McGinn ends Scotland’s drought with Nations League winner against Croatia

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 the entire second half of this tie with 10 men, the consequence of a red card for Petar Sucic. Scottish patience won the day by a single John McGinn goal 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 in Warsaw has huge meaning for Steve Clarke, whose team could now finish third in Group A1.

Modric didn’t scream and shout in Ronaldo fashion – that is hardly his style – but Croatia were left visibly sore than such effort, and first-half control, had gone unrewarded.

A record of one win in 16 outings heading into this fixture would ordinarily have an almighty din attached to Clarke’s position. Instead, there is a general understanding Scotland have performed reasonably well in the top tier of the Nations League. Last month’s game in Zagreb, where Scotland lost out by the odd goal in three, offered a case in point. Clarke will be afforded the opportunity to take his country to the World Cup.

One criticism that does routinely surround the Scotland manager is that he is overly loyal or hesitant towards change. Clarke contradicted that sense by handing Tommy Conway a first start in attack here. Scotland kept faith with the teenage Ben Doak. More striking was that McGinn, a mainstay of Clarke’s Scotland, was left among the substitutes. The rational explanation for that is that McGinn has recently returned from injury but the subplot is that the Aston Villa midfielder has been well short of his best in Scotland colours for some time.

A low-key opening, which Croatia dominated, was notable only for Luka Sucic blazing well over Craig Gordon’s crossbar before the veteran Scotland goalkeeper produced a terrific save to deny Andrej Kramaric. Gordon looked to be falling in the wrong direction before sticking out his right leg to divert the shot wide. Gordon turns 42 next month, meaning Modric was in the rare position of sharing a pitch with someone older than him. Modric has fond memories of Hampden, having starred as Croatia bundled Scotland out of the European Championship three years ago.

Scotland’s forwards had been peripheral until some dazzling wing play from Doak. The youngster left Josko Gvardiol stranded before cutting back to Scott McTominay. The Napoli man’s low drive was batted away by Dominik Kotarski. Gvardiol repaid Doak for his impudence by nutmegging him at the next available opportunity. Gordon then prevented Luka Sucic from sending the visitors in front with an outrageous, dipping half-volley from 22 yards.

Ripples of excitement could be heard throughout Hampden whenever Doak picked up the ball. Just before the break, there were cheers. Petar Sucic, already on a yellow card following a foul on Billy Gilmour, clumsily clattered into John Souttar on the halfway line.

The sending-off reduced the normally mild mannered Modric to wild complaint. Zlatko Dalic, the manager, remonstrated with the officials at half-time. Croatian anger would have been better directed towards their own player.

Scotland should have made numerical advantage count within 10 minutes of the restart. Instead, Doak was wasteful having been sent clear by Gilmour. Doak tried to play in Conway but with no conviction.

Gilmour was soon even more profligate, failing to spot and play in Doak before he blazed high and wide. Clarke, having seen enough, sent for McGinn alongside Ryan Gauld and Lyndon Dykes shortly after the hour mark. Croatia threw on Ivan Perisic and Mario Pasalic in place of Luka Sucic and Kramaric, who had been booked in the post-red card melee. Croatia looked content at this point to settle for a draw; the Scots were struggling to offer evidence they could snatch a win.

Perisic almost added to Scottish frustration. From a sublime Modric pass, the forward outsmarted Anthony Ralston. Perisic flicked past the onrushing Gordon but the ball bounced narrowly wide of the goalkeeper’s left-hand post. Scotland breathed again, with grumbling in the stands only intensified by Croatian time-wasting long before the clock reached 80 minutes. Not that Kristijan Jakic appeared to be bluffing as he collapsed holding his knee, leading to the full-back departing the scene on a stretcher.

Scotland looked in danger of running out of ideas when McGinn stepped forward, notching his 19th international goal. Doak was unsurprisingly involved, his run and cross leading to Kotarski only palming the ball back towards danger. McGinn struck, leading to the marquee moment of this Nations League for Clarke and his players. The manager’s faith in Doak and use of McGinn had been fully justified. Croatia lacked the energy to respond, Gordon securing back-to-back clean sheets. Having faced Ronaldo and Modric, this is no mean feat. Robert Lewandowski’s injury means it could feasibly become three from three.