Scotland manager Steve Clarke has declared his side will feel 'less pressure' when they face World Cup heavyweights Morocco and Brazil, after a gritty 1-0 victory over Haiti in their Group C opener in Boston. The win, secured by John McGinn's deflected strike after 28 minutes, marked Scotland's first World Cup triumph since beating Sweden at Italia 90, ending a 36-year drought.
Resilience and Character
Clarke heaped praise on his players for refusing to buckle under the intense pressure of a must-win opening match. 'Tired, but absolutely delighted for the players,' he said. 'The resilience and character says everything about this group of players. It's not a feeling of relief. Everyone told me it was a must-win game and we won it.'
The victory leaves Scotland top of Group C after Brazil and Morocco drew 1-1 in New Jersey. A point against Morocco on Friday night at the same Foxborough stadium could almost guarantee a historic place in the knockout stages.
Less Pressure Ahead
'The next two games against sides in the top ten are going to be tough,' Clarke added. 'Obviously we go into them under a bit less pressure than everyone put us under going into this game. We need to defend as well as we did and show the same resilience, and hopefully play a little bit better with the ball.'
Clarke acknowledged the difficulty of winning at a World Cup for a nation like Scotland. 'It just shows how difficult it is for a country like Scotland to go to a World Cup and win games. It does not happen very often. This group of players have shown their experience tonight.'
Emotional Victory
The win was also Clarke's first tournament victory at the seventh attempt, after failing to secure a win at the previous two European Championships. He said he planned to enjoy these finals more than his earlier attempts. 'What's not to enjoy? You walk out onto the pitch and see my family in the stand. It is special. And then you celebrate with your team and see the Tartan Army having a great time.'
Clarke reflected on his long journey to the World Cup. 'I've waited 62 years to be at a World Cup. I've been in football for 44 years. This for me is everything. To be sitting here as the head coach of a fantastic group of players at a World Cup, it's everything.'
