Scotland 1 Croatia 3 LIVE REACTION: Vlasic, Modric and Perisic silence Hampden and dump Scots out of Euro 2020

THAT’S IT FROM ME

And that’s it from Scotland at Euro 2020.

It’s been tough, emotional and at times frustrating.

But there have been cheers and there has been many-a-boogie woogie.

And that can’t be a bad thing.

STAT’S DAMNING

Here is the night in numbers for Scotland.

It doesn’t make great reading, but facts they are, nonetheless.

• Scotland have been eliminated at the group stages in all 11 of their appearances at major tournaments (EUROs & World Cup).
• Scotland have lost consecutive matches at Hampden Park for the first time since September 2019 against Russia and Belgium.
• Croatia beat Scotland for the very first time in what was the sixth match between the two sides.
• Callum McGregor became the first Scottish player to score at the EUROs since June 18th, 1996, when Ally McCoist scored against Switzerland.
• Scotland had gone 46 shots without scoring in the competition.

MATCH REPORT

Heartbroken Scotland added another glorious failure to their extensive catalogue of hard luck stories as they waved goodbye to the Euros, writes MARK IRWIN.

Turns out they can’t boogie all night long after all.

But it took a special goal from a special player to end their dreams of making it to the knock-out stages of a major international tournament for the first time.

Luka Modric might be three months short of his 36th birthday but has lost none of the magic which won him the Ballon D’Or three years ago.

And just when it was looking as if it might be the 2018 World Cup finalists heading for an early exit, it was the little maestro who guided his country to qualification.

His 62nd minute goal, curled into the top corner with the outside of his right boot, was a thing of beauty to settle this winner-takes-all clash.

And Scotland’s fate was well and truly sealed quarter of an hour later when Modric’s corner was glanced in off the far post by Ivan Perisic.

It was a bitter pill to swallow for Steve Clarke and his team, who ran themselves into the ground in pursuit of the victory which would have clinched their place in the promised land of the last 16.

BROWN ON SCOTS

The former Celtic midfielder has his say on how he saw Scotland’s performance tonight.

These bunch of lads have done themselves proud, getting to a Euros, it’s something I’ve never done.

It just wasn’t to be, we didn’t create the chances.

Modric was fantastic, Croatia played really well and were calm and clear on the ball.

He’s a tactician that scores a wondergoal as well at the end.

Scott BrownFormer Scotland midfielder

PERISIC GOAL

Here is Ivan Perisic’s glancing header to make it 3-1.

WEE MOD-ICIAN

Here is how the Croatian creator’s touch map looked tonight.

Look how Luka Modric gets about the pitch and takes the ball, throw in a goal and an assist to boot.

What a class act.

MODRIC GOAL

How nicely worked is this goal from Croatia?

That camera angle behind 🤤

GROUP D TABLE

Confirmation that Scotland are OUT of Euro 2020 despite hosting two games they played in.

TOUGH NIGHT AT THE OFFICE

It’s not been the Boogie Woogie that Scotland had hoped for.

FULL TIME STATS

The numbers say a lot and Scotland were beaten by the better team tonight.

FT: CROATIA 3-1 SCOTLAND

CROATIA 3-1 SCOTLAND

93. A big singalong from Scotland fans now in Hampden.

These are the dying few moments of a tough campaign, but the first campaign for 23 years.

Let’s hope it’s not another 23 years till the next one, please!

SCORE UPDATE

It’s 1-0 to England in the other match in this group.

Jordan Henderson thought he had made it two, but was flagged for offside a few moments ago.

CROATIA 3-1 SCOTLAND

89. Kramaric does so well.

He runs at McKenna and forces the defender to touch the ball out of play.

Modric ambles over to take the corner, to some half-hearted boos.

His corner is played on the ground towards the penalty spot and there’s no pressure from Scotland shirts now.

The fight looks to have gone out of the home side.

CROATIA 3-1 SCOTLAND

87. Scotland not working the ball through midfield, but both flanks again.

They’re running the ball down some blind alleys though.

Croatia are getting men behind the ball, which is the right thing to do when the score is like this.

KISSER FROM IVAN

Textbook glancing header from Croatia winger Ivan Perisic tonight.

He has been in cracking form at this Euros and along with Modric and Vlasic has torn Scotland to shreds.

CROATIA 3-1 SCOTLAND

83. Some teenage experience for Steve Clarke late on, then.

And it’s a question of what these lads can do to bring some energy and a different dynamic to the closing stages.

DOUBLE SUB

83. Che Adams is off and Kevin Nisbet is on.

Stephen O’Donnell is off and Nathan Patterson comes into the fold.

CROATIA 3-1 SCOTLAND

82. It’s a bit of keep ball for Croatia, who have packed the midfield.

Luka Modric has slowly pulled the strings as this game has gone on and he is available for any red and white shirt that want to find him.

In case you can’t tell, Modric has been a LITTLE bit good tonight.

CROATIA 3-1 SCOTLAND

80. Scotland have a corner and Robertson swings a decent one in.

McTominay is there, stretches, but the ball goes over the bar and doesn’t trouble Livakovic at all.

Scotland have a free kick in Croatia’s half, but the men in red and white are just putting men behind the ball and looking for a counter-attacking goal now.

SUB

Ivan Perisic comes off after his headed goal and Ante Rebic is on.

CROATIA 3-1 Scotland

Luka Modric swings a corner into the ideal area and Ivan Perisic times his run and glancing header to perfection.

The ball nestles inside the far post and Scotland’s Euros campaign is almost certainly over.

It’s the least they’ve deserved too, such a composed, sophisticated performance, to all the Scots’ bravado and intensity.

GOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLL!!!

IVAN PERISIC HITS THE FINAL NAIL INTO SCOTLAND’S COFFIN!!!

SUB

Croatia bring on Ivanusec, who is 22, for Vlasic.

CROATIA 2-1 SCOTLAND

74. Lyndon Dykes is hobbling around looking pretty immobile at the moment.

In the meantime, Croatia are probing for a third and Kovacic tries a pop from distance, but it’s straight into Marshall’s bread basket.

Croatia have a corner though after good work from Kramaric.