Robert Snodgrass believes Scotland have proved their doubters wrong after his goal gave them a 1-0 World Cup qualifying win over Croatia in Zagreb.
A young Scotland side, already out of contention, started the match very much second favourites against a side joint-top of Group A, but they battled hard and Snodgrass took advantage of a deflection to nick a 27th-minute goal.
Croatia dominated possession in the second half but created few clear-cut chances as Gordon Strachan’s side hung on for victory.
“It feels good,” Snodgrass told BBC 2 Scotland. “We came here believing we could get something. There was loads of pride at stake, the manager gave a few boys a chance and we’re delighted with the result.”
Croatia had spoken with plenty of confidence ahead of the match, but Snodgrass said Scotland had used that as motivation.
Asked what Strachan had told his players, he said: “He just said, ‘Everybody can play with heart, run about a lot and do things, but it takes a little bit more now’.
“I think we played a good Croatia side there and got the three points, and I think we could have nicked a few more goals.
“There was loads of cheap talk before the game from Croatia and we used that as motivation to go out there. Every player gave 110 per cent and that’s why we got the three points.”
Scotland went into the game ranked 74th in the world, 70 places behind Croatia, and with a much-changed team as Strachan shook up his selection, and the manager was delighted with what counts as a major upset.
“I’m incredibly proud,” he said. “There’s a lot of ability in there. Some of them don’t get a game for their club regularly, some of them have not played for a month, but they really played well, they were full of heart at times and it’s amazing what you can do with a group of players who play for each other.”
However, the former Celtic boss insisted he had no interest in whether the result would silence Scotland’s detractors.
“I never want to even think about the critics,” he said. “I don’t read the papers, I don’t watch the television, and besides, I think the people who actually travel with us are positive.
“We’ve no need to prove anybody wrong. They just need to prove to themselves they can be a good team.”