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Croatia v Scotland LIVE: Latest score as teenager Ben Doak makes first start in Nations League clash
Scotland are bidding to get their Nations League campaign off the ground as they take on Croatia in Zagreb.
Steve Clarke’s side lost both of their opening matches, going down in late defeats by Poland and Portugal in part of an eight-match winless streak stretching back beyond Euro 2024. “Not winning games is horrible,” Clarke said this week. “Performances have to be good. If the performance is good, then we have an opportunity to hopefully pick some points up.”
Clarke is having to contend with a raft of injuries, with a number of key players absent from the squad such as John McGinn, Kieran Tierney, Lawrence Shankland and Angus Gunn. Gunn’s injury means 39-year-old Croatia captain Luka Modric will not be the oldest player on the pitch, as 41-year-old Craig Gordon takes the gloves for Scotland.
The match is not being shown live on TV after the broadcast rights were not picked up by ITV, and is only available to watch on the Viaplay International YouTube channel. Follow all the live action from Croatia v Scotland below.
Croatia v Scotland
Nations League fixture being shown on Viaplay International YouTube channel
Scotland suffered late defeats to Poland and Portugal in first two games
Croatia: Livakovic, Sutalo, Caleta-Car, Gvardiol, Perisic, Modric (c), Mario Pasalic, Sosa, L. Sucic, Kramaric, Matanovic.
Scotland: Gordon, Roberston (c), Hanley, Souttar, Ralston, McLean, Gilmour, Christie, McTominay, Doak, Dykes.
Steve Clarke hands teenage forward Ben Doak his first start for Scotland
Croatia 0-0 Scotland
17:31 , Chris Wilson
30 mins
Almost a great chance for Scotland as Sosa’s cross is cut out and they counter. It’s led by Doak, who initially does well to skip past the challenge but doesn’t see McTominay free in acres of space on the left wing.
Instead, he tries to ship it to Dykes, but the pass is behind him.
Croatia 0-0 Scotland
17:30 , Chris Wilson
28 mins
Croatia are having plenty of the ball but it’s all to pedestrian, and very easy for Scotland to deal with. At the same time, Scotland’s attacking has lacked a bit of quality, as shown by the latest pass forward going straight out of play while chased by Ben Doak.
Croatia 0-0 Scotland
17:28 , Chris Wilson
25 mins
Some great defending from Ralston as he tracks back to get the clearing header on the cross in while under pressure from Sosa.
Ralston draws the foul but Scotland give it away too easily.
Croatia 0-0 Scotland
17:26 , Chris Wilson
25 mins
Christie sweeps in an inviting cross and Dykes is inches away from getting a clean header on it. A bit more action now!
Croatia 0-0 Scotland
17:25 , Chris Wilson
23 mins
A half-chance for the home side as they work it to the edge of the Scotland box before Kramaric finds the space for a shooting opportunity, but his effort is blocked.
Croatia 0-0 Scotland
17:22 , Chris Wilson
20 mins
A fairly muted start in Zagreb, though the home fans are trying to create an atmosphere.
Moments later, Gilmour fires in a shot from distance but it’s straight at Livakovic.
Croatia 0-0 Scotland
17:20 , Chris Wilson
18 mins
Gvardiol gives it away midway into his own half and McTominay pounces, but he can only drive a shot straight at the defender.
Croatia counter and a brilliant sliding challenge stops the shot, before Mario Pasalic is booked for a late challenge on Doak.
Croatia 0-0 Scotland
17:17 , Chris Wilson
16 mins
Livakovic scuffs the clearance and it almost creates an opening for Scotland, but they’re forced to recycle possession.
Robertson tries to release Christie down the left, but it’s cut out.
A solid enough start from both sides, but nothing threatening in attack from either.
Croatia 0-0 Scotland
17:15 , Chris Wilson
14 mins
Scotland haven’t really been threatened despite Croatia’s dominance on the ball, but they’ll be wary no doubt.
The home side attack again and Gvardiol tries the diagonal once more, but Robertson is there to cut it out and Scotland have it back.
Croatia 0-0 Scotland
17:13 , Chris Wilson
12 mins
Sosa’s cross is cut out but Scotland are struggling to get out of their half in the last couple of minutes. Until Gvardiol pings a diagonal to Perisic that goes out of play, that is.
Croatia 0-0 Scotland
17:12 , Chris Wilson
10 mins
Robertson tries to go on the front foot but ends up booting the ball out for a throw.
Moments later, Gilmour drives forwards into the box but his cutback is intercepted.
Not a lot to report from Zagreb so far.
Croatia 0-0 Scotland
17:10 , Chris Wilson
8 mins
Hanley slips as Croatia start an attack and he concedes the foul on the edge of the box as he tries to win it back.
Modric is standing over it – but it’s Sucic who fires into his own man and it goes for a goal kick.
Croatia 0-0 Scotland
17:08 , Chris Wilson
7 mins
Gvardiol’s clearance comes to Christie on the edge of the box but he fires wide.
