Scotland 1 Croatia1:IT RAINED in Glasgow and the Croatians were in town but there was no brolly for George Burley, just a debut as Scotland manager that produced what Steve McClaren never came close to achieving; a comfortable draw against Slaven Bilic's highly-rated team.
Admittedly this was a friendly without the intensity and stakes of England's two European Championship qualifying defeats against the Croatians but for the 17th man to manage Scotland, and 17 years after his managerial career began at Ayr United, this was a hugely gratifying night for the man from Cumnock.
Seven withdrawals and the calibre of the opposition had rendered this an awkward debut for Burley yet, ultimately, it was one he passed convincingly. Scotland were indebted to goalkeeper Craig Gordon for the draw and Bilic's team did not hit the heights of Wembley but that does not diminish the encouragement for Burley. He had asked for a performance not a result and he received both. But for Pletikosa's 85th minute save from Kris Boyd, he could have been celebrating a notable scalp too.
Hampden last witnessed a home win in a friendly international 12 years ago, when Ally McCoist scored the only goal against Australia, and a sparsely-filled national stadium was forced to contemplate an extension to that barren record when Nico Kranjcar put Croatia ahead in the 10th minute. It was not a moment that would have ingratiated Gordon with his new manager.
Sunderland's record signing was one of seven players remaining from the side that started against Italy in November's heart-breaking European Championship qualifier, the absent four including some of Scotland's finest talent in James McFadden and Barry Ferguson, and, as on that rain-soaked evening, he was beaten from the opponents' first attack. Far too easily too, although Gordon's defence also take responsibility for the space that opened up before the Portsmouth winger.
The damage stemmed from a throw-in by the Croatian left-back Danijel Pranjic to Luka Modric and his pass gave Kranjcar freedom to shoot from 20 yards, a swerving effort that sailed down the centre of Gordon's goal.
Kenny Miller had received some brutal treatment from the Croatian defence and earned the slice of fortune that came his way when Robert Kovac slipped trying to intercept Gary Naysmith's long ball. The error left the Scotland striker clear on goal, if a little wide to unduly worry goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa. Adopting the simple philosophy that if you don't shoot you don't score, however, Miller brought Scotland level, his low drive deflecting off the studs of Josip Simunic and over Pletikosa into the top corner.
Gordon then redeemed himself with two confident stops from Kranjcar and a Darijo Srna free-kick, while Miller almost glanced Scotland into the lead five minutes after the restart with a deft header from Maloney's corner only for Pranjic to clear from the near post.
Thankfully for Scotland the visitors confronted a goalkeeper who made amends superbly for his one costly slip. Gordon produced a fine reaction save when another Kranjcer shot from 20 yards deflected through a crowded penalty area, Gary Caldwell acrobatically preventing Ivika Olic heading in the rebound, and an even better stop when the substitute Igor Budan attempted to beat the goalkeeper at his near post moments later.
SCOTLAND:Gordon, Hutton, Naysmith (McEveley 62), Caldwell (Anderson 70), McManus, Darren Fletcher (Alexander 90), Hartley, Brown (Teale 66), Maloney (Boyd 72), Miller, Steven Fletcher (Rae 46). Subs not used: Marshall, Berra, O'Connor. Booked: Brown, McManus, Naysmith.
CROATIA:Pletikosa, Robert Kovac (Knezevic 73), Corluka (Simic 85), Simunic, Srna (Leko 63), Nico Kovac (Vukojevic 46), Modric, Kranjcar, Pranjic, Petric (Klasnic 58), Olic (Budan 57). Subs not used: Galinovic. Booked: Nico Kovac, Robert Kovac, Vukojevic, Simunic.
Referee:Terje Hauge (Norway).
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