Football singularity

Chapter 818: Chapter 818 A Highland Charge (Part I)

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[22-06-2021 | Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland | 20:00 BST]

The rain had stopped an hour before kick-off, but Hampden Park still glistened under the floodlights, the turf glowing emerald against the dark grandstands. Sixteen thousand Scottish supporters packed into the limited-capacity stadium, scarves held high, voices already hoarse from belting out Flower of Scotland and Sweet Caroline before a single ball had been kicked. This was their first major tournament in twenty-three years, and they were not going to let it end with a whimper.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to Hampden Park in Glasgow," the lead commentator, Jonathan Pearce, began as the camera panned across the swaying tartan in the stands. "Scotland against Croatia, the final round of Group D, and the equation is simple: the Scots must win. Two draws against Czechia and England have left them in a precarious position, and only three points will do tonight."

"And what an atmosphere they’ve created, Jonathan," his co-commentator, Glenn Hoddle, added. "You can feel the desperation, passion, but also the belief. Tom Walker scored twice on his debut against Czechia, and Scotland fans will be hoping for more of the same tonight. Although looking at the team sheet, Steve Clarke has opted for experience up top."

The teams had emerged from the tunnel moments earlier, and the two anthems played with the Scottish anthem rolling around the bowl with deafening force. Despite Croatia, technically being the home team in the fixture, it was clear they were in enemy territory. Dressed in their iconic red-and-white checkered kit, they shook hands with the Scots and referees before taking their team photo.

---

Croatia: 4-2-3-1

GK: D. Livaković

RB: J. Juranović, CB: D. Lovren, D. Vida, LB: J. Gvardiol

CDM: M. Kovačić, M. Brozović

Rm: I. Perišić, CAM: L. Modrić, LM: N. Vlašić

ST: B. Petković

Manager: Zlatko Dalić

VS

Scotland: 3-5-2

ST: C. Adams, L. Dykes

LM: A. Robertson, CM: C. McGregor, J. McGinn, S. Armstrong, RM: S. O’Donnell

CB: K. Tierney, G. Hanley, S. McTominay

GK: D. Marshall

Manager: Steve Clarke

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"Steve Clarke sticking with his three-at-the-back system," Pearce noted as the formations appeared on screen. "Two strikers up top in Adams and Dykes, with Walker — the breakout star of Scotland’s tournament — on the bench."

"Bold call, that," Hoddle observed. "Walker has been one of the stars of the tournament after his brace on debut. But Clarke seems to want the physicality of Dykes alongside Adams to give Croatia’s defenders something to think about. We’ll see if it pays off."

(FWEEET!)

The whistle cut through the night, and Croatia kicked off, Modrić immediately demanding the ball and stroking it back to Brozović. The Croatian midfield, anchored by the magisterial Real Madrid captain, set about their familiar rhythm — patient, probing, slow-burning passes designed to draw Scotland out of their defensive shape.

[3’]

The opening exchanges were a cagey affair of both sides feeling each other out. Modrić collected the ball deep, as he spun away from his McGregor and played a clever diagonal pass into Perišić on the right. The winger immediately drove at Robertson on the Scottish left. The Liverpool captain expertly shepherded him toward the touchline, refusing to dive in, forcing the Inter winger to play it back to Juranović.

The Croatian right-back took one touch, then floated a long ball toward Petković in the channel before Dykes could shut him down. The striker held off McTominay’s challenge, cushioning it onto Vlašić’s path, who was arriving from the left flank. The left winger took a touch, looking to go for goal, but didn’t seem to find space as navy shirts blocked his path, forcing him to release Modrić into space at the top of the box.

"Modrić has time," Pearce noted.

The Croatian captain shaped to shoot, drawing Hanley out of position, then slipped a clever pass to his right where Perišić had ghosted in. The Inter man struck it first time, sending a low effort across the goal, but Marshall reacted brilliantly, dropping to his knees and palming the ball away for a corner.

"What a save from David Marshall!" Hoddle exclaimed. "Hampden Park breathes a sigh of relief! That’s exactly the start Scotland did NOT need."

[7’]

The corner was whipped in by Modrić with venom, curling toward the near post where Lovren rose above Hanley with a snarl. The veteran defender’s header was vicious, glancing across the six-yard box and beyond Marshall’s reach. Tierney tried to lunge on the line, trying to hack it clear, but he was too late, and the ball had already crossed before his boot could reach it.

