Over the past week or so, the Tartan Army have taken over Boston and have won plenty of new admirers for the colour, energy and good humour they have brought to this World Cup.
However, in terms of matters on the pitch, it has been a very different story. Scotland have offered precious little to this tournament so far.
They were poor against Haiti and got away with it, grinding out a nervy 1-0 win against the lowest-ranked team in Group C.
Against Morocco last night, they didn’t get away with it. Instead, Steve Clarke’s side were exposed by a far slicker and superior opponent.
Clarke made some fairly eye-catching changes to his team from the first match, the most notable of which saw Kieran Tierney deployed on the left side of midfield.
It was an attempt to nullify Morocco’s threat on the right flank through Achraf Hakimi and Brahim Diaz. Plainly, it didn’t work.
Steve Clarke’s cautious team selection put the Scots on the back foot from the off
Right from the outset, it was clear as day that Clarke was trying to play it cagey. His gameplan was to try and park the bus — but Morocco ensured it was towed away within 71 seconds.
Clarke got this badly wrong. He over-complicated it and out-thought himself. Scotland were woeful during those opening 45 minutes and were immensely fortunate to only be 1-0 down at half-time.
They couldn’t keep hold of the ball and offered no threat whatsoever going forward. It was feeble. Che Adams probably hadn’t known such a period of isolation since Covid-19 and lockdown.
Tierney looked ill at ease playing higher up the pitch. The likes of John McGinn and Scott McTominay, so often talismanic figures for Scotland, were largely non-existent.
This became a test of Clarke’s coaching abilities and his capability to make in-game changes to alter the flow of the match.
Scotland were marginally improved in the second half but they didn’t ask anywhere near enough questions of the Morocco goalkeeper.
John McGinn goes head to head with Achraf Hakimi as tempers boil over in Boston
Ryan Christie had one shot just over the bar, whilst McGinn and McTominay both had claims for a penalty waved away by the referee.
But it was the lack of ambition in that first half which was by far and away the most frustrating aspect of it all.
This tournament already feels similar to Euro 2024. Scotland went out with a whimper in that tournament a couple of years ago.
Whilst they are not out of this yet, they are clinging on thanks to a scrappy 1-0 win over the poorest team in the group.
They now head to Miami to face Brazil. It’s one last chance to finally put in a proper performance or else this could be another tournament that passes them by.
