What the VIP pundits said as Keane and Ange dismiss Scotland penalty fury and Rangers boss slams 'bonkers' Clarke ploy. The beautiful game has a sobering ability to deliver an ugly truth and Morocco exposed our flaws before a referee enraged us.
It felt like Scotland and our incredible supporters had earned an air of invincibility following a first World Cup win in 36 years against Haiti. But the beautiful game has a sobering ability to deliver an ugly truth and Morocco exposed our flaws during a rampaging first half which started in the worst possible way when Ismael Saibari scored after 71 seconds.
Grant Hanley's grave error in playing an ill-advised offside trap was mercilessly punished by the man heading to Bayern Munich. Heartbreak made way for anger in the closing stages after a spot kick for Scott McTominay was waved away despite being caught by Neil El Aynaoui. Scotland stayed in the fight but our Group C rivals showed onlookers why they are ranked the sixth-best team on the planet for long spells. Steve Clarke's men bared their teeth after the interval with both John McGinn also appealing for a penalty.
Roy Keane, Ange Postecoglou and Scotland tough man Duncan Ferguson engaged in a fierce debate with the former Celtic pair railing against a nation's anger. Keane said: 'I don't think it's a penalty, simple as that. He's looking to go down.' Ferguson retorted: 'I thought you were going to go to me and say do I think it was a penalty? Stonewall penalty! It was a penalty. There was a big touch and McTominay goes down. He's running at speed. I think you can give them.' Keane replied: 'I think he's looking to go down. There's a difference.'
Postecoglou added: 'The Moroccan player puts his leg out but there's not enough there to be a penalty. He was going down anyway. Big Dunc says it's a stonewaller... I'm not going to disagree with him!' Ferguson then said: 'I thought McGinn's was more of a penalty.' Keane responded: 'You think you should have had five penalties!' Ferguson concluded: 'It should have been at least two.'
Keane had already cast his menacing glare towards Scotland's wretched start and, in typical Keano fashion, didn't mince his words. He said: 'Even the body language of the Scotland players (for the early goal), it's like they're daydreaming. There's a big build-up to the game, they weren't great the other night but they got the win. And they have started the game like that, it's like they are in a jovial mood. You have got to be switched on. What do you think Steve Clarke would have said when they were walking up? "Start quick", they are on their heels.'
Rangers Women's boss Leanne Crichton was highly critical of Steve Clarke's decision to deploy Kieran Tierney in an unfamiliar advance role to unsettle Achraf Hakimi. Speaking on BBC, she said: 'It's been nuts. The first 20 minutes, I honestly thought "what is going on?" I had tried to rationalise Tierney playing left-mid, and I thought it must be to man mark Hakimi. Never for one second did I think he'd follow him over every blade of grass. That's just bonkers. Scotland aren't that many levels below Morocco where we need to deploy that. It's too difficult and it brings too much confusion.'
