John McGinn ended Scotland's long wait for a victory with a decisive goal in the Nations League match against Croatia. It had been a frustrating 17 months since Scotland last celebrated a win at Hampden Park, following their triumph over Georgia. During this period, the team managed only one victory in 16 matches, making McGinn's late strike all the more significant as it came against a Croatia side reduced to 10 men. While McGinn's goal secured the points, it was also a night to remember for 19-year-old Ben Doak, who made a notable impact on the international stage. His performance captured the attention of the Tartan Army, and manager Steve Clarke expressed his approval, saying, “He was good. I thought he might be.”

**Scotland vs. Croatia: Nations League – Live Updates** The Nations League clash kicks off at 7:45 PM GMT. Tonight's match program features a striking cover of Craig Gordon depicted as an old-school comic-book hero. At 41, Gordon continues to be a stalwart for Scotland, having made 77 appearances for the national team. While the artistic tribute is well-deserved, it raises concerns about the potential consequences if anything were to happen to him during the match. In such a scenario, manager Steve Clarke would have to rely on a debutant goalkeeper, either Robby McCrorie or Cieran Slicker. McCrorie, 26, has played 12 times for Kilmarnock this season after a challenging stint at Rangers, while 22-year-old Slicker has made two League Cup appearances for Ipswich and has experience with Manchester City U21s and Rochdale. If either is called into action tonight, it could lead to a heartwarming underdog story reminiscent of Nigel Spink's heroics in the 1982 European Cup final. Scotland's starting XI features a notable presence from Middlesbrough, with striker Tommy Conway making his first international start after scoring five goals in the Championship this season. He replaces the unavailable Ché Adams, while his club teammate Ben Doak retains his spot for the third consecutive match. Surprisingly, John McGinn, who has had a mixed run at Aston Villa lately, finds himself on the bench. As the match approaches, all eyes will be on the pitch and the unfolding drama.

Andrej Kramaric's late goal secured a victory for Croatia, deepening Scotland's woes in their recent match. The 120 days since Scotland's Euro 2024 opener have been difficult for manager Steve Clarke, marked by a disappointing exit from the tournament and a shaky start in the Nations League. The team's record has now worsened to just one win in 15 matches, following this latest defeat. The circumstances of the loss were particularly painful for Scotland. In the dying moments of the game, Ché Adams thought he had equalized, only for the video assistant referee to intervene and disallow the goal for offside. Clarke, who had briefly celebrated the potential equalizer, was left visibly dejected. If Scotland's struggles continue, questions will inevitably arise regarding Clarke's future as manager, especially as the team prepares for World Cup qualifying. While it may seem harsh to judge him too severely—given his success in leading Scotland to consecutive European Championships—results in football often dictate a manager's fate.