From the Tartan Army’s antics in the fountains of Leicester Square to Patrik Schick’s wonder-goal for the Czech Republic, it has already been an unforgettable journey at Euro 2020 for Scotland.
After Steve Clarke’s side faced England at Wembley Stadium on Friday evening, attentions now turn to their final Group D match against Croatia.
The 2018 World Cup finalists will be a formidable opponent on paper, but England have already shown they are beatable courtesy of Raheem Sterling’s match-winner.
It will be one of the toughest tests yet for Scotland’s midfield against the likes of one-time Ballon d’Or winner Luka Modric and Chelsea’s Mateo Kovacic.
There has been plenty of talk about Croatia’s ageing group, but there are still plenty of familiar faces in their XI, with Andy Robertson coming up against former Liverpool teammate Dejan Lovren.
Zlatko Dalic is still waiting for an update on Rangers’ Borna Barisic, who was ruled out of his country’s first two games through injury.
Qualifying is still relatively open in the group, due to the extended format allowing four of the six third-placed teams at the European Championship going through.
That means even nations who only get three points from their three games can realistically progress to the last-16, depending on results elsewhere.
How to watch Croatia vs Scotland
- Date: Tuesday 22 June
- Kick-off time: 8pm [BST]
- Venue: Hampden Park (Glasgow)
- TV channel: ITV
- Live stream: Watch the game online via ITV Hub
- Highlights: Shown on ITV Hub each matchday
Scouting report
Despite Dejan Lovren’s return following an injury, Croatia looked indecisive at the back in the early stages against the Czech Republic.
They appeared particularly vulnerable out wide, with the Czech’s wide players and full backs managing to get around them pretty easily by playing straightforward one-twos and neat triangle passing moves.
Jakub Jankto, the Czech Republic left winger, threatened without being able to punish the Croatian’s slack defending on the flanks, either by attacking crosses from the opposite flank or whipping them in himself.
Scotland’s chief attacking impetus is, rather unusually, provided by two left backs – Kieran Tierney, who plays a left-sided centre back and Andy Robertson, deployed further forward at wing-back – and they will both feel that they can cause Kieran Trippier’s Atletico Madrid understudy Sime Vrsaljko some problems. The 29-year-old has stagnated since a fine World Cup in Russia.
Another player to have regressed since that tournament is Ante Rebic, who has scored just once in his previous 21 matches in Croatia’s prominent chequered shirts. He blazed a horrible effort wide after being slipped through by Mateo Kovacic and was hooked at the break. Worryingly for Scotland, his replacement – the barrel-chested Dinamo Zagreb forward Bruno Petkovic – fared far better, providing a more effective target and greater goal threat. He will surely start on Tuesday.
Zlatko Dadic’s other half-time change was to swap Ivan Perisic from right to left. And within two minutes of the restart, he cut in from his flank and fired home. A few wingers at this tournament have succeeded by emulating Arjen Robben’s tried-and-tested cut-in-and-shoot technique.
As the banner which flew over England’s training base last week pointed out: “MOST CROATIA GOALS COME DOWN THE LEFT!”
Given Scotland’s right flank is their obvious weak spot, that warning must be heeded by Steve Clarke and co.
More from i on Euro 2020
- The football nomad who became a hero for his role in saving Eriksen’s life
- How Ronaldo’s Coca-Cola stunt could change the face of football sponsorship
- In praise of Emma Hayes, the best pundit at Euro 2020 so far
- Eriksen collapse has thrown a spotlight on football’s relentless thirst for more
- How to watch every Euro 2020 match on TV and online in the UK
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3xyosN0
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