Croatia 0-0 Scotland
17:07 , Chris Wilson
6 mins
There’s an adventurous attempt from Lyndon Dykes as he tries to score from halfway, but it sails over the bar.
Croatia 0-0 Scotland
17:06 , Chris Wilson
5 mins
Nothing of note has happened so far, with another Croatia attack fizzling out after the ball forward runs out for a goal kick.
Croatia 0-0 Scotland
17:04 , Chris Wilson
3 mins
Croatia have still had all the possession, but both of their brief forays forward have ended in the gloves of Gordon.
Scotland’s turn to keep possession for a little while now.
Croatia 0-0 Scotland
17:02 , Chris Wilson
1 min
There’s a distinct friendly feel to this match, with the half-full Stadion Maksimir playing a part in that.
41-year-old Craig Gordon making a start in goal could be a factor too.
It’s Croatia with all the early possession.
KICK-OFF! Croatia 0-0 Scotland
17:01 , Chris Wilson
The home side get us underway in Zagreb.
Croatia v Scotland LIVE
16:55 , Chris Wilson
Just five minutes until kick-off at the Stadion Maksimir. Will Scotland get their first win of the new Nations League campaign tonight?
Croatia match stats
16:50 , Chris Wilson
Croatia have won six of their last eight games in the Nations League, drawing one and losing one. This run comes after they won just two of their first 12 matches in the competition.
Croatia have won each of their last three home matches across all competitions and are aiming to win four such games in a row for the first time since October 2020.
Mateo Kovacic could make his 107th appearance for Croatia, moving him ahead of Ivan Rakitic into fifth for most appearances; two of the four players above him also played in Croatia’s 1-0 win against Poland last time out (Luka Modric on 180 and Ivan Perisic on 136).
Scotland match stats
16:45 , Chris Wilson
Scotland are unbeaten in their two previous away trips to face Croatia, drawing 1-1 in October 2000 and winning 1-0 in June 2013 thanks to a goal from Robert Snodgrass.
Scotland are winless in their last eight competitive matches though, having drawn three and lost five. This is the longest winless streak in their history.
The Scots could lose four games in a row for the first time since October 2019.
Scott McTominay has scored 11 goals for Scotland all in competitive fixtures. Only three players have scored more for the nation in competitive fixtures – Robert Hamilton (15/15 between 1899 and 1911), Robert McColl (13 in 13 between 1896 and 1908) and Andy Wilson (13 from 13 between 1920 and 1923).
Croatia v Scotland head-to-head
16:40 , Chris Wilson
These two sides have met just six times before, with Scotland winning two and losing one. The other three matches ended as draws.
The most recent meeting came at Euro 2020, when Scotland fell to a 3-1 loss.
Where to watch Croatia v Scotland after TV channel blackout
16:35 , Chris Wilson
Here’s a reminder of how you can watch today’s game. The match kicks off at 5pm BST (UK time), and it is not being shown on TV but is available to stream on YouTube.
The rights to Scotland’s Nations League matches is currently held by ViaPlay, but the Norwegian broadcaster stripped back its operations in the UK last year.
Therefore, Croatia vs Scotland will only be available to watch on the Viaplay International YouTube channel, and the stream will only go live at 4:50pm.
Where to watch Croatia v Scotland after TV channel blackout
Scotland in the Nations League
16:30 , Chris Wilson
The only British representative in League A this time around is Scotland, but Steve’s Clarke’s side need a good break to avoid the prospect of immediate relegation. They’ve lost two from two in Group A1 and have a host of injuries to contend with ahead of matches against Croatia and Portugal.
Finishing last in the four-nation groups means going straight down, while third faces a relegation playoff now - but the Scots have won just once in over a year now, spanning 14 games.
Who will win Nations League 2024/25 and what do England need for promotion?
16:25 , Chris Wilson
The Nations League takes centre stage once more this week as the international break returns and countries across the continent enter competitive matches once more, of a fashion at least.
While Uefa’s newest international adventure still divides opinion - and seriousness in team selections, perhaps - this season’s version does come with the usual backup qualifying spots for the next major international men’s tournament, in this case the 2026 World Cup.
In practice that means the four best group winners from the Nations League who don’t finish in the top two in World Cup qualifying groups will earn another shot at reaching USA, Mexico and Canada, by way of the playoffs. Here’s where England, the home nations and the rest of the major nations stand as we head into match rounds three and four.
Who will win Nations League 2024/25 and what do England need for promotion?
Craig Bellamy reacts after Wales throw away Nations League lead over Iceland
16:20 , Chris Wilson
Some news from the other UK teams in the Nations League...
Craig Bellamy remained upbeat after Wales surrendered a two-goal interval lead to draw their Nations League tie in Iceland.
Brennan Johnson and Harry Wilson rewarded some incisive first-half approach play to put Wales in command on a freezing night in Reykjavik. But Wales were hanging on at the end after Logi Tomasson scored and then forced Danny Ward into an unfortunate own goal at his near post inside three second-half minutes.
Orri Oskarsson smashed the crossbar from 20 yards and Jon Thorsteinsson struck a post as Wales rather fortuitously extended their unbeaten Nations League start to three games with a 2-2 draw.
