Scotland vs Morocco LIVE: World Cup latest team news and updates as Steve Clarke considers midfield reshuffle – UK Times

Scotland supporters are providing plenty of colour at this World Cup. We’ve got Jack Rathborn amongst them in Boston today – hopefully staying well hydrated in the heat before heading out to the stadium in nearby Foxborough.

Morocco, meanwhile, are on the board with a point that perhaps should have been more against Brazil. Semi-finalists four years ago, they look impressive again:

Scotland’s selection a little later will be an item of interest. Here’s what Richard Jolly, our senior football correspondent, wrote after the win over Haiti:

“Scotland will have to play better. Differently, too. They missed the injured Billy Gilmour against Haiti and the assurance he gives in possession. Lewis Ferguson was “exceptional” in Clarke’s 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.

“The chances are that it will have to be jettisoned, not least because Scott McTominay, Scotland’s greatest goal threat in the second half of Clarke’s reign, was forced deeper; McTominay became a revelation as a box-crashing raider. This took him back to his days as Manchester United’s defensive midfielder. Lawrence Shankland, despite his goals against Curacao and Bolivia and in Hearts’ title tilt, may have to be sacrificed in the interests of pragmatism.”

Steve Clarke believes Scotland can use their underdog status to their advantage against “real deal” Morocco.

The Scots are at the World Cup finals for the first time in 28 years and began their campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Haiti at Boston Stadium in Foxborough on Saturday.

A point against Morocco, who drew 1-1 with Brazil in their opening Group C game, would all but guarantee a place in the knockout stages for the first time.

Clarke knows Morocco, ranked sixth in the world compared to Scotland’s 37th, are heavy favourites, but, speaking at the Boston Stadium after all his squad trained earlier at the Revolution Training Centre next door, he said: “Against difficult opponents we have to be very good. We understand that.

“But sometimes the Scottish psyche and the Scottish mentality means we are a little bit more comfortable when we are the underdogs. We were the favourites against Haiti and we found the game a struggle but we managed to win. This time we are the underdogs and sometimes Scotland prefer it that way.”

You wonder if, were he not a key figure on the field, John McGinn might be right amongst the Scotland fans at this tournament. Richard Jolly profiles a player who doesn’t always perhaps get the credit he deserves.

The Scotland fans have certainly endeared themselves to the bar owners of Boston over the last couple of weeks – let us hope some more stock has been sourced ahead of what could be another heavy night:

Scotland are ready to continue their World Cup adventure as the Tartan army again descends on Boston for a meeting with Morocco. A 1-0 win over Haiti may not have provided a performance, perhaps, to savour, but three points represented a huge step towards the knockout rounds for Steve Clarke’s side.

This, though, should be a tougher fixture. Kick off is at 11pm BST/6pm ET.