The magician Modric decides the group D of Euro 2020 . The Real Madrid player became the main protagonist of the night to solve all the unknowns that remained to be cleared. With a great goal at Hampden Park and an assist to Perisic he sends Scotland away (3-1) and classifies his Croatia – until his appearance they were eliminated – as second in the group. They also take advantage of the victory by the minimum of England against the Czech Republic (0-1), who pass as first and third after Sterling’s early goal.
Qualification was at stake at both Wembley and Hampden Park. The Czech Republic and England had been classified before the start. The results of the other groups assured them, in the worst case, to be one of the best third. The tie ensured the first and second places, respectively, but those of Southgate played at home and wanted to impose their status as favorites.
The Glasgow thing was a full-fledged final. Scotland and Croatia needed victory to qualify. It was not worth a draw to any, not even to the runner-up in the world, who came third. The two had a point in the locker and the accounts were clear, with four they were in eighths, with two they went home. Also, depending on the result of the other match, both had slight chances of being second in this group D.
At 9:00 p.m., simultaneously, football began in the English and Scottish capitals. The goals have not been the strong point of this group, but with the four teams depending on themselves, who could imagine that there were not. What was clear is that neither had an excessive eye on what happened in the other scenario, as they were two direct duels.
The afternoon started lively with the two British teams looking to get ahead. They played in front of their public and had to take advantage of their breath to prevail. Scotland wanted to hit first, with two clear chances, but they found Livakovic. At Wembley it was Sterling who did hit, but the ball hit the wood, after a Vaseline that beat Vaclik.
Sterling makes England first
In the next he had, the City did not forgive. Grealish took advantage of a second play to receive on the left and put a cross at the far post that Vaclik did not reach. Sterling appeared there to head to the back of the net and thus transform the dominance that was seen on the pitch during the first minutes. Something that, in Scotland, those of Robertson, McTominay and company, who were also superior to Croatia, did not achieve.
However, the runner-up in the world still has part of that job and, of course, the quality that led her to stay at the gates of glory three years ago. Ball from the right that veteran Perisic headed, leaving it dead for the arrival and Vlasic’s shot, which beat Marshall. The 1-0, in addition, left the chess players one goal, his or England’s, to get in as seconds.
He left the Scots touched and Modric was close to taking advantage of it, but deflected the goal. The Balkan team began to feel comfortable, increasingly dominant, although the locals did not give up. McGinn had the tie, but he was wrong. On the brink of halftime, Robertson caught a rebound, sent the ball into the area, which came out clear again and, on the balcony of the area, hit it with all of McGregor, who tied.
There was a precious second part in Hampden Park. The draw did not serve anyone, so they needed to push looking for the goal. The one with no news was from the Czech Republic, which was more of a passive actor at Wembley, holding the 1-0 without suffering excessively and hardly disturbing Pickford.
The last 45 minutes began and Croatia put one more march. Vlasic found Gvardiol first with a superb pass to leave him alone, but he lost control and gave Marshall the lead back. Then Modric appeared to send a shipment to Perisic, who smashed her in the meta’s chest. Scotland had the same life as them and warned again, staying on the verge of scoring McGinn.
Modric’s magic decides the group
The goal was resisted, until the Wizard of Zadar appeared . The best player on the pitch at Hampden Park sent her to the very squad. In a great combination of Croatia, the ball was dead in the edge of the area and Luka Modric did not forgive. On the stage where his admired Zidane left a work of art, the Madridista pulled off a superb shoe to get his team into the round of 16 of this European Championship.
There was about half an hour to go, but Scotland had an impossible before them. It was not easy to turn the game around and overcome a team that is expert in this type of championship. Still they tried hard, until the Ballon d’Or reappeared. From the corner, the genius pulled out of the hat a perfect center that the other incombustible headed in an excellent way: Perisic.
In 45 minutes, Croatia managed not only to sign their classification, but to relegate the Czech Republic to third place. The scoreboard did not move in the English capital, which gave a double prize to the Balkans, as they will face the second of the group from Spain. England waits for the second in the group of death to fall, while the Czechs will have to wait to meet their rival, a first.