Craig Bellamy reacts after Wales throw away Nations League lead over Iceland
Scotland’s injury crisis reveals a deeper problem
16:10 , Chris Wilson
It would be hard not to feel for Steve Clarke, as the beleaguered Scotland manager leant back in his chair and looked up at the board of absentees in his office. Of the 30 to 40 players considered for selection, the list contained an entire line-up of injured players, a sidelined XI. And this is ahead of two matches against top-level opposition in Croatia and Portugal, all while Scotland are in the midst of their longest winless run in their history.
It’s not a rosy picture. Clarke’s assistant, John Carver, admitted Scotland “might have to suffer” some more in the Nations League, with promotion to League A coinciding with a tough run of luck and a dire loss of form following a difficult summer at Euro 2024. Scotland certainly suffered late heartbreak last month against Poland at Hampden and Portugal in Lisbon, conceding the losing goals in the 96th and 87th minute respectively.
Luke Modric, 39, captains Croatia against Scotland
16:05 , Lawrence Ostlere
Luka Modric leads a strong Croatia line-up featuring Manchester City’s Josko Gvardiol in defence and PSV’s Ivan Perisic at left-back.
“I’m still on the pitch here for Croatia at this age for the love for football,” Modric said this week. “For me, playing for the national team is special, it’s a great honour. It keeps me motivated and pushes me forward”.
Confirmed Croatia line-up
16:00 , Lawrence Ostlere
Livakovic, Sutalo, Caleta-Car, Gvardiol, Perisic, Modric (c), Mario Pasalic, Sosa, L. Sucic, Kramaric, Matanovic.
Subs: Labrovic, Ivusic, Jakic, Erlic, Moro, Pasalic, Budumir, P. Sucic, Baturina, Petkovic, Orsic, Pjaca.
Confirmed Scotland line-up
15:53 , Lawrence Ostlere
Gordon, Roberston (c), Hanley, Souttar, Ralston, McLean, Gilmour, Christie, McTominay, Doak, Dykes.
Subs: McCracken, McCrorie, Adams, MacKenzie, Irving, Porteous, Lindsay, Morgan, Nisbet, Gauld, Devlin.
What a night for Ben Doak, the Middlesbrough forward on loan from Liverpool, who makes his first start for his country.
Team news
15:40 , Chris Wilson
We’re expecting the line-ups in around five minutes...
Possible line-ups
15:35 , Chris Wilson
Croatia XI: Livakovic; Erlic, Sutalo, Gvardiol; Pjaca, Kovacic, Modric, Baturina, Sosa; Matanovic, Kramaric
Scotland XI: Gordon; Ralston, Hanley, Souttar, Robertson; Gilmour, McLean; Forrest, McTominay, Christie; Adams
Scotland team news
15:30 , Chris Wilson
Steve Clarke’s side have been hit by an injury crisis, with up to 12 players missing from the squad. John McGinn, Angus Gunn, Kieran Tierney, Aaron Hickey, Nathan Patterson, Jack Hendry, Scott McKenna, Greg Taylor, Lewis Ferguson, Lawrence Shankland, Ross McCrorie, Tommy Conway are all unavailable.
Gunn’s absence means the 41-year-old Craig Gordon could start, almost six months on from seemingly playing his last international match against Finland. Uncapped Aberdeen full-backs Nicky Devlin and Jack MacKenzie, Preston centre-back Liam Lindsay and West Ham midfielder Andy Irving could make their Scotland debuts if called upon.
Thankfully for Scotland, Scott McTominay is fit and is in good form following his move to Napoli. The midfielder has scored in his last two Scotland games.
How can I watch Croatia vs Scotland?
15:22 , Chris Wilson
The match is not being shown on TV but is available to stream on YouTube.
The rights to Scotland’s Nations League matches is currently held by ViaPlay, but the Norwegian broadcaster stripped back its operations in the UK last year.
Last month, Scotland’s matches against Poland and Portugal were picked up by ITV - but no deal has been made ahead of the Croatia and Portugal games.
Therefore, Croatia vs Scotland will only be available to watch on the Viaplay International YouTube channel, and the stream will only go live at 4:50pm.
When is Croatia vs Scotland?
15:15 , Chris Wilson
The match kicks off at 5pm BST (UK time) on Saturday 12 October at the Stadion Maksimir in Zagreb, Croatia.
Croatia v Scotland – live
15:10 , Chris Wilson
Scotland aim to end a record winless run as they travel to Croatia in the Nations League.
Steve Clarke’s side have not won in eight competitive matches and suffered late defeats against Poland and Portugal last month.
The Tartan Army sit bottom of their Nations League group and Clarke’s squad have been decimated by injuries ahead of a tricky double-header.
The trip to Croatia, ranked 12th in the world, will be followed by the visit of Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo at Hampden on Tuesday night.
Croatia v Scotland – live
11:55 , Lawrence Ostlere
Welcome along to live coverage of Croatia v Scotland in the Nations League.
