19th of June 2010
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Printable versionScotland, Eduard-owned
Scotland manager Craig Levein changed the shape of his team for yesterdays World Cup match against Croatia starting with only Kris Boyd upfront on his own and a five man midfield behind him with attacking midfielder Kris Commons playing slightly behind the striker.
Despite Scotlands defensive approach to the game, the Scottish defense was split open as soon as the first minute. Croatian right back Vedran Corluka played striker Ivica Olic into the box and the striker found himself with ages to pick his spot but could only shoot poorly straight at Craig Gordon.
Olic came close again a couple of minutes later, this time he was played in by captain Darijo Srno but once again he shot poorly straight at Gordon.
Ivica Olic was giving the Scottish defense an absolute nightmare of a first half and came close to scoring once again on the 25th minute. The Croatian striker picked the ball up on the edge of the box and turned right back Alan Hutton superbly before sending a brilliant curling effort towards goal but Scottish keeper Craig Gordon matched the shots brilliance by pulling of a stunning diving save before defender Christophe Berra booted the ball clear.
Craig Gordon was producing a world class performance in the first half and was called into action five minutes before the end of it once again. This time it wasn't Olic who came close it was his strike partner Eduardo who sprinted past left back Paul Dixon before smashing a shot towards the bottom left hand corner of Gordon's goal but the Sunderland goalkeeper managed to stretch out his hand and tip it wide of his goal.
The match remained goal less right up to the half time stage where Scotland went in counting there chickens. Manager Craig Levein made two changes at half time bringing on striker Steven Fletcher for attackive midfielder Kris Commons and James McFadden who was playing on the left wing for youngster John Fleck who controversially was subbed off vs Saudi Arabia after receiving a yellow card for diving.
Despite the substitutions it was Croatia who scored first just five minutes into the second half. A Scott Robertson free kick was cleared long by the Croatian defense and was found by Ivica Olic, the striker burst down the wing before crossing it low into the box for his strike partner Eduardo who calmly slotted the ball in.
Croatia 1-0 Scotland
Croatia made it 2-0 just five minutes later. John Fleck lost the ball in midfield to Ognjen Vukojevic who played it into Eduardo in the box and the striker looked for his second off the game but Craig Gordon managed to stop his shot only for the rebound to fall to Ivica Olic and the striker who terrorised the Scottish defense in the first half made no mistake in simply passing the ball into the net.
Croatia 2-0 Scotland
Scotland finally had there first chance of the game on the 66th minute. After losing the ball winger Steven Naismith fought back excellently to get the ball back he then played it to Steven Fletcher who exchanged a neat one-two with strike partner Kris Boyd before cutting it back to Scott Robertson who's shot was well saved by the Croatian goalkeeper.
Scotland made there final substitution on the 70th minute subbing Kris Boyd off for Lee Miller who scored the winner vs Saudi Arabia.
Scotland were looking brighter after the substitution but lost a third on the 75th minute. A quick free kick taken by Ivica Olic found Eduardo in the box and the striker brilliantly got past Berra before slotting in his second of the game.
Croatia 3-0 Scotland
Scotland found the net just minutes after Croatia's third. Dixon and Fleck linked up superbly up the left wing before Fleck passed it to Steven Naismith who had drifted inside from the right wing and the winger held onto the ball strongly before precisely playing striker Steven Fletcher in one on one and the striker smashed the ball into the top corner of the net.
Croatia 3-1 Scotland
The goal had gave Scotland confidence and just minutes later Alan Hutton came close to making it 3-2. A quick throw in taken by Paul Dixon found Lee Miller and the striker looked up and crossed it towards Hutton but the right back got a nose bleed and blasted the ball over.
Just as Scotland were looking better Croatia stuck a nail into them by scoring a fourth. Midfielder Niko Kranjcar drove through the midfield and 30 yards out he smashed a powerful effort towards goal and it crashed into the top corner of Craig Gordon's goal.
Croatia 4-1 Scotland
Despite the goal Scotland roared back trying to install just a little bit of pride. John Fleck raced up the line skinning two Croatian players before crossing it into Steven Fletcher and the striker rose brilliantly but his header was saved well by the Croatian keeper.
Scotland did regain some pride deep into stoppage time. A long ball over the top evaded the Croatian defense and Lee Miller raced on with the ball before cutting it back to Steven Fletcher and the striker scored his second of the game.
Croatia 4-2 Scotland
The second goal was too little too late and the referee blew for full time meaning Scotland now have to beat Morocco and hope that Croatia beat Saudi Arabia to go through.
Croatia 4-2 Scotland
Steven Fletcher x2
Scotland Line Up: Gordon, Hutton, Dixon, Berra, Webster, Naismith, McFadden (Fleck 45), Thomson, Robertson, Commons (S.Fletcher 25), Boyd (Miller 70)
Man of the match: The Croatian strike force of Ivica Olic and Eduardo who ran the Scottish defense raggid.
