Luka Modric stole the show as Scotland’s dream of progressing at Euro 2020 was ended by a defeat to Croatia at Hampden.
The Real Madrid midfielder superbly restored Croatia’s lead just after the hour mark and was a key figure throughout.
It was enough for him to earn your highest rating in our Player Rater with 8.09.
As a reflection of the scoreline, 3-1, Scotland’s highest-rated player was Callum McGregor, who scored a first-half equaliser, with 5.35.
Even the most ardent Scotland fan could only gasp in broken-hearted admiration. If your dreams were going to be crushed, the fatal blow may as well be a goal from the heavens.
Modric was not surprisingly the man who provided it, stepping on to the ball outside Scotland’s box to score one of the best strikes of this or any other European Championship.
Not bad for a 35-year-old who has faced murmurs of being “past it”.
Scotland knew the midfielder was the danger man. Knowing it and stopping are two different things, though.
Any lesser mortal would have been tempted – to borrow the Glasgow vernacular – to “leather it”, put the laces through the ball and hope it hits the target. Not Modric, the little magician, who chose precision over power.
The 35-year-old was the calmest man inside Hampden as he took a step and caressed an outrageous outside-of-the-boot strike into the top left-hand corner.
Scotland goalkeeper David Marshall was helpless. The home nation, having fought back with a superb Callum McGregor equaliser shortly before half-time, was crestfallen and heading out of the tournament.
BBC Sport.
