Scotland 1-1 Croatia: Understudies meet demands of impressive Croatians

Scotland 1
(30) Miller

Croatia 1
Kranjcar (10)

WHATEVER uncertainty may have invaded George Burley's thoughts when he was offered the Scotland manager's job would surely have been dissolved by this very creditable first outing for his new charges. Predictably outshone by Croatia in terms of virtuosity for much of the match, the Scots fulfilled Burley's deepest wish by reproducing the immovable commitment to the cause that had marked their endeavours through the Euro 2008 qualifying campaign.

Even falling behind to an early goal from Niko Kranjcar was not sufficient to quell the home team's spirit, the equaliser from Kenny Miller bringing a scoreline that, by the end of an intriguing 90 minutes, was entirely appropriate.

That goal from Kranjcar may have led the Croatians to believe they were back at Wembley, the ease and expertise with which it was executed reminiscent of the night in November when they eliminated England from Euro 2008.

Even if just under ten minutes had been played, it had been sufficient time to confirm the visitors' reputation for quick, intelligent and incisive football, the kind of thing that induces a mass sinking feeling in the stands whenever they move menacingly in a forward direction.

Slaven Bilic operated what was basically a 3-5-2 formation, but the speed at which his players inter-changed imparted the impression that they had been weaned on the old Dutch concept of total football, each seemingly comfortable in whatever area of the field he occupied and, of course, perfectly happy with the ball at his feet.

This all-round mastery made the Scots' comeback with Miller's goal the more creditable, even if it seemed merely to rouse Croatia into general domination of the 15 minutes that remained of the first half. Indeed, for most of those first 45 minutes, Burley's side made only sporadic invasions of their opponents' territory, Miller's strike giving them a perfect goals-to-chances ratio.

The visitors were appreciably more dangerous, and the deadliness of Kranjcar's finishing when they took the lead made it a surprise that they should leave the field at the interval without adding to their total.

It was from a throw on the left that the endlessly impressive Luka Modric stabbed the ball forward to Kranjcar through the inside-left channel. The Portsmouth midfielder took a couple of strides forward before hitting a volley from 20 yards that swerved and dipped viciously, leaving Craig Gordon utterly bewildered. The big goalkeeper began to move as the ball was struck, but appeared to realise in an instant that any attempt at prevention would be futile.

When Modric, soon after, skewered the home defence with another brilliantly-measured pass to Ivika Olic, the chill that had already settled in the stands from meteorological sources would threaten to freeze the blood of the home fans. The Hamburg forward did not allow the defenders time to settle, dispatching a stinging, low cross from the left with his first touch, causing Stephen McManus to send the ball clumsily towards Gordon, the goalkeeper forced to scramble the ball out of his six-yard box as the challengers closed in.

But the Scots soon after contrived a series of slick passes through the heart of the midfield that was ruined by Alan Hutton's running offside before receiving Paul Hartley's service. It was, however, an encouraging moment, to be followed soon after by the equaliser.

It was Steven Fletcher who delivered the ball long, almost from left-back, teasing Robert Kovac into an attempt at interception that failed, the ball skidding through to Miller, clear on the left. The Derby striker moved inside and, from a difficult angle, hit a low, powerful drive that took a slight deflection from the challenging Josip Simunic on its way past Stipe Pletikosa and into the far corner of the net.

If the primary exercise for Burley was an examination of his players for confirmation that they would continue the commitment, energy and spirit they had shown Alex McLeish, he would be utterly satisfied.

There was a willingness about his players to comply with the manager's wish to attack and defend as a team, to demonstrate the kind of inter-dependence that fosters camaraderie, that was evident throughout the match. There would be scares and errors, but Burley was clearly so pleased with what he had seen that he was able to use a succession of substitutes.

When Gary Caldwell made way for Russell Anderson in the 70th minute, it was to the accompaniment of applause from supporters who remembered his extraordinary piece of defensive work 13 minutes before. From a corner kick on the right, the ball sailed out to Kranjcar on the left and, after coming inside, the midfielder hit a low drive into the mass of players inside the area.

The ball took a wicked deflection close to goal which brought an excellent save from Gordon, but the loose ball would have been sent past him by either of two Croatian players but for Caldwell's alertness, the Celtic defender quickly hooking the ball back over his own head and away from danger.

There was no noticeable increase in the incidence of Scottish attacks in the second half, but they did come close to taking the lead even before Caldwell's heroics with Shaun Maloney's corner kick from the right. Miller found space to head the ball powerfully towards its target, but it was blocked at the post by Kranjcar, the midfielder/attacker underlining the point about the Croatians' versatility by acting as an effective auxiliary defender.

There will be other serious tests in the months to come, but, considering the pre-match depletion of his playing resources, Burley would be entitled to regard this first of his tenure as an encouraging portent.