Despite Scotlands defensive approach to the game, the Scottish defense was split open as soon as the first minute. Croatian right back Vedran Corluka played striker Ivica Olic into the box and the striker found himself with ages to pick his spot but could only shoot poorly straight at Craig Gordon.
Olic came close again a couple of minutes later, this time he was played in by captain Darijo Srno but once again he shot poorly straight at Gordon.
Ivica Olic was giving the Scottish defense an absolute nightmare of a first half and came close to scoring once again on the 25th minute. The Croatian striker picked the ball up on the edge of the box and turned right back Alan Hutton superbly before sending a brilliant curling effort towards goal but Scottish keeper Craig Gordon matched the shots brilliance by pulling of a stunning diving save before defender Christophe Berra booted the ball clear.
Craig Gordon was producing a world class performance in the first half and was called into action five minutes before the end of it once again. This time it wasn't Olic who came close it was his strike partner Eduardo who sprinted past left back Paul Dixon before smashing a shot towards the bottom left hand corner of Gordon's goal but the Sunderland goalkeeper managed to stretch out his hand and tip it wide of his goal.
The match remained goal less right up to the half time stage where Scotland went in counting there chickens. Manager Craig Levein made two changes at half time bringing on striker Steven Fletcher for attackive midfielder Kris Commons and James McFadden who was playing on the left wing for youngster John Fleck who controversially was subbed off vs Saudi Arabia after receiving a yellow card for diving.
Despite the substitutions it was Croatia who scored first just five minutes into the second half. A Scott Robertson free kick was cleared long by the Croatian defense and was found by Ivica Olic, the striker burst down the wing before crossing it low into the box for his strike partner Eduardo who calmly slotted the ball in.
Croatia 1-0 Scotland
Croatia made it 2-0 just five minutes later. John Fleck lost the ball in midfield to Ognjen Vukojevic who played it into Eduardo in the box and the striker looked for his second off the game but Craig Gordon managed to stop his shot only for the rebound to fall to Ivica Olic and the striker who terrorised the Scottish defense in the first half made no mistake in simply passing the ball into the net.
Croatia 2-0 Scotland
Scotland finally had there first chance of the game on the 66th minute. After losing the ball winger Steven Naismith fought back excellently to get the ball back he then played it to Steven Fletcher who exchanged a neat one-two with strike partner Kris Boyd before cutting it back to Scott Robertson who's shot was well saved by the Croatian goalkeeper.
Scotland made there final substitution on the 70th minute subbing Kris Boyd off for Lee Miller who scored the winner vs Saudi Arabia.
Scotland were looking brighter after the substitution but lost a third on the 75th minute. A quick free kick taken by Ivica Olic found Eduardo in the box and the striker brilliantly got past Berra before slotting in his second of the game.
Croatia 3-0 Scotland
Scotland found the net just minutes after Croatia's third. Dixon and Fleck linked up superbly up the left wing before Fleck passed it to Steven Naismith who had drifted inside from the right wing and the winger held onto the ball strongly before precisely playing striker Steven Fletcher in one on one and the striker smashed the ball into the top corner of the net.
Croatia 3-1 Scotland
The goal had gave Scotland confidence and just minutes later Alan Hutton came close to making it 3-2. A quick throw in taken by Paul Dixon found Lee Miller and the striker looked up and crossed it towards Hutton but the right back got a nose bleed and blasted the ball over.
Just as Scotland were looking better Croatia stuck a nail into them by scoring a fourth. Midfielder Niko Kranjcar drove through the midfield and 30 yards out he smashed a powerful effort towards goal and it crashed into the top corner of Craig Gordon's goal.
Croatia 4-1 Scotland
Despite the goal Scotland roared back trying to install just a little bit of pride. John Fleck raced up the line skinning two Croatian players before crossing it into Steven Fletcher and the striker rose brilliantly but his header was saved well by the Croatian keeper.
Scotland did regain some pride deep into stoppage time. A long ball over the top evaded the Croatian defense and Lee Miller raced on with the ball before cutting it back to Steven Fletcher and the striker scored his second of the game.
Croatia 4-2 Scotland
The second goal was too little too late and the referee blew for full time meaning Scotland now have to beat Morocco and hope that Croatia beat Saudi Arabia to go through.
Croatia 4-2 Scotland
Steven Fletcher x2
Scotland Line Up: Gordon, Hutton, Dixon, Berra, Webster, Naismith, McFadden (Fleck 45), Thomson, Robertson, Commons (S.Fletcher 25), Boyd (Miller 70)
Man of the match: The Croatian strike force of Ivica Olic and Eduardo who ran the Scottish defense raggid.
Group C as it currently now stands:
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