In a challenging encounter for Scotland, Andrej Kramaric’s decisive goal secured a 2-1 victory for Croatia during the Nations League match in Zagreb. The match began positively for Scotland, as Ryan Christie capitalized on a defensive error to score the opening goal in the 32nd minute. This lead, however, was short-lived; just four minutes later, Croatia’s Igor Matanovic equalized with a powerful strike, leveling the score before halftime. With this loss, Scotland plunged into a troubling streak, marking their fourth consecutive defeat—their worst run in five years—while also extending their winless competitive match streak to nine, the longest in their history.
The Scotland team, struggling for form, had arrived in Zagreb without a competitive victory in eight matches. Under the guidance of coach Steve Clarke, they have faced mounting pressure following their disappointing early exit from Euro 2024. Clarke’s squad, currently sitting at the bottom of Nations League Group A1, has only managed to secure a solitary win in the last 15 matches—a 2-0 victory over Gibraltar. This string of poor results highlighted significant issues within the team, which has been compounded by a grim injury list. Key players such as Kieran Tierney and James Forrest were unavailable, causing further strain on the squad’s available talent.
Despite the dire circumstances, Scotland displayed moments of promise during the match. Lyndon Dykes nearly stunned the opposition with an audacious shot from the halfway line, showcasing Scotland’s intent to assert themselves. Ryan Christie was also close to extending the lead, firing a shot just wide after a chaos ensued following a cross from Andrew Robertson. Billy Gilmour’s potent shot from distance tested Croatian goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic, but ultimately, it was croatian keeper Craig Gordon who performed heroics, keeping the Scots’ hopes alive with several crucial saves, including a notable stop against Kramaric.
The match was particularly special for 18-year-old Ben Doak, who became the youngest Scottish player to start a competitive match since Willie Johnston in 1965. Playing on loan at Middlesbrough from Liverpool, Doak added to his memorable occasion by providing the assist for Scotland’s opening goal. However, the celebration was fleeting as Croatia bounced back quickly, with Matanovic’s swift equalizer demonstrating their attacking prowess and resilience.
As the second half unfolded, Croatia maintained control, with several scoring opportunities. Craig Gordon continued to be Scotland’s saving grace, thwarting Matanovic’s attempts and getting close to stopping shots from the legendary Luka Modric, reflecting his unmatched skill even in later stages of his career. Despite these efforts, the midfield and defensive efforts from the Scottish side often fell short of dealing with the relentless Croatian pressure.
The drama intensified when Kramaric netted the winner in the 70th minute, showcasing Croatia’s ability to capitalize on defensive lapses. After an initial save from Gordon, Kramaric was perfectly positioned to head the rebound into the net, cementing Scotland’s misfortunes. Although Che Adams thought he had salvaged a point with a late equalizer, VAR intervened to deny the Scots again due to an offside ruling, culminating a heartbreaking evening for Scotland and further complicating Clarke’s tenure as head coach, with a crucial match against Portugal looming on the horizon.
