Gordon Strachan's men were literary written off by many before the game, as they went up against a Croatia side who have only lost once on home soil, which came in 2008 when they lost 4-1 to England.

„Vatreni“ controlled the tempo of play for most of the first half, but rarely challenged Allan McGregor in the Scotland goal. However it was the visiting side who took the lead on the half hour mark. Robert Snodgrass in behind the defence volleyed home on the stretch after a mazy run from Wigan's Shaun Maloney ended with the ball breaking kindly to his teammate off a home defender.

Croatia began to attack more after the opener. Their best chance before the break fell to Ivan Rakitic, but his diving header whizzed just past the left post.

Croatia began the second half as they ended the first, but lacked the final product. Scotland began to look embedded in their own half, just as coach Igor Stimac had predicted they would be. Ivan Rakitic sent a header wide, Ivica Olic left Morrison for dead only to shoot wide, then Olic threatened a couple more times. Captain Darijo Srna's cross was met by Sahtar striker Eduardo, though his header was straight at MacGregor.

A Croatia equaliser looked more unlikely with every passing minute and Scotland resorted to keeping nine men back to defend.

The final whistle signaled a brilliant victory for the visiting side, who leapfrogged Macedonia at the bottom of Group A. It was also a first competitive victory for manager Gordon Strachan.

The result may come back as a potentially fatal stumble for Croatia in the race for qualifying for Brazil next year after Belgium's 2-1 victory over Serbia, sending them three points clear at the top of the group.