Croatia 2-1 Scotland: Doom and gloom for Steve Clarke's side

The build up to this game was dominated by political grandstanding over the fact it was not screened live on television.

It turns out those members of the Tartan Army unable to access it via online steams were not done a disservice after all. They were spared another night of suffering.

Despite a performance which offered up a significant number of positives, the outcome was another crushing blow.

Scotland are stuck in a cycle of failure these days. They play badly, they lose. They play better, as they did here, the outcome remains the same.

A team that once looked like it had forgotten what defeat tasted like now cannot remember how to get over the line.

This felt like a new kind of agony, though. Ryan Christie had fired Steve Clarke’s side into a 32nd-minute lead here in Zagreb that was deserved on the balance of play.

But the mental fragility of the team was underscored by Igor Matanovic’s equaliser just a few minutes later. Andrej Kramaric’s header 20 minutes from time was in keeping with recent events.

In the final minute of added on time, though, Che Adams’s shot trickled over the line, the Scotland bench exploded, and it felt like a prized point had been gained.

The sight of referee Istvan Kovacs ruling the goal out for offside after VAR’s intervention must have had Clarke wondering if his luck will ever change.

Once the dust settles, the plain fact is that Scotland have now lost four games on the spin and won just one of their past 14 matches. They have conceded 25 goals in 15 matches. It is a deeply troubling run that seems to know no end.

One year ago, the players were preparing to put their feet up and watch Spain clinch a win in Norway which assured Clarke’s side of qualification for the Euros.

Little did they know at that point that they were about to tumble from their lofty perch. Alarmingly, the win the side secured in Cyprus the previous month remains the last one in a competitive match.

Whatever criticisms could rightly be levelled at the manager in the summer, he has not been blessed with good fortune lately.

You could have counted a dozen players who might have featured here had they been fit. Angus Gunn, Kieran Tierney and John McGinn would have been nailed-on starters.

At 41 years and 286 days old, Craig Gordon’s inclusion was a matter of necessity due to Gunn’s injury.

Born after Gordon made his international debut, the hope was Ben Doak could demonstrate why Jurgen Klopp once said he possessed the X-factor.

The winger was handed his first start here after two run-outs from the bench. On this evidence, the 18-year-old will start many more.

With so few options, Clarke’s selection was otherwise predictable. Billy Gilmour and Kenny McLean sat behind Scott McTominay, with Christie playing off the left.

The surprise inclusion of Lyndon Dykes up front came because Adams had been struggling with illness.

It was a night to remind you that age is, indeed, just a number. Luka Modric turned 39 last month. On his 181stcap, the Real Madrid icon provided some mesmerising moments.

For all their quality, Croatia are a side who give you chances. Scotland were gift-wrapped their first of the night after just six minutes when Mario Pasalic was caught sleeping on the ball by Dykes.

The forward’s ambitious attempt to beat Dominik Livakovic from just inside the Croatian half nearly came off.

There was more encouragement for Clarke’s men when Christie arrowed a shot wide after Andy Robertson had surged up the left.

When Doak then picked Josko Gvardiol’s pocket, he arrived at the byline in a blur and cut the ball back to Billy Gilmour. Just as the Napoli man was setting himself for a shot, Modric appeared on the scene and the chance was gone.

Amid the promising start came a stark warning. Grant Hanley’s untimely slip 40 yards from goal left him back-peddling. Having fouled Matanovic on the edge of the box, he was fortunate that Pasalic’s free-kick amounted to nothing.

Scotland still looked the more likely side to break the deadlock. McTominay saw a shot blocked by Pasalic before Gilmour worked Livakovic with a low drive. Dykes was agonisingly close to converting Christie’s flashing cross with his head.

Gordon was well protected in the early stages. One moment of alarm came when Andrej Kramaric turned John Souttar inside out, but the veteran keeper repelled the fierce angled strike.

With Doak’s blistering pace wreaking havoc, Croatia looked vulnerable whenever Scotland sought to progress down the right flank. That strategy proved to be the source of the opener on 33 minutes.

McTominay’s pass from the centre to release Doak was inch perfect. The teenager accelerated forward, applied the brakes and aimed a cross for the far post.

Luka Sucic’s attempt to clear his lines was poor. Christie kept his cool and found the target from a tight angle.

For all Duje Caleta-Car got the last touch as the ball crossed the line, the goal was awarded to the Bournemouth man.

Scotland were within touching distance of a prized half-time lead. Yet within three minutes they were picking the ball out of their net again.

Ivan Perisic’s reverse ball to Matanovic opener up the visiting defence. With the shot flying through Souttar’s legs, Gordon could only watch is nestling in the far corner.

There was a greater tempo to the Croats after the break. Set up by a gem of a pass by Modric, Matanovic’s dipping strike forced Gordon to adjust his body and stretch out his left arm to save.

Just as he’d done at Hampden three years ago, Modric was now in charge. Gordon did well to stretch back and prevent the midfielder’s audacious chip finding the net.

The introduction of Martin Baturini, seemingly the heir to Modric’s throne, as a development the Scots could gave lived without. With the Dinamo Zagreb starlet picking up pockets of space, you sensed another goal was coming.

Perisic was again the instigator. His deep cross was caught flush on the volley by Borna Sosa.

Gordon’s instinctive save was brilliant but bounced up kindly for Kramaric. Standing three yards out, he placed a header above the static Hanley. Scotland were staring at yet another defeat.

The offside flag spared Christie’s blushes when he failed to hit the target after running clear on goal.

Adams went closer with a chip in the final minute after coming off the bench when had the heart ripped out of him when VAR disallowed his 95th minute effort for offside with what proved to be the last action of the night.