3 takeaways from Tuesday's action at Euro 2020

One year later, Euro 2020 is finally underway. At the end of every matchday, we’ll be dissecting the biggest talking points from all the action. Below, we look back on Tuesday’s games.

England’s scoring struggles still a concern

England may be the least convincing group winner at any Euro tournament, with just two goals scored through its opening three matches. Ironically, Raheem Sterling, one of the country’s most maligned players before the tournament, has accounted for both tallies as the national team’s supposed stars continue to confound. Some, like Jadon Sancho, can’t even get on the pitch. Though head coach Gareth Southgate can take pride in England’s defensive record – his team has recorded eight clean sheets in its last nine matches, including all three fixtures thus far at Euro 2020 – he can’t feel the same about its strikeforce.

Even after winning Group D, the Three Lions are likely to face France, Germany, or Portugal in the round of 16. England will need a much-improved performance in the final third to get past any of those sides.

Southgate has several tough decisions to make. Captain Harry Kane may seem undroppable, but his play hasn’t inspired much confidence. Nineteen-year-old Bukayo Saka did more in 84 minutes against the Czech Republic on Tuesday than Kane has in the entire tournament, leading all players with five take-ons and showing liveliness in and out of possession. England also looked better with Jack Grealish in the fray; he was one of the few players who showed a desire to win the ball back in dangerous areas. Can Southgate afford to keep Saka and Grealish out of the lineup? Can he continue to snub a playmaker like Sancho? Can he justify Kane’s place in the lineup?

Defense does indeed win championships. Just ask Portugal. But England is playing a risky game. Bigger and better opponents lie ahead, and they’ll take note of England’s struggles in attack. Any one of France, Germany, or Portugal has the patience to absorb what little threat England offers going forward, as well as the skill to strike on the counterattack. If Southgate doesn’t make adjustments, his team could be facing a frustrating exit in the round of 16.

Croatia poised to prove critics wrong

Three years removed from an appearance in the World Cup final, Croatia was being written off as a team with an aging core of players who would struggle at the Euros. That line of thinking was strengthened with a loss to England, a loss in which Croatia looked like a shell of its former self.

Fast-forward to the final whistle Tuesday at Hampden Park, and Croatia had secured a place in the knockout round after beating Scotland 3-1 in Glasgow. It was, by far, the team’s most impressive performance of the tournament, as Luka Modric won the game with a sensational strike to help Croatia leapfrog the Czech Republic for second place in Group D.

Though Scotland was desperate and pressed for a much-needed win, Croatia’s other two games against England and the Czech Republic offered more difficult challenges. But the combination of progressing to the knockout stage and the satisfaction of proving critics wrong could be enough to fuel another unexpected run for Croatia beyond the round of 16.

Scotland can’t overcome cruel twist of fate

Scotland supporters are no strangers to heartbreak. It was an all too common theme throughout two decades of failing to qualify for a major tournament. But that unenviable familiarity won’t make Tuesday’s elimination from Euro 2020 any less painful for the Tartan Army.

Despite the disappointment of opening the competition with a decisive loss to the Czech Republic, Steve Clarke’s men revived the nation’s spirits with a brave performance that saw Scotland emerge from Wembley Stadium with a valuable point against rival and tournament favorite England.

There was an obvious buzz around the team in the days after the draw, which kept Scotland in the tournament – and had supporters believing a win against Croatia was possible. But Scotland’s hopes of upsetting the 2018 World Cup runners-up suffered a massive blow when rising star Billy Gilmour – Man of the Match against England – was ruled out after testing positive for COVID-19 the day before the crucial showdown.

Despite Gilmour’s absence, Hampden Park was electric as fans unleashed a mighty roar when Scotland players took the pitch and belted out a spine-tingling rendition of “Flower of Scotland.” The stadium nearly erupted after an early chance, but it quickly fell silent when Croatia went ahead inside the first 20 minutes.

Callum McGregor restored hope minutes before halftime when he scored Scotland’s first goal of the tournament. But his impressive strike was soon overshadowed by Modric’s incredible tally, a clear contender for goal of the tournament.

Croatia added a third to seal the result. But that didn’t stop the 12,000 in attendance from cheering through the final minutes for the team that ended Scotland’s well-publicized 23-year absence from major tournaments.