Scotland’s Euro 2020 dreams dashed as Croatia and Modric turn on the style

22-Jun-2021 20:54:24 | The Guardian

The nature of Scottish football is such that recriminations as relating to this exit from Euro 2020 would have started long before full-time in a match preceded by great excitement. Sometimes, the answers are blissfully simple. Croatia remain a superior team to Scotland, as they were only too happy to prove in sealing a last 16 berth. Not even the expansion of this championship to 24 teams could end Scotland’s horror run of having never progressed beyond a finals group stage. Victory here would have changed that statistic. Instead, comprehensive – and deserved – defeat.

Inspired by Luka Modric – who else? – Croatia ended Steve Clarke’s dream, and took second place in Group D on goal difference. Scotland missed an abundance of chances when falling to the Czech Republic last Monday and did likewise when meeting England on Friday.