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Who will win Scotland vs Croatia? Our writers make their predictions for Nations League clash
John Carver reckons Scotland can still salvage second place in this Nations League group.
To be fair to Steve Clarke's no 2, he also admitted bottom of the pile is just as likely. What is certain is that it's been too long since Scotland won a game. Performances are at least improving on the face of it, having hit rock bottom in the build up to and during Euro 2025 which left everyone as flat as pancake.
A raging Ronaldo was nullified at Hampden last month, and now it's time to try and keep Luka Modric and Croatia quiet. We made a decent fist of things in Zagreb despite letting a lead slip and were a tight offside call in stoppage time away from rescuing a point. It's maybe too late to seriously affect our placing for the World Cup qualifiers, but it's important to build momentum for those games and not find ourselves still stuck in this winless rut with another tournament at stake.
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The Record Sport team share how they think things will go at Hampden on Friday night.
Keith Jackson
It's been a bruising campaign but an important one in terms of Scotland’s growth under Steve Clarke. They’ve swapped blows in pot 1 throughout it all and now seems like the perfect time to shut it down by ending a long winless run. It could come next week in Warsaw but Scotland were the better team in Zagreb and could be capable of toppling the Croats on home soil.
Scotland 2 Croatia 1
Scott McDermott
Steve Clarke’s side have been gradually putting building blocks down in this Nations League campaign and it feels like they’re now ready to go and get a victory. He’s got key players back and Scotland showed enough in Zagreb to suggest they can beat the Croats at Hampden. If they keep Luka Modric quiet and get young Ben Doak on the ball, they can pick up their first points in the group.
Scotland 2 Croatia 1
Fraser Wilson
Performances have been improving with every game in this group and with important players including John McGinn back a much needed victory can be secured. On fire Scott McTominay can lead the charge to give the Tartan Army hope of a League A rescue act but it’ll require another solid defensive performance too.
Scotland 2 Croatia 1
Robbie Copeland
It won’t be easy but it’s effectively must-win for Steve Clarke and his team. Recent results have been, well, dreadful, there was enough in the performance against Portugal, and over in Zagreb, to suggest they’ll improve soon. Hopefully, anyway!
Scotland 3 Croatia 1
Alan Galindo
It’s been a long wait for the Tartan Army to get that winning feeling but Friday night under the lights at Hampden presents that perfect opportunity. Last time out against Portugal the team showed real grit and determination and despite results of late, things haven’t been too far away. The Nations League has been a big positive for us over the years and victory in Mount Florida can spark the national team back into life and install that real belief the country was feeling on our march to qualify for Euro 2024
Scotland 2 Croatia 0
Ross Pilcher
There have been signs that Scotland are edging back to at least being harder to beat after that 0-0 draw with Portugal last time out. Where the goals are coming from remains a worry. We need snookers and winning both of our own matches is going to be a tough ask anyway, but this could well be another half step in the right direction.
Scotland 1 Croatia 1
