Alan Pattullo’s big Scotland verdict from Zagreb.
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00:00This is Alan Patullo at the Maximir Stadium. Scotland have just suffered another hard luck
00:11story. This one seemed to come in especially agonising fashion having thought they'd snatched
00:20a point through Shea Adams or at least Shea Adams enforced goal. I think the ball might have come
00:29off a Croatian defender. But having thought they'd equalised in the dying moments VAR
00:35intervened the dread hand of VAR and denied Scotland a result that would have been possibly
00:45merited but certainly welcomed given the run they're on. But it was, I feel like I'm repeating
00:54myself, as against Portugal, as against Poland. It was a performance that contained promise and
01:05I think Steve Clarke's right in his post-match comments when he said that he's confident that
01:15luck will turn soon. Let's hope it turns against Portugal and chooses a night at Hamden because
01:22this run, I think now nine competitive matches without a win, it's going to really have to end
01:30sometime soon I think for everyone concerned, chiefly Steve Clarke. But yeah some elements of
01:40promise here tonight. Ben Doak made his first start, first youngest Scotland player to make a
01:48competitive start since Willie Johnston in 1965 I think, and he certainly showed why he was
01:57initially included in the Euro 2024 squad by Steve Clarke. Had to pull out due to injury but it was
02:04good to get a final, a belated look at him from the start and he had a part to play in Scotland's
02:11goal from Ryan Christie. Other points of note, Ryan Craig Gordon I thought played very well. He
02:18came into the side aged 41 and had a sort of personal duel going on with Luka Modric. He's
02:25younger by two years and yeah he made one good start from Modric. On Modric he was superb as
02:34always, really pulled the strings for Croatia and a privilege to be here to watch him. Anyway I'm
02:40signing off. It's been good to be back in Croatia, lovely city Zagreb. Scotland's first defeat in
02:49Zagreb actually this tonight so yeah disappointing on that front but Croatians have been very
02:57welcoming and yeah let's see what Tuesday night brings. Alan Patel, Scotsman football writer.
03:05Tune in to Scotsman.com for my match report which should be online now and
03:10my follow-up which will be online tomorrow, Sunday.