Scotland's World Cup qualification chances took a dip following a goalless Hampden Park draw with Croatia. Once again, Craig Brown's team produced a gritty and determined performance. Of course, a draw with Croatia, who finished third in the 1998 finals, is always an achievement and the Scots are still unbeaten in Group Six.

But the points share swings the slight advantage held by both Croatia and Belgium further away from the Scots and Mirko Josic's team have a formality fixture with San Marino on Wednesday on the same night the Scots take on leaders Belgium in Brussels.

It will probably still go to the final day but Scotland could end up needing a favour from one rival to pip the other when Croatia host Belgium next month.

Scotland remain in third place and now the pressure is on Brown to conjure up a victory in a group where none of the top three have yet beaten each other.Both sides had chances but overall the first half belonged to Croatia and, although he often looked uncertain on crosses, the Scots were thankful goalkeeper Neil Sullivan's shot-stopping was of the highest order.

The Croatian contingent, who had been noisy throughout, stayed to sing their side's praised long after Hampden had emptied itself of the Tartan Army. They sensed another World Cup final visit was near and Scotland will have to produce the result of the group on Wednesday to deny them.

SCOTLAND: Sullivan, Weir, Elliott, Matteo, Dailly, Burley, Lambert, Naysmith (Gemmill 86), Hutchison, Booth (Dodds 72), McCann (Cameron 52). Subs Not Used: Paul Gallacher, Nicholson, McNamara, Crawford.

CROATIA: Pletikosa, Robert Kovac, Stimac, Tudor, Stanic (Suker 72), Tomas (Biscan 84), Zivkovic, Soldo, Jarni, Prosinecki (Vugrinec 78), Balaban. Subs Not Used: Butina, Dario Simic, Niko Kovac, Vlaovic.

Referee: Lubos Michel (Slovakia).