John McGinn repaid head coach Steve Clarke’s faith in him by firing Scotland to their first World Cup win in 36 years as they edged past Haiti on their return to the men’s tournament after a 28-year absence.
Clarke said pre-match that the selection of Aston Villa captain McGinn instead of Ryan Christie was “probably the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make” and challenged the 31-year-old to prove him right.
It is safe to say that sending his country to the top of Group C while taking a significant step towards reaching the knockout stage for the first time does just that – even if this was a nerve-shattering night at the Boston Stadium.
So often one of the first names on the teamsheet, the reason for the uncertainty was Christie’s fine performance in last Saturday’s final friendly against Bolivia, which also had many Scotland fans hoping for a hefty scoreline here.
Despite a sharp start, that seldom looked likely against Haiti, with Scotland poor on ball and grateful for their opponents’ profligacy.
Countless balls were swung in to the box by the Caribbean side, and keeper Angus Gunn – who was chosen in front of 43-year-old Craig Gordon, the oldest player at the tournament – was forced to remain on high-alert.
The memories of past slip-ups against Costa Rica, Iran and Peru hung heavy in the air.
Despite that, McGinn had the opportunity to ease the Tartan Army’s growing concerns with 20 minutes remaining, but instead dragged his effort wide.
It made for an anxious ending – particularly when Frantzdy Pierrot directed a header wide – to a day fuelled by exhilaration and excitement.
The Scots return to Boston on Friday, 19 June against Morocco to do it all again and know a point in their next two group games will likely guarantee progress.
Analysis: Job done, but Scotland need much more
The man they call Meatball delivered a mighty, magnificent moment for his country once more.
It was far from McGinn’s finest strike – in fact, it was scrappy 0 or his best display, but he delivered when it mattered yet again.
The freedom and flair on show in the first 45 minutes against the Bolivians did not make the journey to Boston as a dangerous Haiti on the counter, a slack Scotland and a whistle-happy referee made for rather frustrating Scottish viewing.
The rare bright spark in an otherwise flat return to the biggest stage of them all was Ben Gannon-Doak. The Bournemouth winger was a pest down the right and celebrated an earning a goal-kick like he had won the tournament.
Scott McTominay smashed a shot against the post when the game was still goalless, but the starting strikers – Che Adams and Lawrence Shankland – were barely given a sniff.
It has been a self-described “different” Clarke this week, and while he will rightly enjoy the result, concerns of the performance must travel with him back to the squad’s base camp in Charlotte on Sunday.
With Morocco and Brazil – who were unable to be separated earlier in the evening -still to come, Scotland will know they ought to be much better. A showing like this against either of them could lead to trouble.
BBC
