England’s 4-2 victory over Croatia will naturally focus attention on the scoreline.
However, anyone who watched Dominik Livaković’s performance closely will have seen another reminder of why Celtic have been linked with the Croatian goalkeeper for so long.
Conceding four goals rarely leads to praise for a goalkeeper, but Livaković’s display suggested the result could have been even more painful for Croatia without him.
The performance offered fresh evidence that Celtic’s long-standing interest was built on genuine quality rather than reputation alone.
You have £10m to spend on a new goalkeeper to replace Kasper Schmeichel…
Who do you pick?
The scoreline did not reflect Livaković’s individual performance
While Croatia left the pitch having conceded four times, Livaković still produced a performance that stood out.
- 90 minutes played
- 7 saves
- 7 saves from inside the penalty area
- 6 diving saves
- 3.33 xGOT faced
- 24 successful passes from 35 attempted (69%)
- 9 accurate long balls from 20 attempted (45%)
- 49 touches
- 4 recoveries
- 100% success rate in ground duels (1/1)
- 100% success rate in aerial duels (1/1)
The standout numbers were the seven saves and the fact every one of them came from inside the box. That tells its own story about the pressure Croatia’s goalkeeper faced throughout the match.
Livaković was repeatedly called into action and produced a series of stops that prevented the scoreline becoming even more one-sided.
Judging his display solely on the four goals conceded ignores the reality of the workload he dealt with.
Celtic’s long-standing interest looks understandable
That performance also served as a reminder of why Livaković has remained a familiar name in Celtic transfer discussions. The goalkeeper has been repeatedly linked with Celtic and reports have previously suggested the club were monitoring him closely.
His reputation was built on more than one tournament performance. Livaković has consistently shown an ability to handle pressure on the biggest stages of international football, which is one reason his name continues to surface whenever Celtic’s goalkeeping options are discussed.
There is also a reason a Croatian football expert once compared him to Joe Hart. The comparison was never about identical playing styles. It centred more on mentality, reliability and the ability to perform when under sustained pressure.
Celtic supporters can be forgiven for wondering what might have been
Celtic’s goalkeeping position has remained a major talking point since Joe Hart’s retirement, and Livaković’s latest display is unlikely to quieten the discussion.
No single match should determine recruitment decisions. Equally, performances like this help explain why Livaković has continued to attract attention from supporters whenever transfer windows approach.
Recent comments surrounding Celtic rumours involving Livaković have kept his name in the conversation, and England’s victory provided another reminder of the qualities that made him such an intriguing option in the first place.
Whether a move was ever realistic is open to debate, but performances like this show why Livaković remained such an attractive option.
After watching him make seven saves against England, Celtic supporters can be forgiven for wondering whether the club ever had a better goalkeeper option available to them.
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