Gordon Strachan described his pride after Scotland became just the second side to beat Croatia in Zagreb in competitive action on Friday.
Robert Snodgrass’ 26th-minute goal was enough to seal a memorable 1-0 success at the Maksimir Stadium, with a 4-1 defeat against England in 2008 being the hosts only previous loss there.
Three points for Strachan’s side lifts them off the bottom of FIFA World Cup Qualifying Group A and also ensures that they will not be among the bottom seeds for the next campaign.
Strachan – who also sealed his first competitive win as manager – told BBC Sport: “I’m incredibly proud – there was a bit of ability in there at times and they played from the heart.
“We worked hard on our shape and that takes a lot of hard graft.”
The former Leeds United man did not believe his team were at their absolute best, however, and has challenged them to get better as they improve their conditioning and understanding as a team over time.
“We gave the ball away a lot but that was maybe down to fitness,” Strachan added. “A lot of these guys are not getting regular game time at their clubs.
“With improved fitness, we will keep possession better.
“I am going to sleep because the staff have put a lot of planning into this. I think that is as good a game as I have seen Alan Hutton play.”
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