Euro 2020: Record-breaking Luka Modric leads Croatia into last 16

Croatia, lambasted by their own fans and media after their first two games, next face the runner-up of Group E – where Sweden, Slovakia, Spain and Poland are still jockeying for position – in Copenhagen on June 28.

An inspired Luka Modric curled home a magnificent finish as Croatia shrugged off a slow start to Euro 2020 to beat Scotland 3-1 on Tuesday (June 22) and reach the last 16 in style, leaving their opponents again on the tournament scrap-heap. Nikola Vlasic and Ivan Perisic were also on target for Croatia in a victory that lifted Zlatko Dalic’s side – so leggy and unconvincing in their first two games – to second in Group D on four points. They finished ahead, on goals scored, of the Czech Republic, who lost 1-0 to group winners England. Croatia, lambasted by their own fans and media after their first two games, next face the runner-up of Group E – where Sweden, Slovakia, Spain and Poland are still jockeying for position – in Copenhagen on June 28. Scotland, who scored their only goal of the tournament through Callum McGregor, finished bottom of the pile on one point, despite a positive performance against England lifting hopes of reaching their first knockouts of a major tournament. Modric’s form had been called into question at the tournament, but the 35-year-old shaped a delightful finish into the corner of the net with the outside of his foot in the second half to make it 2-1.