London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, Jul 30, 2025

Scotland's Euro hopes ended by Croatia

Scotland's Euro hopes ended by Croatia

Scotland's dream of making history by progressing at Euro 2020 came to a sobering end with a heartbreaking defeat by Croatia at Hampden.

With both sides knowing a win would grant passage to the last 16, Nikola Vlasic arrowed the World Cup finalists into an early lead to silence the national stadium in Glasgow.

However, a thundering drive just before half-time from Callum McGregor caused the 12,000 fans to explode in a cacophony of hope.

But Luka Modric's sumptuous first-time shot after an hour broke Scotland and Ivan Perisic glanced in a third from a corner to record Croatia's first-ever win over the Scots.

The margin of victory was also enough to earn them second place in the group ahead of the Czech Republic on goals scored, with both those sides advancing to the last 16.

Hampden heaves after early silencer


This was a typically Scottish occasion. An evening that almost defied logic, but made perfect sense to the thousands who assembled in Glasgow's south side. Thousands who had a dream of reaching the knockout stages of a major tournament for the first time.

It was a night where things had to be done the hard way. The Scottish way.

Pre-tournament, the best shot of a win looked like being against the Czechs. Instead, defeat was meted out. Next was arguably the toughest fixture, but heroism was the name of the day at Wembley, with Billy Gilmour the main protagonist.

So on to the team who made it to the last World Cup final, buoyed with dreams of a glorious Hampden win. A win which had to be garnered without Gilmour, who tested positive for Covid-19 on Monday.

Scotland also had to achieve the feat of scoring in the tournament. Twenty-eight shots had been sent goalward in the first two games, yet none sparked celebrations.

Within 10 seconds, the Scots were a team possessed in search of it, winning a corner immediately.

The early signs were good as Hampden reverberated with the buzz of a thousand Doh a Deers and Che Adams came agonisingly close to tapping in a teasing John McGinn ball across the face of goal. Maybe this was really happening?

Then the first blow came. While energy underpinned the point in London, a raking cross was allowed to be pinged to the Scottish back post. Perisic outjumped Stephen O'Donnell, with Vlasic bursting in to steer the ball home.

Hampden fell silent, the hush persisting as Scotland attempted to rally.

McGinn was again at the heart of it. The Aston Villa man dangled a cross towards the back post with no takers. It was recycled and, when it found its way back to him, a mistimed shot was nervously shuffled around a post by Dominik Livakovic. Another chance gone.

Grant Hanley hobbled off injured as Steve Clarke was forced into a reshuffle, Scott McKenna coming on and being instantly booked, such was the intensity of the Croatian surges forward with Modric pulling the strings.

But then, a nation roared as one. An Andy Robertson cross wasn't dealt with by the Croatian defence, and when it fell to McGregor, the Celtic man drove the ball into the bottom right corner through a corridor of flying bodies. Hampden heaved as McGregor celebrated riotously.

Clinical Croats end dreams of nation


The second half started with fresh positivity, but it was to be unfounded for the Scots.

Within five minutes, Josko Gvardiol was denied one on one by David Marshall. The Scotland goalkeeper would come to his nation's aid moments later as Croatia cranked up the pressure.

Then, the sliding doors moment. Stuart Armstrong dropped his shoulder to loop in a gorgeous ball to the back post. McGinn appeared as if by magic but could not adjust his stride and somehow sent the ball wide from a matter of yards.

Just three minutes later, the Croats struck again. Modric was afforded time and space after a lay off from Mateo Kovacic, and with the outside of his right boot, the 35-year-old steered the ball into the net. Sublime.

As Scotland poured forward, the game was ended as a contest with 13 to play. Perisic surged to the front post at a corner and guided the ball in off the back post. Scotland's Euro dream was over.

As the whistle sounded for full-time, Hampden rocked to the noise of "We'll be coming down the road". Those fans will be hoping to see these likes again soon.

Match stats


*  Scotland have been eliminated in the group stages in all 11 of their appearances at major tournaments.

*  Croatia have progressed from the group stages at three consecutive finals, having only done so in three of their first eight appearances.

*  Croatia beat Scotland for the very first time in what was the sixth match between the two sides.

*  Scotland have won only one of their last nine competitive matches (D4 L4), having won six of their previous eight (D2).

*  Perisic has been directly involved in six goals in his last six Euros appearances, scoring four goals and assisting two more. His goal also made him Croatia's joint-top major finals goalscorer, equalling Davor Suker's nine goals.

*  Modric became the oldest player to score for Croatia at the Euros (35 years and 286 days) - he already holds the record for Croatia's youngest at the tournament (22 years 73 days v Austria in 2008).

*  Callum McGregor became the first Scottish player to score at the Euros since June 18, 1996, when Ally McCoist netted against Switzerland. Scotland had gone 46 shots without scoring in the competition.


Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Former Judge Charged After Drunk Driving Crash Kills Comedian in Brazil
Jeff Bezos hasn’t paid a dollar in taxes for decades. He makes billions and pays $0 in taxes, LEGALLY
China Increases Use of Exit Bans Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Procter & Gamble to Raise U.S. Prices to Offset One‑Billion‑Dollar Tariff Cost
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
Botswana Seeks Controlling Stake in De Beers as Anglo American Prepares Exit
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Obama‑Era Endangerment Finding, Dismantling Regulatory Basis for CO₂ Emissions Limits
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
A family has been arrested in the UK for displaying the British flag
Mel Gibson refuses to work with Robert De Niro, saying, "Keep that woke clown away from me."
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
The British propaganda channel BBC News lies again.
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Severe Flooding in South Korea Claims Lives Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
×