It looked like history could be made at half-time after Scotland battled their way back into the match.
But Croatia's quality made Steve Clarke's side look very ordinary after the break as their Euro 2020 dream was reltively easily taken away from them.
Callum McGregor's strike just before half-time to cancel out Nikola Vlasic's opener made us believe.
But we simply weren't good enough at Hampden and Luka Modric was, curling in a wonderful second before Perisic headed in an all too easy third.
Here's how Scotland rated out of ten.
David Marshall: Little he could do about any of Croatia's goals. 5
Scott McTominay: Good at times on the ball, not great foir Croatia's first. 6
Grant Hanley: Had to go off after an early injury. 3
Kieran Tierney: One good run forward but caught on his heels by Perisic for Croatia's third. 6
Stephen O'Donnell: Really struggled and the damage was done by the time Nathan Patterson came on. 4
Andy Robertson: Not much of an effect on the game. 5
Callum McGregor: Great strike to bring Scotland level but couldn't prevent Croatia controlling midfield. 6
John McGinn: Scotland's best player, got into good positions and perhaps should have scored. 7
Stuart Armstrong: Poor. Was brought in for the unavailable Gilmour but constantly gave the ball away repeatedly. 4
Che Adams: On the fringes of the game. Had a couple of chances. 5
Lyndon Dykes: Put himself about but didn't link well enough and did little with the ball at his feet. 5
Subs
Scott McKenna: Booked almost immediately after coming on. 4
Ryan Fraser: One shot and that was about it. 3
Kevin Nisbet: Little time in a game that was over. 3
Nathan Patterson: One decent challenge in the short time he was on. 3
