Scotland ended a long and frustrating wait for a home victory with a late goal against Croatia, reigniting their hopes in the Nations League. John McGinn’s decisive strike broke a 17-month drought at Hampden Park and marked a pivotal moment for the team, both in terms of morale and their position in Group A1. With this win, Scotland now has the opportunity to aim for second place in the group, which could secure them a coveted spot in Pot 1 for World Cup qualification.
The lead-up to the match had been challenging, with Scotland managing just one win in their previous 16 games. However, manager Steve Clarke made bold decisions, including starting Tommy Conway for the first time and leaving McGinn, a long-time key player, on the bench. Meanwhile, 19-year-old Ben Doak emerged as a standout figure, dazzling with his skill and energy and offering a glimpse of Scotland’s bright future.
The game began with Croatia controlling much of the possession and creating early opportunities. Veteran goalkeeper Craig Gordon, nearing his 42nd birthday, showcased his enduring class with a stunning save to deny Andrej Kramaric. Despite their defensive solidity, Scotland struggled to find attacking fluency in the opening stages, although Doak’s bursts of pace and creativity on the wing hinted at the team’s potential.
The match turned in Scotland’s favor just before halftime when Croatia’s Petar Sucic was sent off after a rash challenge on John Souttar. Already on a yellow card, Sucic’s dismissal left the visitors down to 10 men and forced them to adopt a more conservative approach for the remainder of the match.
Despite their numerical advantage, Scotland found it difficult to break down Croatia’s disciplined defense in the second half. Doak missed a promising chance when sent clear by Billy Gilmour but hesitated to finish decisively. Moments later, Gilmour squandered another opportunity, opting for an ambitious shot instead of feeding Doak in a better position.
Recognizing the need for a spark, Clarke introduced McGinn, Ryan Gauld, and Lyndon Dykes midway through the second half. The substitutions injected fresh energy into the team, but Croatia nearly capitalized on a rare counterattack. Ivan Perisic, set up by a sublime pass from Luka Modric, narrowly missed scoring with a clever flick past the onrushing Gordon.
With time running out, Scotland finally found their breakthrough. Doak, instrumental throughout the game, made a surging run down the right flank and delivered a dangerous cross into the box. Croatian goalkeeper Dominik Kotarski could only parry the ball into the path of McGinn, who hammered it home with just four minutes left on the clock. The goal, McGinn’s 19th at the international level, secured a vital victory and sent Hampden Park into celebration.
The result highlighted Scotland’s resilience and marked another clean sheet for Gordon, who had previously excelled against top-tier opponents. With this win, Scotland moves into a promising position ahead of their next match against Poland. The team will look to build on this momentum as they aim for a strong finish in the Nations League and a favorable draw for World Cup qualification.
