{"id":534554,"date":"2026-06-14T09:43:22","date_gmt":"2026-06-14T09:43:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/534554\/"},"modified":"2026-06-14T09:43:22","modified_gmt":"2026-06-14T09:43:22","slug":"world-cup-2026-day-3-scotland-go-through-the-wringer-to-get-first-win-in-36-years-the-irish-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/534554\/","title":{"rendered":"World Cup 2026, Day 3: Scotland go through the wringer to get first win in 36 years \u2013 The Irish Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

Are you familiar with the Scottish expression \u201ctatties o\u2019wer the side\u201d? Roughly, it means a calamitous event, and after some of the World Cup<\/a> agony Scotland<\/a> have endured down the years, some of us were anticipating their tatties going o\u2019wer the side against Haiti. But they didn\u2019t, they stayed on board, John McGinn\u2019s deflected 28th-minute effort the only goal of the game, giving Scotland their first World Cup win in 36 years.<\/p>\n

It was a nervy one, though, not least when Frantzdy Pierrot came within millimetres of equalising for Haiti with a header, Scotland\u2019s performance leaving Pat Nevin concluding on the BBC that no one in the tournament will be left quaking in their boots at the prospect of playing them. But look, a win\u2019s a win and they\u2019re top of their group.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s because Brazil<\/a> and Morocco drew 1-1 in New Jersey, Brazil coming from behind after Ismael Saibari\u2019s classy finish gave Morocco the lead on 21 minutes. It was Vinicius Junior<\/a> who rescued them with a mighty fine 32nd-minute equaliser, thereby saving them from losing their opening game of a World Cup for the first time since 1934. They looked decidedly ordinary, though. <\/p>\n

Earlier, Switzerland somehow avoided beating Qatar<\/a>, despite dominating the game, the dreary enough contest leaving James McClean, on punditry duty with RT\u00c9, to reveal after that \u201cwe were sitting here looking forward to the final whistle\u201d. It finished 1-1, Qatar equalising in injury time having trailed to a first-half penalty. <\/p>\n

Australia, meanwhile, produced a highly impressive display in Vancouver to beat Turkey 2-0 with a goal in each half from Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe. Goalkeeper Patrick Beach had a competitive debut to remember for the Australians, making eight saves and topping it all with a clean sheet. <\/p>\n

Results:<\/b> Group B: Qatar 1 (Muheim og 90+4), Switzerland (Embolo (17 pen). Group C: Brazil 1 (Vin\u00edcius J\u00fanior 32), Morocco 1 (Saibari 21); Haiti 0, Scotland 1 (McGinn 28). Group D: Australia 2 (Irankunda 27, Metcalfe 75), Turkey 0.<\/p>\n

Goal of the day:<\/b> When your nation\u2019s wait for a World Cup win lasts 13,147 days, then the goal that ends the lengthy drought must surely be picked out as the score of the day? Take a bow John McGinn. It was only this week that the man who gave him his senior debut in football, Danny Lennon, reminisced fondly about the first time he saw McGinn play. \u201cWho is this wee scrawny guy that looks like a meatball,\u201d he asked. The meatball is now a national hero.<\/p>\n

\"Scotland'sScotland’s John McGinn scoring the opening goal during the World Cup Group C match against Haiti at the Boston Stadium, Foxborough. Photograph: Andrew Milligan\/PA Wire. <\/p>\n

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\ud83c\uddf6\ud83c\udde6 1-1 \ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udded <\/p>\n

Full-Time Qatar 1-1 Switzerland: Qatar grab their first ever World Cup point with an added-time equaliser from Boualem Khoukhi<\/p>\n

Watch all 104 games from the #FIFAWorldCup<\/a> on RT\u00c9 pic.twitter.com\/6voxUsoDQh<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 RT\u00c9 Sport (@RTEsport) June 13, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Moment of the day:<\/b> No one looked more stunned than Qatar\u2019s Spanish coach Julen Lopetegui when his side earned a 1-1 draw against Switzerland in San Francisco with a 94th-minute equaliser. It had looked like a peach of a header from Boualem Khoukhi, but it turned out that it was actually an own goal from Miro Muheim. No matter, there ended Qatar\u2019s wait for their first ever point at the World Cup.<\/p>\n

Picture of the day:<\/b> <\/p>\n

\"AA Scotland fan watching the World Cup game against Haiti at OVO Hydro in Glasgow. Photograph: Steve Welsh\/PA Wire <\/p>\n

Watching the agony Scotland fans endured watching Scotland against Haiti would get you thinking: maybe we\u2019re as well off not being in this World Cup? As uninvolved observers, we\u2019re spared all that nerve-shredding. <\/p>\n

Question of the day:<\/b> Which former clubmate of S\u00e9amus Coleman won the Golden Boot, with six goals, at the 2014 World Cup? (Answer below).<\/p>\n

Thoughts and prayers<\/b>: Go to any Bostonians who\u2019ve had members of the Tartan Army arrive in the early hours at their Airbnb across the road. <\/p>\n

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In the dead of night the Scots arrived at the Airbnb across the street. Decked out and playing the pipes at 6:30 am. So it begins\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/LczU1loVXp<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Mike Morrison (@MDMorrison82) June 11, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Coming up today:<\/b> Group E: Germany v Curacao (RT\u00c9 2 and UTV, 6pm). Group F: Netherlands v Japan (RT\u00c9 2 and UTV, 9pm). In the wee hours \u2013 Group E: Ivory Coast v Ecuador (RT\u00c9 2 and BBC1, midnight). Group F: Sweden v Tunisia (RT\u00c9 2 and UTV, 3am). <\/p>\n

Elsewhere in sport<\/b>: No doubting the result of the day in the football championship, Cork producing a stunner of a win<\/a> in Ballybofey when they came from seven points down against Donegal. Monaghan<\/a> blew Roscommon away, Kerry<\/a> did the same to Kildare, but it was a whole lot tighter between Derry and Meath<\/a> at Celtic Park. In athletics, Ian O\u2019Riordan reflects on the life of Ciar\u00e1n \u00d3 Lion\u00e1ird<\/a>, who died earlier this week at the age of 38, while in golf Philip Reid previews the US Open at Shinnecock Hills<\/a>, which will feature brutal rough, lightning-fast greens and rowdy New Yorkers.<\/p>\n

Answer to question<\/b>: Colombia\u2019s James Rodr\u00edguez \u2013 who spent a largely forgettable 2020-21 season with Everton. <\/p>\n