The Croatian media have been left with the Nations League fear as defeat to Scotland took them from the brink of qualification to facing relegation if things go against them on Monday.
And Real Madrid superstar Luka Modric was left ‘furious as a lynx’ according to one outlet after his 10-man team were downed 1-0 in Glasgow. It was far from a classic encounter at Hampden but Petar Sucic’s red card turned the game on 44 minutes after Croatia had controlled much of the first half. Steve Clarke then turned tinkerman in the second and the introduction of John McGinn from the bench proved a masterstroke, the Hampden hero coming up with his latest big Scotland moment on 86 minutes to seal the win.
A draw would have done Croatia as far as wrapping up second spot goes, but defeat now throws everything up in the air. Now, Scotland have a puncher’s chance of leaping ahead of them, should we beat Poland in Warsaw and they lose to Portugal on Monday. That’s because we sit three points behind them, but with a superior head-to-head, after a 2-1 defeat in Zagreb and a 1-0 win at Hampden.
Do we all follow? The Croatian media certainly do, and it’s putting the fear up them. Here’s what the world is saying to it after Scotland 1 Croatia 0.
Sportske Novosti (Croatia)
Croatia were on the brink of sealing their qualification for the finals, but now Scotland have a chance of leapfrogging them. And they’re dreading it.
Sportske wrote: “Since the Vatreni did not get any goals away (at Hampden), if the Scots would celebrate in Poland, then Croatia would fall to third place and go to the play-off to stay in League A with one of the four second-placed teams from League B…”
Slobodna Dalmacija (Croatia)
Luka Modric was left raging with referee Orel Grinfeeld and the captain was the focus here. Uncharacteristically, he lost his cool at full-time, and Slobodna Dalmacija said in their headline he was ‘furious as a lynx’. They added: “Luka Modrić was furious and disappointed. Instead of Croatia having the quarterfinals and a peaceful test with Portugal, Monday will be the day of the decision. He was angry with the Israeli referee on the field, and he did not hide it even after the match in a conversation with journalists.”
The Guardian (UK)
It wasn’t quite a Ronaldo level huff from Modric, mind you. The Guardian wrote: “Weeks after Cristiano Ronaldo was reduced to ranting and raving on the south side of Glasgow, another icon of international football was left with a bloody nose by Scotland. Luka Modric and Croatia played from the 43rd minute with reduced number, the consequence of Petar Sucic’s rashness. Modric didn’t scream and shout in Ronaldo fashion – that is hardly his style – but Croatia were left visibly sore that such effort, and first half control, proved in vain.
“Scottish patience won the day in a scratchy contest, leaving them with aspirations of remaining at the top table in this competition after all. Suddenly Monday’s trip to face Poland has huge meaning. Scotland even have a chance of finishing second in Group A1, which would leave them in Pot 1 for the World Cup qualifying draw. Gulp.
Sports Illustrated (USA)
“Modric played the full 90 minutes as 10-man Croatia lost 1-0 to Scotland in the Nations League. John McGinn scored the winner for the home team in the 86th minute.
“Despite the defeat, Modric led the majority of Croatia’s individual statistics. Overall, the Los Blancos midfielder topped the charts for key stats like most touches, most passes completed, most duels won, most tackles, and most recoveries for the visitors.
“After the 1-0 defeat, Croatia is second in its Nations League group with seven points. They are now six points behind leaders Portugal, who overcame Poland 5-1 today to secure their place in the competition’s quarter-final stage. Notably, Real Madrid legend Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice for Portugal.”
Total Croatia (Croatia)
And back in Croatia, there was more Nations League fear as Total Croatia said: “Not only did Croatia fail to take advantage of any of their opportunities, but at the end of the first half, they experienced a shock when Petar Sučić was sent off for his second yellow. Croatia had to play with 10 men for the entire second half.
“Croatia will meet Portugal on Monday in Split in the final round of the Nations League. A draw would be enough to send Croatia through to the next round – and we don’t want to go into any other calculations.”