Mystery surrounded Borna Barisic’s status with Croatia after the Rangers star was used as a late sub v Scotland having been completely ruled out pre-match by manager Zlatko Dalic.

The LB, a total bystander in Euro 2020 thus far, was revealed early tournament to be fit and ready to go, and Croatia’s first choice in his position.

But a complete absence from the match day squad in the first two fixtures completely contradicted that, with Dalic claiming in fact the defender was injured.

He then completely ruled him out v Scotland, before bizarrely selecting him on the bench and then bringing him on late in the game.

None of this added up on any level, with the LB assured as first pick and indispensable, before making Croatia’s progress to the KO stage more shaky than it should have been with Dalic choosing Gvardiol instead.

But after confirming the Croat’s injury pre-match, which potentially ruled him as a doubt for Rangers’ upcoming CL qualifiers, the national coach then named him on the bench, then put him on as a sub.

What will now be interesting is if Barisic is restored to the team for the KO stages, suggesting kidology on the part of Dalic, because if he isn’t, he is clearly fit yet Dalic appears untrue to his word and has decided Gvardiol is his first choice.

Curious.