This all proved rather difficult to evaluate as the dust settled. Scotland’s fifth win at a World Cup finals should have been a cause for epic celebration. Victory over Haiti meant this is a team not guaranteed to receive a bloody nose against lesser nations after all. More than 10,000 days after limping out of the World Cup in France, Scotland returned to the biggest stage in football. claimed three points. They top Group C.
Read Ewan Murray’s full report here:
That’s it from me. there will be more reaction to Scotland’s win over Haiti launching on the site in the coming hours.
Scotland striker Lawrence Shankland has been speaking to the BBC post-match:
double quotation mark That’s why you put the graft in all your life.
There was pressure on us to win. In competition football it’s about winning and we got the job done. We’ve got the three points – we can be happy.
The games keep coming. Jonathan Howcroft is on deck for Australia v Turkey:
Up next for Scotland are Morocco on Friday. The North Africans looked a top side in their 1-1 draw with Brazil earlier. These points on the board are vital for Scotland. a point from the next two games will probably be enough to go through.
This all proved rather difficult to evaluate as the dust settled. Scotland’s fifth win at a World Cup finals should have been a cause for epic celebration. Victory over Haiti meant this is a team not guaranteed to receive a bloody nose against lesser nations after all. More than 10,000 days after limping out of the World Cup in France, Scotland returned to the biggest stage in football. claimed three points. They top Group C.
Read Ewan Murray’s full report here:
A very happy and slightly emotional John McGinn has been interviewed on the pitch:
double quotation mark Wasn’t my best of goals, but who cares? It’s been a long time coming. Look at this, man, yeah [pointing to the stands]? Absolutely unbelievable. I’ve lost it a wee bit. Hats off to this [Haiti} team, by the way. They, they played New Zealand off the pitch, for us as well. And tonight we had to work hard for it. Could we play a bit better? Aye, but it’s a must-win game and we won, so absolutely over the moon.
We’ve been through a lot of heartaches as a country. A generation of supporters haven’t seen this. The. the pride on my family’s faces, moving, seeing all the kids going to, uh, going to the parks in their Scotland kit having my face, hopefully when, uh, they get up tomorrow, they’ll be absolutely beaming with pride, because I am. Uh, what a win, and it sets us up for Friday.
Steve Clarke has given this thoughts post-match:
double quotation mark It’s the first time we’ve won a game in the group stage. It’s probably [a night to celebrate] for the supporters through all of Scotland. everyone said “must-win game” — we won the game.
Asked if his side needed resilience to hold off Haiti, Clarke said:
double quotation mark This is what this team’s all about. Teams like them play, they can play, but if they have to dig in. show that character, that resilience, that’s what they do as well. Defensively outstanding. Could have been probably a little bit better with the ball, but who cares? We won.
There it is, the Group C table:
In the stands ‘Yes Sir, I Can Boogie’ is being belted out. Great stuff.
I hope the bars of Foxborough are ready for what’s about to come. It’s 11pm on the east coast but no one in tartan is sleeping for a while.
SCOTLAND ARE TOP OF GROUP C! A first World Cup win since 1990, courtesy of John McGinn.
90+6 mins That sums up Haiti’s problem. Experience works a short free-kick with Bellegarde but panics and fires off a wild shot that goes well over.
90+5 mins Casimir needing lengthy treatment.
90+4 mins McClean booked for another high foot. That one time it’s full justified, reckless. gives Haiti another free-kick in a good area out on the left-hand side.
90+3 mins …woeful ball.
90+3 mins Dykes gives away a free-kick in a dangerous area…
90+1 mins Findlay goes in the book for a high foot. Harsh, not sure he caught the man there.
90 mins We get six extra minutes for Scotland to see out.
86 min Another Haiti change, Yassin Fortuné on for Providence.
85 mins Huge chance for Pierrot to make it 1-1! Great cross from the right and the Haitian wins the header but puts it off target. That might have been ‘The Chance’.
82 mins Findlay Curtis replaces McGinn and Shankland goes off for Kenny McLean.
81 mins Another swift Haiti break after McGinn is bundled off the ball results in a corner. Scotland aren’t quite holding on but they’re definitely not in control.
78 mins Providence is causing problems. he nicks the ball from McTominay and bursts into the box only for his shot to be blocked behind by Patterson.
77 mins Joseph immediately makes an impact with a nice run. tidy lay-off that results in a Haiti shots that’s deflected behind for a corner. Haiti are well in this.
75 mins Three changes for Scotland: Gannon-Doak, Hickey and Adams go off; Patterson, Christie and Dykes comes on. Lenny Joseph replaces Isidor for Haiti.
74 mins Haiti nearly punish that profligacy immediately, Providence with low curler that Pierrot can’t get a toe on.
73 mins Big chance for McGinn to double the lead. McTominay nodded the ball through. like with his first goal he scuffs this shot, unlike the first it goes wide. He should have scored.
69 mins We’re back in action and McGinn has won a free kick out on the Scotland left. Good chance to swing it in here.
