Steve Clarke<\/a> can seem one of football\u2019s downbeat realists, but for a moment the Scotland manager sounded like a romantic. \u201cI have waited 62 years to get into a World Cup,\u201d he said. \u201cI have been in football for 44 years.\u201d Whichever way it is framed, his had been a lengthy wait. Scotland\u2019s had, too. <\/a><\/p>\n Clarke had already become the only manager to lead them to three major tournaments. Now none have more wins at a World Cup, even if that is only one. \u201cHow difficult it is for a country like Scotland to go to a World Cup and win games,\u201d said Clarke. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t happen very often.\u201d <\/p>\n The last time was in 1990 when only the veteran reserve goalkeeper Craig Gordon of Clarke\u2019s squad was even alive. The past illuminated the achievement Scotland conjured in beating Haiti. The present could frame it in different ways. Scotland have a habit of finishing third in World Cup groups<\/a>; now there is the chance any time in third with three points will advance. But the pessimism engrained in the Scottish psyche says that, if anyone will go out with three points, it will be them. After all, in 1974, they went out unbeaten. In 1978, they went home despite beating the eventual finalists from the Netherlands.<\/p>\n Yet if three points in itself is not enough,<\/a> it will come down to goal difference. The negative interpretation of victory over Haiti was that Scotland barely bolstered theirs, but that they could severely dent it against either or both of Morocco and Brazil. Two narrow defeats may be enough, but their opponents have the pedigree to inflict more damage. \u201cThe next two games are against teams in the world\u2019s top 10,\u201d said Clarke. He argued that, with points on the board, Scotland have taken the pressure off. <\/p>\n But there is an onus on them to deliver something better. “We definitely won’t be happy when we look back at it and we’ll have to improve for the next two games,\u201d said Angus Gunn, the first Scotland goalkeeper to keep a World Cup clean sheet since David Harvey in 1974. Gunn did not have to excel as his teammates displayed the resilience and character Clarke hailed.<\/p>\n Gunn\u2019s conclusion was nevertheless correct: Scotland will have to play better. Differently, too. Scotland missed the injured Billy Gilmour against Haiti and the assurance he gives in possession. Lewis Ferguson was \u201cexceptional\u201d, in Clarke\u2019s description, but Scotland lacked sufficient control. It was partly the consequence of their formation, a 4-4-2 that indicated Clarke had set his sights on a bigger win. <\/a><\/p>\n The chances are that it will have to be jettisoned and not least because Scott McTominay, Scotland\u2019s greatest goal threat in the second half of Clarke\u2019s reign was forced deeper; McTominay became a revelation as a box-crashing raider. This took him back to his days as Manchester United\u2019s defensive midfielder. Lawrence Shankland, despite his goals against Curacao and Bolivia and in Hearts\u2019 title tilt, may have to be sacrificed in the interests of pragmatism.<\/p>\n There could be a question if Clarke would be better off adding a third centre-back \u2013 potentially Kieran Tierney<\/a> \u2013 or another central midfielder, such as Ryan Christie. There may be different answers for different games: bolster the midfield to counter Morocco\u2019s strength there, reinforce the defence for the test Vinicius Jr and Raphinha provide?<\/p>\n Scotland have wounding experiences of both; a repeat of 1998\u2019s 3-0 defeat to Morocco would harm the goal difference and put pressure on them to get a point against Brazil. Which, as it happens, they did in 1974, their previous clean sheet coming against a side including Roberto Rivelino and Jairzinho. But in 1982, Scotland lost 4-1 to Brazil, going out on goal difference for a third consecutive World Cup.<\/p>\n Now a 4-1 loss could leave them needing a fourth point. The hypotheticals and the past setbacks could cast a shadow on what was nevertheless a magnificent occasion. Clarke was not alone in thinking about what it took to get there.<\/p>\n \u201cThat’s why you put the graft in all your life,\u201d said Shankland. \u201cWhat an amazing feeling,\u201d said the captain Andy Robertson<\/a>. \u201cThe lads achieved their dreams today.\u201d It is scarcely news that Robertson was released by Celtic for being too small and worked in Marks and Spencer. Now, like Billy Bremner, Bruce Rioch, Danny McGrain and Roy Aitken, he has captained his country to a World Cup win. <\/p>\n![\"Scotland](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/01KV21HPCS055YNXVTC8DK1J5V.jpg\")
Scotland achieved a long-awaited win in Boston (PA)<\/p>\n![\"Scotland](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2281462758...jpeg\")
Scotland took a significant step towards the knockout rounds (Getty)<\/p>\n![\"Lawrence](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2026-06-14T031922Z_1201097185_UP1EM6E06NUTR_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-WORLDCUP-HTI-SCO.JPG\")
Lawrence Shankland may have to drop out of the Scotland side (Reuters)<\/p>\n![\"Scotland](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/01KV2356XN21XWJ64595KGJ2E8.jpg\")
Scotland fans could celebrate a long-awaited success (PA)<\/p>\n