The Croatian section in the away end erupted, scarves flying, voices roaring as Lovren sprinted toward the corner flag like a bull in a china shop. His teammates piling onto him in jubilation, glad to start off on the right foot.

[Scotland 0-1 Croatia — Lovren 7’]

"DEZJAN LOVREN!" Pearce roared. "And Scotland’s tournament hopes are hanging by a thread already! Modrić with the delivery, Lovren with the finish, and Hampden Park is stunned!"

"You can see the deflation, Jonathan," Hoddle said quietly. "Seven minutes in. Scotland needed to keep things tight in the opening stages, and they’ve conceded from a set piece. That’s the worst possible start."

Down on the touchline, Steve Clarke stood with his hands on his hips, staring at the turf. His assistant whispered something in his ear, but the Scotland manager waved him off, as he stepped forward to bark instructions. He wanted them to tighten up in the middle of the play with more energy if they were to stand any chance of a reversal.

[12’]

Scotland responded to Clark’s instructions by going forward with venom. McGinn won the ball off Brozović near the halfway line, immediately driving forward into space. He played it wide to Robertson on the left, who took one touch and whipped in a low cross toward the penalty spot.

Adams attacked it, getting between Vida and Lovren, but Livaković was off his line in a flash, claiming it with strong wrists before the Southampton striker could connect. The Croatian keeper held onto the ball for a long beat, eyeing his options before rolling it out to Gvardiol. The match settled into a rhythm Croatia were happy with, slow, patient possession, with Modrić pulling the strings from deep. Brozović and Kovačić shielded the back four like a pair of veteran bouncers, breaking up every Scottish attack before it could fully develop.

[24’]

A rare moment of Scottish quality came in the 24th minute when McGregor intercepted a stray Modrić pass and immediately fed Armstrong on the run. The Southampton midfielder drove forward into space, dragging Vlašić with him, before slipping a clever pass between Vida and Gvardiol into the path of Dykes.

The Scottish striker took one touch, then unleashed a powerful right-footed strike from the edge of the area. The ball arrowed across the goal toward the bottom left corner, but Livaković flew across his goal, his fingertips clawing the ball away in a desperate one-handed save.

"Oh, Livaković!" Pearce exclaimed. "What a save! Dykes thought he had it, but the Croatian keeper has Scotland’s first real chance!"

"That’s why he’s their number one," Hoddle added. "Pure reflex save. Dykes will be wondering what he has to do."

The corner came in, whipped toward the near post by McGinn, but Vida rose above the pack and headed it clear to the edge of the box. Brozović collected it cleanly, immediately looking to launch a counter, but McGregor was on him in a flash, scything through with a tackle that won the ball but caught the Croatian’s heel.

(FWEEET!)

The Spanish referee, Carlos del Cerro Grande, blew sharply and reached for his pocket, showing McGregor a yellow card. The Celtic captain accepted it with a nod, jogging back into position without complaint.

"First card of the match," Pearce noted. "And it had to be McGregor’s. Scotland will need him for the second half."

[30’]

Steve Clarke had seen enough, and after Adams missed a one-on-one, he had to make a change. As the corner was being prepared, the fourth official’s board lit up on the touchline — a red 9 and a green 21.

"And here comes Tom Walker!" Pearce announced. "Steve Clarke makes the change earlier than expected. Adams comes off, Walker comes on. Scotland is rolling the dice."

The Scottish section at Hampden Park erupted as the twenty-year-old jogged onto the pitch, taking his position next to Dykes. Walker’s blond hair was styled in a low skin fade with a messy fringe that bounced with every step he took. Clarke grabbed Tierney by the shoulders, giving him some instructions before the match could resume.

"Big moment for the lad," Hoddle observed. "Two goals on debut, and now he’s being asked to save Scotland’s tournament. No pressure, eh?"

"We know he is good and what he can do, it’s just a question of how many chances he gets," Pearce added. "And at six-foot-four, with that pace, he gives Scotland a different threat. Let’s see how Croatia adjust."

Lovren immediately turned to Vida, the two veterans exchanging a quick word — they knew the West Ham man, having studied his film before the game. The corner came in, swung dangerously toward the near post by McGinn, but Croatia cleared it desperately, the ball ricocheting off Lovren’s shin and out for a throw.

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TO BE CONTINUED...

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