Jake Bacon posted: " Scotland crashed out of Euro 2020 as they lost 3-1 to Croatia on Tuesday night. Callum McGregor scored the Tartan Army's first goal at a major tournament in 23 years to cancel out Nikola Vlasic's opener. But any hopes of qualifying fo"
Scotland crashed out of Euro 2020 as they lost 3-1 to Croatia on Tuesday night.
Callum McGregor scored the Tartan Army's first goal at a major tournament in 23 years to cancel out Nikola Vlasic's opener.
Modric's bit of magic put Croatia in the driving seatScotland will be leaving a major tournament at the group stages for the 11th time
But any hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages of a European Championship or World Cup for the first time ever took a hammer blow thanks to Luka Modric's stunning strike in the second-half.
And Ivan Perisic sealed Scotland's fate and ensured Croatia's passage into the last 16 when he headed in Modric's corner.
Scotland came out firing and almost took a six-minute lead when John McGinn's inswinging cross was just missed by an onrushing Che Admas and was beaten away by Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic.
Adams was up for it at Hampden Park and had a long-range effort drift just wide of Livakovic's post moments later.
Despite Scotland's early pressure, it was Croatia who struck first through former Everton midfielder Vlasic in the 17th minute.
Vlasic scored Croatia's opening goal against the run of play
Perisic headed down a cross for Vlasic, who took the ball down and smartly finished past David Marshall inside the box.
Modric, who turns 36 in September, continues to show that age is just a number and tested Marshall with a long-range effort five minutes after Croatia's opener.
Scotland did not let the early setback deter them, though, and continued to create chances.
Andy Robertson's cross found McGinn, whose tame effort was easily saved by Livakovic.
Scotland's perseverance paid off when McGregor drew his country level three minutes before half-time.
Robertson's cross was poorly cleared by the Croatia defence as the ball fell to McGregor just outside the box.
McGregor's powerful strike gave Scotland hope
The Celtic midfielder took one touch and let fly with a low, hard drive into the bottom left corner.
The second-half was not as frantic as the opening 45 minutes, however, Marshall showed admirable bravery to get down low to thwart Josko Gvardiol just after the restart.
It was Scotland's turn to attack and Steve Clarke's men came close to taking the lead a minute before the hour mark.
Stuart Armstrong's deep cross was poked inches wide by McGinn, who would have felt like he should have done better.
Modric's moment of magic then turned the game on its head just three minutes later when the Real Madrid midfielder used the outside of his right foot to curl in Croatia's second goal from range.
Modric took aim and expertly finished from outside the box
Describing Modric's stunning goal, former Scotland striker Chris Iwelumo told talkSPORT 2: "It was an outstanding finish from Modric.
"He takes it with the outside of his right foot and sticks it in the top corner. The accuracy is incredible, David Marshall has no chance whatsoever.
"The finish in itself, to get the power and accuracy, was just outstanding."
And Modric was involved in Croatia's third goal when Perisic flicked in the former's corner with 13 minutes remaining.
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