Drinks email. “Not sure if Scotland is used to what Haiti is doing here. It’s pure CONCACAF Ball. You’ll see this super physical/no-flow play from the minnows in CONCACAF play all the time. its the kind of play that works if they can frustrate you and then get a lucky fluke or a sudden counter. They practically dare the ref to insert themselves knowing they likely won’t insert themselves overmuch. so they have a window of opportunity to be physical.” – A scarred Kirk VanGilder
66 mins It’s time for drinks.
65 mins Yes! Scotland take too long over a throw-in and the referee punishes them by giving it to Haiti. Keep it moving, I can’t wait to not see this in the Premier League.
64 mins There’s an edgy feel to this for Scotland. They’ve not pulled away from Haiti here and are very susceptible to a countrer-punch.
61 mins Change for Haiti, Deedson goes off and on comes Josué Casimir, who plays for Auxerre in Ligue 1.
57 mins Adams is wiped by Experience. Blindside job, but no booking. A very lenient call.
55 mins Great ball in from Robertson almost picks out Shankland, the forward was stretching. couldn’t get a stud on it. Wicked ball from the Tottenham man, it feels weird typing that.
53 mins Providence puts in another inviting delivery from the left, but again it finds no one. How long until we see Duckens Nazon?
52 mins Lots of bitty free-kicks so far this half. No flow.
49 mins Gannon-Doak goes past Experience and wins a free-kick, it’s wasted by Scotland though.
46 min Hickey goes in the book for tugging back Providence after the Haiti winger wriggled away on the left.
Haiti kick-off the third quarter second half.
I thought this Scotland kit would be universally loved. Not so. “But not a fan of the Scot’s salmon kit. Mishmash of stripes of various widths and hues. Keep it simple. Brazil v Morocco was great in their classic kits.” – Tim Smith
“Given the salmon colour, wouldn’t chevrons be more appropriate than stripes?” – Michael Fugate
“Nice as it is to see a run out for the salmon shirt. it really is nonsense that FIFA insist that the team drawn away wear their second strip even if there isn’t a clash in their home colours. I can’t imagine it helps for distinguishing between the teams, for instance if you were watching in black. white Scotland would appear in light grey now, against Haiti’s white, rather than very dark grey if wearing their navy shirt. I’m pretty sure the regional federations don’t do this (England. the Netherlands both wore home colours in their Euro 2024 semi-final, for example). Is it another FIFA nod to commercialism so that kit manufacturers can get the different strips seen. sold?” – David Wall
Half-time mail. “Even though I’m not a huge NBA fan, I have to admit I’ll be two-screening tonight. Probably watching football and listening to basketball. It just works better that way. The real question is whether Scotland fans are staying up, or just getting up. Inquiring minds, and all that.” – Joe Pearson
“Scotland struggling with Haiti’s physicality? Surely not? The game’s gone.” – Trygve Lie
“So Haiti have a goalkeeper called Placide, and Experience at the back. Scotland might be undone by nominative determinism here, I fear.” – Justin Kavanagh
“Been an entertaining first 45. Next goal will be key, and both teams look capable. If Scotland get it, we should be fine. Should. If Haiti equalise though..” – Simon McMahon
Scotland lead through McGinn’s goal but Haiti have had their moments.
45+3 mins Haiti struggling to find the final pass. They do well to build up to the edge of the Scotland box. an enticing ball across the top the area finds no one.
45 mins Four minutes added.
44 mins You can hear the referee counting down the time on throw-ins. This a rule change I can get onboard with.
41 mins This is an entertaining watch. Scotland looking to control things but Haiti carry a threat on the break.
39 mins Bellegarde goes into the book for a late lunge. it was a loose touch from that required the Haiti man to dive in.
37 min Another good Haiti attack. this time it’s Hickey who gets the crucial touch to stop Providence from getting a sot away after McGinn lost it to Bellegarde in midfield.
34 mins Haiti should be level! Providence cuts in from the left. shoots, Gunn spills it into a dangerous area, requiring heroic stuff from Hendry to stop Isidor pouncing in the six yard box. Haiti still threatening here.
Praise for Adams. “It’s wonderful to see ‘Chelé’ living up to his nickname with a touch worthy of the great Brazilian as he brought down. long ball!” – Daniel Halladay
32 mins Shankland goes close! Gannon-Doak is giving his man the run around. puts in pinpoint cross that Shankland gets on to but flicks wide.
Lift-off! Ché Adams runs in behind to stretch the Haiti defence. then nearly gets on the end of the low-centre from the right but who is there to take advantage, only John McGinn! It’s not the cleanest strike but who cares, Scotland top Group C as it stands.
27 mins Loud boos as Isidor hits the deck looking for a free-kick. Looking for it a bit too much, methinks.
The pic desk has put together a lovely gallery during the buildup to this game:
22 mins It’s time for drinks.
Fitba mail. “James Humphries with the most Scottish email ever. I mean, it’s not like we have previous in opening World Cup fixtures again so called ‘minnows’, is it? Expect the worst, hope for the best, right? Come on Scotland!” – Fitba regular, Simon McMahon
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