Morocco. A country, a team mentioned so much by Scotland fans despite only playing them once.
Why? Well until last Saturday, the last game we played at a World Cup was against Morocco over 10,200 days ago.
If you told anyone in Saint-Etienne that night that they would have to wait 28 years to play at another World Cup, where, ironically, Morocco would be waiting for you in MD2, you wouldn’t have believed it.
The fact is the 3-0 defeat to the Africans at France 98 became the origin, the starting point of the odyssey back to tournament football.
The game would be mentioned more that it deserved over the years, as it was our last memory of a finals until we qualified for Euro 2020 – then it remained our last World Cup game until beating Haiti this week.
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Scotland’s Ryan Christie believes World Cup progression would be just reward for the progress the team has made under Steve Clarke
What do fans remember of that game. The scoreline? The fact Craig Burley was sent off? The awful bleached blonde hairstyle he was sporting?
Those in the stadium, or that watched on TV, or even those not even born were more than aware of the Morocco game for being the last game Scotland played at a World Cup.
Now, Scotland are standing on the brink of more history against Morocco. A win for Steve Clarke’s team and Scotland will qualify out of a group at a major tournament for the first time in their history.
We would continue to talk about Morocco and the World Cup – but for the right reasons this time.
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Scotland striker Lyndon Dykes says belief is high after winning their Group C opener as they now target maximum points against Morocco and Brazil
It sounds easy but ultimately, this game will be much harder in practice. A team that reached the World Cup semi-finals three and a half years ago in Qatar, ranked seventh in the world and boasting a team packed full of talent.
Their captain has won back-to-back Champions League titles with PSG. Achraf Hakimi’s epitomises the talent in their squad and Clarke is in no doubt that Scotland are up against it.
He is due to take charge of his 80th Scotland game. He will need to pull out a performance to match the win over Spain at Hampden Park in Euro 2024 qualifying to get a result.
That was Spain’s only defeat throughout the whole of that tournament, from qualifying through to the finals.
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Scotland fans take over Boston Red Sox’s Fenway Park and Tim Sherwood says John McGinn is a manager dream after scoring he winner against Haiti
Scotland are capable. Many had written them off at Wembley in Euro 2020, but they drew 0-0 with England and could have won the game. If this squad is to make history, then it will need to find something against a dark horse for the World Cup.
A draw would still leave Scotland in a strong position to qualify. Defeat and we start thinking about what is required to qualify as a third-placed team, although we have another chance against Brazil in Miami.
The Tartan Army have taken over Boston. They turned Fenway Park into Hampden Park the day after beating Haiti. The support is something Clarke has been keen to highlight.
The Scotland head coach also wanted to pay tribute to Donny Strathie, an avid fan who sadly passed away while in the city following his country. The supporters will take part in a minute’s applause on 76 minutes in Boston Stadium.
That puts football, life and the World Cup into perspective.
