For the past 10 days, the tartan takeover of Boston has felt like a party which will never end.
Shortly before 8pm local time last night, you finally felt like the music had been turned down and the spirit of the revellers was starting to flag.
After the elation of squeezing past Haiti, this narrow loss to Morocco was a tough moment for all concerned.
Steve Clarke’s Scotland are still capable of getting out of a World Cup group stage for the first time in nine attempts, but it’s all about to get extremely tense.
Brazil in Miami await on Wednesday, a fixture from the football gods if ever there was one.
While it goes without saying that that band will strike up again and glasses will be charged, it’s an engagement which is fraught with danger.
Ismael Saibari turns to celebrate his opening goal after only 70 seconds in Boston
Were they to secure a point, they would almost certainly go through to the last 32. Even a narrow loss should see them progress as one of the eight best third placed teams.
But if they were to find themselves on the wrong end of a shellacking, something Brazil will feel capable of delivering, they could drop beneath the cut mark. It may have the makings of a long night.
For the longest time against Morocco, Scotland lacked composure and guile all across the park.
Their big players just didn’t turn up. None of the supporting cast stepped forward.
It was markedly better in the second period once they’d had a long look in the mirror and the manager began to ring the changes.
They began to worry their opponents and seemed to realise that they were in the World Cup for a reason. It was much more like it.
As well as a feeling of disappointment, they left the arena nursing a sense of injustice. Quite why John McGinn wasn’t awarded a penalty for a foul by Neil El Aynaoui’s challenge early in the second half, we shall never know.
Scott McTominay will also feel aggrieved at not being granted one in the closing seconds.
All day they came. By train from South Station, by car and bus along Interstate 495. Some took two hours to cover just 28 miles from Boston and alight at the vast structure on the edge of Foxborough.
Saibari took advantage of a lapse by Scotland’s defence to add to his goal against Brazil
There were men, women and children from every corner of Scotland and the distinctive accents of the diaspora.
They wore kilts and glengarries replete with feathers. All wore dark blue jerseys. Many were wrapped in saltires and lion rampant flags. Each arrived with hope in their hearts.
One hundred and fifty-four years after 11 men first represented Scotland at international football, this game had the potential to top anything which had gone before.
Amid the singing and the jollity from an invading army, there was a tension surrounding a deadly serious business. There was history on the line here. They wanted to bear witness to it.
Shaping with what appeared to be a 4-5-1, Clarke made three changes from the side which defeated Haiti. Kieran Tierney, Nathan Patterson and Ryan Christie came in for Ben Gannon-Doak, Aaron Hickey and Lawrence Shankland.
The 609 caps in the starting side is the most Scotland have ever had in a competitive game.
The North Africans weren’t just slick and skilful. They were rapid and powerful. They were also street smart. They drew fouls and pressurised the referee. You don’t go on a 31-game unbeaten run without knowing what you are doing.
Morocco’s El Khannouss sticks out a leg as Patterson stoops and narrowly avoids a sore one
They were on their way to extending that sequence after just 70 seconds. So defensively resolute in the opening game, Scotland were a shambles at the back as they fell behind before they could even draw breath.
Brahim Diaz’s ball over the top should have been dealt with simply. But with Grant Hanley sitting way too deep, there was no flag.
Ismael Saibari’s first touch was delightful. His second was a missile which flashed past Angus Gunn into the far corner.
Another goal to go with his one against Brazil. No wonder Bayern Munich have just paid £43million to take him from PSV Eindhoven.
Scotland were all over the place. They could not make a pass or a tackle. They had no out-ball. For a few minutes, it felt like Morocco had two extra men on the park.
A cheap turnover allowed Azzedine Ounahi to play a searching ball across goal. Diaz was inches from turning home the second.
Slackness by Hanley allowed Achraf Hakimi in. Gunn did well to stick out a foot and deny the Morocco skipper. It was becoming a tough watch.
Angus Gunn manages to stick out a boot and prevent Morocco going two goals ahead
Issa Diop was booked for taking out Che Adams. Scotland wanted a red card, but the referee only produced a yellow.
The hydration break didn’t arrive a moment too soon. It had been wretched to that point. Surely, it could only get better?
Diaz was tormenting the Scots. He darted past two men and cut the ball back for Neil El Aynaoui, who fired wildly over the top.
Scott McTominay should certainly have had a foul, but the referee played on. Saibari fed Bilal El Khannouss. Another shot over the top. Another heart-stopping moment.
Arriving deep in injury time, a John McGinn shank was as good as it got in front of goal.
As impressive as Morocco were in the first period, Scotland were poor and heading to a comprehensive defeat unless they gave themselves a shake.
Clarke’s side and strategy just hadn’t worked to that point. You were therefore surprised that he doubled down on it at the outset of the second period.
John McGinn goes down under pressure from El Aynaoui but appeals for a penalty were in vain
Within three minutes of the restart, Scotland screamed for a penalty when McGinn went down under El Aynaoui’s challenge.
There was certainly contact and there was a delay for VAR to take a look at it. To the chagrin of all in dark blue, though, Ilgiz Tantashev waved play on. It was inexplicable.
Morocco swept forward. Saibari struck the crossbar after connecting with a cross on the stretch. El Khannouss thought he’d found the second with a powerful header. Gunn’s save was quite brilliant.
With Tierney injured, Gannon-Doak was sprung from the bench. Scotland were better in spells although, truthfully, it would not have been difficult.
Hakimi tried to curl one into the far corner. Gunn watched it fly just beyond his upright.
Finally, Scotland strung some passes together. Christie bounded into some vacant space on the edge of the box. He shot over, but it was still a moment of encouragement.
Moroccan keeper Yassine Bounou clatters into Ben Gannon-Doak as the pair contest a ball
Having been so off the pace for so long, Clarke’s men were just about hanging in there. Lyndon Dykes and Kenny McLean replaced Adams and Christie.
Diaz bobbed and weaved and threatened to put the game to bed. Credit to Jack Hendry for standing his ground.
Gannon-Doak’s pace frequently took him into promising positions. To Clarke’s frustration, his final ball was not what it might have been.
Looking much more like a team in the second period, Scotland worked to fashion the one chance that could make all the difference.
There was no lack of effort. But, all too often, there was a stark lack of quality. As they began to gamble, the value of Lewis Ferguson in breaking up counter attacks was underscored.
McTominay hit the turf under pressure in the box and appealed for a spot-kick. Again, the referee wasn’t interested. The Napoli man then had a shot deflected onto the side netting.
After such a poor first half, at least they went down fighting. All hope is not yet lost.
