blocked his shot. Then came a dangerous cross from the Scot, and the ball missed the head of Lyndon Dykes, who was only five meters from Livaković, by a few centimeters.
In the second half, Zlatko Dalić started with a change, introducing Petar Sučić instead of Mario Pašalić. The first serious threat in the sequel came from Matanović, who shot violently from twenty meters, and Scottish goalkeeper Craig Gordon barely prevented the goal. Two or three minutes later, Luka Modrić shot brilliantly towards the goal, but Gordon took the ball out of the forks with a spectacular save.
Croatia then scored a goal, but it was disallowed. Luka Sučić shot mainly from a distance and ripped the net, but the referee, Istvan Kovacs, had already stopped the game due to Modrić’s back before the shot. The captain of Croatia delighted the crowd again twenty minutes before the end when, after a solo action, he shot brilliantly from the top of the penalty area, missing the goal by just a few centimeters.
Five minutes later, the match was practically decided. Andrej Kramarić scored a goal and left the field immediately after, together with Igor Matanović, the second scorer, while Budimir and Petković entered the game. Towards the end, the Scots had a good chance, but Livaković’s net remained intact.
However, the Scots’ last attack appeared to have equalized. In the duel between Jakić and Adams, the ball ended behind Livaković’s back, and Maksimir was momentarily speechless. However, the goal was disallowed due to the backfield, and VAR saved Croatia in the final.
Croatia is obviously used to these kinds of games. However, in the end we won, which is the most important thing, regardless of the fact that we were also lucky at the end – Igor Matanović, Croatian striker
It is a special feeling, especially after such an emotional game. We all had in our heads those scenes from the EURO 2024 against Albania and Italy, we conceded a goal literally in the last second. Finally, we had a bit of luck, so the Scots had a goal cancelled. We won three big points, I’m overjoyed about that, and of course about the goal. We all know what awaits us in Poland, there will be a fiery atmosphere, the game is open, on the opposite side a great team. I hope that we will be rested and correct and that we will achieve a victory, which we know what it brings us – Andrej Kramarić, Croatian striker
