For 72 years, blind faith and optimism have been the faithful travelling companions of the Tartan Army footsoldier at the outset of a World Cup.
They have invariably become estranged before the sights and sounds of a foreign land have felt familiar, replaced by emptiness and regret.
It started in Switzerland in 1954 where jerseys more suited to an Arctic expedition were worn by the players in a sweltering summer.
Scotland lost a manager in Andy Beattie after a narrow loss to Austria and their dignity following a 7-0 thumping by Uruguay.
While the shambolic inaugural episode has never quite been repeated, the knock-out round of the World Cup has remained as elusive as Neptune.
In the seven subsequent campaigns, from Sweden in 1958 through to France in 1998, the national team has had some moments of promise.
Those who, at the time, believed them to be transformative were later to curse themselves for wishful thinking. In all corners of the world, Scotland have known both failure and glorious failure. Ultimately, both have amounted to the square root of nothing.
Craig Burley sees red as Scotland crash to a 3-0 defeat to Morocco in St Etienne in 1998
To believe it may be different this time around feels like voluntarily placing oneself on a rack. If it’s the hope which kills us, isn’t it better simply not to go there?
But we will go there again. It’s what we’ve always done and always will do. They’ll never take our belief that this, after an age of suffering, may finally be our time.
It could be closer than we’d possibly dared to dream. If things go to plan in the Boston Stadium, the glass ceiling could even be shattered in the early hours of tomorrow morning.
Steve Clarke’s side need to keep a clean sheet against Morocco to move onto the four points which would essentially assure them of qualification with the game against Brazil in Miami still to come.
Facing a nation ranked sixth in the world, a team which reached the semi-finals in Qatar, it’s an inordinately difficult task. Yet, it’s by no means impossible.
As winnable as the opening match with Haiti was on paper, Scotland’s historic stumbles when faced with such obstacles (think Peru, Iran, Costa Rica) made it more dangerous than a vat of uranium.
Thus, the reason why few were minded to take issue with an underwhelming performance. If ever a result was all that counted, that was it.
John McGinn and Ben Gannon-Doak were in good spirits in training before the Morocco clash
While the North Africans, who drew with Brazil in their opening match, will clearly be a significant step-up in class, those Scotland supporters who have remained in Boston are entitled to be cautiously optimistic.
In the seven years since Clarke took charge, the side has shown a welcome trait of rising to the occasion and pulling off a result when least expected.
The victory over Spain three years ago remains the prime example, but there was that deserved draw with England at Wembley.
There’s also a raft of encouraging results against nations of similar standing; Denmark (two wins and a draw), that smash and grab in Norway, that never-to-be-forgotten night in Belgrade. This side have it in them.
Given what’s riding on it, holding or defeating the champions of Africa would top the lot.
Morocco are a serious proposition. They boast superstars in Paris Saint-Germain’s Achraf Hakimi and Real Madrid’s Brahim Diaz and a stellar supporting cast in Ayyoub Bouaddi, Ismael Saibari, Bilal El Khannouss and Noussair Mazraoui.
Given they made the semi-finals in Qatar, beating Belgium, Spain and Portugal along the way, it would be wrong to describe them as dark horses to win the tournament outright. They evidently have the pedigree to do so and will expect to defeat Scotland with something to spare.
The Tartan Army will once again descend on the Boston Stadium, this time eyeing history
For his side to stand a chance, Clarke knows the collective display will need to be significantly better than the one against Haiti. This is a reasonable expectation.
Scott McTominay, the side’s talisman, looked one degree under in the first game after missing a day’s training with an upset stomach. The Napoli man should have fully recovered by now.
Last Saturday also proved challenging for Aaron Hickey and Che Adams. John McGinn gained pass marks and memorably scored Scotland’s first goal in the tournament in 28 years, but lost merit points for poor ball retention. He can also offer more.
The clean sheet chalked up ensures the manager won’t be troubled by concerns over the selection of his goalkeeper or defenders. Angus Gunn gets the gloves. Hickey, Grant Hanley, Jack Hendry and Andy Robertson start in front of him.
It’s unlikely that there will be a place for the two-striker system Clarke deployed against the men from the Caribbean. On the basis that Lawrence Shankland finished that match despite struggling and Adams was hooked, the Torino man would be the marginal favourite to start.
Whether tasked with roughing up the Morocco defenders from the outset or introduced as a useful out-ball later on, Lyndon Dykes will have a crucial part to play.
It’s the shape of the team in the middle of the park which will have given the manager most food for thought over the past few days.
Kieran Tierney didn’t get a kick in the first game. The Celtic man could come in and play second from the left in a back-five to offer safety in numbers.
This would involve a midfield box of four with Lewis Ferguson and either Kenny McLean or Ryan Christie playing behind McGinn and McTominay. Clarke will be sorely tempted by this option.
Morocco forward Ismael Saibari celebrates with Achraf Hakimi after scoring against Brazil
The alternative is to retain the flat back-four, with Tierney likely sidelined again, and play five across the middle. The inclusions of Ferguson, McGinn, McTominay would feel nailed on with Christie and Ben Gannon-Doak most likely to occupy the wide positions for as long as their legs hold them up.
The use of substitutions by the manager will go a long way to determining the outcome. Findlay Curtis and Nathan Patterson should prepare for at least half an hour. Tyler Fletcher, who was only meant to be training with the squad prior to grabbing his chance against Curacao, may well get his first taste of the action.
Scotland will enjoy a slender advantage through the familiarity of their surroundings. The Boston Stadium, which is actually in the city of Foxborough, was an assault on the senses last weekend. The Moroccans, whose first game was in New Jersey, will need to adjust their eyes.
The history between the sides is brief. It amounts to that one forgettable clash in St Etienne on June 23, 1998, when Craig Burley was sent off, Morocco scored three without reply and Scotland made their customary early exit.
This has been a long time coming. It has the potential to change everything.
