Scotland stole a precious World Cup point in the Maksimir stadium last night and might even have filched victory had a Don Hutchison shot in the 70th minute not fizzed wide of a post.
It was a bleak night, though, in other ways for Craig Brown. In comical fashion, the Scottish coach was sent to the stand by Gilles Veissiere, the French referee, after an untypical outburst.
The game had a frenetic edge but for the Scotland camp this was still a gloomy occasion. The dreadful news earlier in the day of the death of the country's first minister, Donald Dewar, created a pall and even a suggestion that the game should have been called off. The Scottish players wore black armbands and observed a minute's silence, while the 2,000-strong Tartan Army for once hardly raised a chorus.
With Alen Boksic and Robert Prosinecki showing their class, the game was lively enough, though Croatia are clearly a fitful lot. The way they breezed into the lead was an intoxicating sight, but they were equally as shoddy when they allowed the Scots back into the match.
Boksic struck a beautiful goal during an opening period in which the Scots were turned dizzy. Zvonimir Soldo's raking pass arrowed through the Scottish defence, spinning Matt Elliott through 360 degrees and leaving Boksic to bear through on goal. The striker's control and finish were perfection: killing the pace of the pass, nudging the ball to his right foot and belting it past Neil Sullivan.
The Croatians had already peppered Scotland's goal with efforts before, somewhat miraculously, the visitors contrived an equaliser. Colin Hendry appealed for a penalty after being hauled down just outside the area and, within the same 24th minute, Colin Cameron's low cross was met by Kevin Gallacher, who stabbed it home from seven yards.
Croatia: Pavlovic; Kovac, Jarni (Zivkovic 46), Soldo (Biscan 46), Stimac, Simic, Saric, Prosinecki, Balaban, Kovac, Boksic (Vugrinec 76). Goal: Boksic 16.
Scotland: Sullivan; Weir, Naysmith; Elliott, Hendry, Boyd, Johnston (Dickov 46, Holt 90), Burley, Gallacher, Hutchison, Cameron. Goal: Gallacher 24.
Referee: J Vessiere (France).
