Yahoo Finance Scotland knocked out of the Euros as Luka Modric stars to send Croatia into last-16
Scotland missed out on a place at the Euro 2020 knockout stages as Luka Modric inspired Croatia to a 3-1 win at Hampden Park to join England in the last-16.
Nikola Vlasic put Croatia ahead, but Callum McGregor's fine finish sent the Scots into half-time level. With both teams knowing a draw or defeat would send them out, Croatia's quality told as Modric scored a stunning goal before setting up Ivan Perisic to book a place in the next round.
After a 2-0 defeat to the Czech Republic followed by a goalless draw against England, Scotland headed into their final Group D game knowing only a win would send them through.
That was easier said than done against a Croatia side who reached the 2018 World Cup semi-finals, and especially given Billy Gilmour - their star man against England - missed out after contracting coronavirus.
Both teams started brightly in front of 10,000 noisy fans in Glasgow, but it was Croatia who took the lead in the 17th minute. Ivan Perisic outleaped O'Donnell to knock down for Vlasic, who squeezed the ball past David Marshall to put Croatia 1-0 up.
That goal didn't necessarily change much for Scotland given they had yet to score a goal at the tournament, so the main challenge remained the same - and score they did.
Three minutes before the break, the Tartan Army exploded as Andy Robertson's cross for Adams was only half cleared and McGregor took full advantage as he drilled home his first international goal to make it 1-1.
Scotland had chances to score after the break, but so did Croatia. Marshall had to be quick off his line to stop Josko Gvardiol firing Croatia back in front just after the break, while Hampden held its breath again as Stuart Armstrong hung up a ball to the back post - but John McGinn could not convert.
The Tartan Army made their feelings clear when referee Fernando Rapallini gave the World Cup finalists a free-kick despite Gvardiol being the one who brought down McGinn.
And Croatia took full advantage of the soft award, springing forward before Modric unleashed a sublime finish into the top corner with the outside of his right foot, deflating the Hampden buzz again by making it 2-1.
The game broke up into substitutions and time-wasting, but Modric delivered again as his pinpoint corner was flicked home by Perisic to make the win secure.
Scotland will rue missed chances in all three group games, but Clarke would admit they were beaten by the better team here as Croatia showed real quality to suggest they will be one of the teams to watch in the knockouts.
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