By Ian Roache

SCOTLAND’S WAIT for a friendly win goes on after they drew 1-1 with a quality Croatian team at Hampden last night.

The last time the national stadium witnessed a home victory in what they now call a challenge match was March 1996, when Australia came calling.

However, there is no disgrace in finishing all square with Croatia, who will surely grace the European Championship finals this summer while the Tartan Army watch the action on television.

Manager George Burley’s brave new era began badly, losing a goal to Nico Kranjcar after just 10 minutes. But Kenny Miller snatched one back on the half-hour to make it a reasonably satisfying night in incessant Glasgow rain.

The Scots lined up in 4-5-1 formation, with Miller supported by his midfield colleagues when the Scots were in possession.

Wide left was debutant Steven Fletcher of Hibs, who was also celebrating his 21st birthday.

The importance the Croats were placing on the fixture was called into question before kick-off when coach Slaven Bilic, complete with woolly hat, broke off from his team talk to nip out of the stadium for a cigarette.

However, they lit up Hampden with a brilliant goal.

A throw-in out left eventually found its way to Portsmouth frontman Kranjcar. He was still outside the box and about to be challenged by Scott Brown but he unleashed a superb strike that left keeper Craig Gordon stranded.

The skills and technique of the visitors were quickly on show but, at the other end, Burley’s boys won three corners in quick succession although there was no end product.

But the Tartan Army were in good voice on 30 minutes when Miller made it 1-1.

Steven Fletcher collected the ball on the left flank, just inside the Croatia half, then curled a superb pass that beat defender Robert Kovac and sent the frontman clear.

Miller still had a lot of work to do but his shot from an acute angle went downwards, off the foot of defender Josip Simunic then up into the net.

Kranjcar was still in the mood, though, and it took a good save from Gordon to keep another 20-yard shot out on 35 minutes.

There was a tense moment for the hosts a minute before the break when the Sunderland goalie had to look sharp again to get down and smother a well-struck setpiece from Draijo Srna but, despite the obvious quality of the opposition, the Scots could be reasonably satisfied with their first half performance.

The first substitution of Burley’s reign saw former Dundee and Rangers midfielder Gavin Rae, who is now at Cardiff City, replace Steven Fletcher.

Croatia also made a change, taking off captain Nico Kovac and bringing on Ognjen Vukojevic.

Brown tried his luck from outside the box but his shot was a couple of yards wide of the keeper Stipe Pletikosa’s left-hand post.

Scotland seemed to be ready to battle and a Shaun Maloney corner on 51 minutes was headed goalwards by Miller only to be cleared away.

Skipper Stephen McManus was then booked for a clumsy challenge on Mladen Petric on the edge of the Scots’ area. Petric’s free-kick was deflected for a corner and the resultant scramble saw Gary Caldwell produce a terrific clearance in front of goal to stop Ivika Olic bursting the net.

This being a friendly, both coaches chopped and changed things, with the flow of the game suffering as a result.

However, the Croats swept forward on 68 minutes when a reverse pass from Ivan Klasnic played in fellow sub Igor Budan. It looked a certain goal but Gordon did well to push out an arm to save the Parma player’s shot.

There was a serious injury worry for Croatia 10 minutes from time when Vedran Corluka’s head met the boot of Scots’ sub Kris Boyd, who was trying to shoot at goal. There was no intent from the Rangers man but the Manchester City defender had to go off after treatment.

Boyd nearly snatched a dramatic winner for Scotland four minutes from time when he was played in by ex-Ibrox colleague Alan Hutton. The move was excellent, but so was the keeper’s stop after the striker let fly.

Croatian coach Bilic rounded off the night when he fell on his backside on the touchline, much to the amusement of everyone, including himself!

Attendance—28,821.

Scotland—Gordon (Sunderland), Hutton (Tottenham), Naysmith (Sheffield Utd) rep by McEveley (Derby) 63, Caldwell (Celtic) rep by Anderson (Plymouth) 70, McManus (Celtic, capt), Hartley (Celtic), D Fletcher (Man Utd) rep by Alexander (Burnley) 90, Brown (Celtic) rep by Teale (Plymouth) 66, Miller (Derby), Maloney (Aston Villa) rep by Boyd (Rangers) 72, S Fletcher (Hibs) rep by Rae (Cardiff) 46. Subs not used—Marshall (Norwich), Berra (Hearts), O’Connor (Birmingham).

Referee—Terje Hauge (Norway).