Croatia Qualified.

[Source]

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Like I said in my analysis for the England game, I got my prediction for this one spot on. I predicted England and Croatia qualifying for the next round when the group stages were drawn and I got my two predictions right for the first time. In other group games, I only got one out of two right. Fair, huh?

Croatia knew they have to score if they are to overthrow the table topper: Czech Republic and they showed why they are loved with their clinical finishes. Scotland showed a spirited performance but as what has plagued them throughout this Euro 2020, they lacked the luck and the finish eluded them. They can take more positives away from their tournament journey.

In the 6th minute, McGinn floated a pass in the box but Armstrong couldn't connect with it and he missed getting his foot on it by just a margin. That would have been the goal that would give them a push for the game. Just 3 minutes after, Armstrong attempted an ambitious shot which was off target.

The first goal of the encounter came for Croatia when Vlasic, who the fans were screaming for his inclusion in this game popped up with the goal. He justified that inclusion when he pounced on Perisic's header in the box to bundle the ball home in the 17th minute.

Scotland should have drawn level but another missed chance came for them when Modric lost the ball at the edge of the box. Dyke poked the ball to McGinn who produced a lovely placed shot but the goalkeeper was on hand to save it.

Not to be denied for long, Scotland got their first goal in a major tournament in 23 years and who else to get it other than McGregor who scored his own first international goal too when he smashed home the ball in the 42nd minute. He found the bottom corner of the net. The stadium went wild.

Adams should have scored on the stroke of halftime but the goalkeeper was fast and smart enough to punch the ball away before it got to Adams' head.

McGinn wasted a lovely chance in the 58th minute when he got on the end of a cross but he couldn't get it into the back of the net. He used his left leg to connect with it when it should have been easier to use the right one to get it into the net.

Modric produced a moment of magic in the 62nd minute when he was set up just outside the box. He produced a lovely goal with the outside of his foot. Brilliant technique and pure class that was. His goal was enough to give Croatia the lead again for the second time in the game.

The game was completed by Croatia when a lovely delivery from a corner kick was headed home by Perisic with his good movement to make it 3-1 in the 77th minute.

Scotland kept fighting but they were unable to get another goal. Fraser and Adams had chances to get a goal at least for their team but they were unable to. The game ended 3-1 in favour of Croatia and that was enough for them to qualify.

Here is how the table looks like;

England - 7 Points
Croatia - 4 Points (Goal Difference +1)
Czech Republic - 4 Points (Goal Difference +1)
Scotland - 1 Point (Goal Difference -4)

Croatia qualified for scoring more goals than the Czech Republic. Croatia scored 4 while the Czech Republic scored 3, even though Croatia conceded 3 as against the Czech's 2.

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Thank you for your time.

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