Given the boos which rang out during the friendly defeats against Japan and Ivory Coast in March, a World Cup send-off at Hampden against the Caribbean minnows of Curacao looked like a potential banana skin for Scotland.
Steve Clarke came into this with just three wins in 15 previous friendly matches as manager. All in all, Scotland hadn’t won a home friendly in ten years.
When Dick Advocaat’s visitors, who are the smallest nation ever to qualify for a World Cup, took a shock lead on 17 minutes, a crowd of 44,433 shifted nervously in their seats.
But this was a day when the jeers turned to cheers as Scotland ran out comfortable winners in the end, with Lawrence Shankland leading them to victory with two second-half goals.
It is now very much all systems go on the journey to America, with Clarke and his players flying out tomorrow.
They embarked on a lap of honour around Hampden at full-time, this band of brothers who now head to the States carrying the hopes and dreams of a nation.
Scotland’s players embark on a lap of honour after running out 4-1 winners over Curacao
The objective will be to become the first ever Scotland team to progress to the knockout stages of a major tournament in a section alongside Haiti, Morocco and Brazil.
Whether or not they are likely to do that was difficult to gauge properly on the evidence of this, with Clarke missing some key players such as John McGinn and Scott McTominay.
But it was a timely confidence boost if nothing else. Being able to take the acclaim of the Hampden crowd as they leave for a World Cup, this was a day these players have waited for all their lives.
That will apply tenfold by the time the opening match comes around against Haiti in Boston. After generations of pain and misery, the players were given a heroes’ send-off.
Once the plane leaves the runway at Glasgow Airport, we can only hope that Clarke and his players do not touch back down on Scottish soil for a long while yet.
There was a sea of salmon pink around Hampden, both on and off the pitch. Ten of the 11 Scotland players who started the match wore boots in that colour, with only Andy Robertson opting for a more neutral white.
The afternoon had got off to an ominous start when Tahith Chong put the visitors ahead
In the stands, the new replica jersey released a couple of months ago was worn by thousands of supporters. It’s little wonder why some retailers have already sold out.
This was a day when it all finally crystallised in the minds of those Tartan Army footsoldiers who had endured 28 years of misery with regards to the World Cup.
Every four years, they would be sat at home watching it all on TV. Every summer without fail, looking on from the outside and pawing at the glass as world football partied on without them.
No more. Prior to kick-off, the big screens at both ends of Hampden showed clips of some of Scotland’s great World Cup moments, none cheered more loudly than Archie Gemmill’s goal against Holland in 1978.
It was back in ’78, of course, that Scotland were given a thunderous send-off by around 40,000 supporters as they left for the tournament in Argentina.
The bluster and bravado of Ally MacLeod became the stuff of legend, albeit for all the wrong reasons as a team he dubbed the finest in Scotland’s history failed to get out of the group stage.
Substitute Findlay Curtis lashes home Scotland’s equaliser on the stroke of half-time
A major part of Scotland’s downfall back in ’78 was their lack of preparation and the fact the badly underestimated their opponents, namely a Peru side that had topped their qualifying section.
With so much more analysis and footage available now in the modern game, there is no chance that Clarke would fall into a similar trap with the likes of Haiti and Morocco, whilst Brazil speak for themselves.
The opening game against Haiti, in particular, made the visit to Hampden of Curacao a decent reference point in terms of what Scotland will face in two weeks’ time.
Curacao finished above Haiti in their qualifying section and are of a similar level. Against this level of opposition, Scotland will be expected to get on the front foot and start the tournament with a win in Boston on June 14.
In that regard, this was a successful exercise. Clarke’s side made heavy weather of it for 45 minutes before going through the gears in the second half and winning with a bit to spare.
Where the first half had been slow and pedestrian, with a smattering of boos at one point as the players took a drinks break, the tempo was so much better after the break.
Up against the ten men of Curacao after Jurgen Locadia was sent off for a ludicrous forearm smash on Aaron Hickey, Scotland zipped the ball around and looked dangerous.
Billy Gilmour’s injury has left Scotland sweating on the fitness of their key midfielder
Kenny McLean and Ryan Christie were at the heart of it in midfield. Likewise Lawrence Shankland up front, who sprung to life and scored two good goals after a quiet first half.
This predatory display of finishing only served to reaffirm the belief that it is Shankland who simply has to start against Haiti in a couple of weeks.
Findlay Curtis made a positive difference when he came off the bench and it was his goal towards the end of the first half that got Scotland back on level terms.
Outstanding for Kilmarnock over the final few weeks of the season, Curtis is clearly brimming with confidence and did his chances no harm whatsoever here.
Playing on the opposite wing from Ben Gannon-Doak, this was a glimpse of Scotland’s future. We now have two difference-makers out wide, players with pace and trickery to beat a man, as well as an eye for goal.
Gannon-Doak was slightly more erratic on the right wing. There were some bright moments, but there were also other times his end product let him down.
Former Rangers forward Juninho Bacuna enjoys a selfie with the vibrant visiting fans
But this was his first start since he picked up an injury against Denmark at Hampden all the way back in November. He’s still getting back to his best.
In the end, it was fairly comfortable for Scotland. World Cup fever will now grip the country over these next few weeks.
Those who either remortgaged the house or took out a bank loan can now look forward to their adventures in Boston and Miami, and possibly beyond.
Those who will watch it all from home can now get the flags looked out, get the garden parties organised, and look forward to some time off work.
The American dream is now a reality.
