World media reacts as Scotland give the globe goosebumps with Tartan Army acclaim and our rivals start to panic. Our heroes delivered on the pitch thanks to a 1-0 win over Haiti and our brilliant fans were even better.
Scotland Fans Celebrate
'It's alright being Scottish.' The famous Trainspotting quote about the trials and tribulations surrounding our national identity doesn't seem as fitting as it once did and, perhaps, needs a modern upgrade. Scotland ended a 36-year wait for a World Cup win in our first game on the grandest stage after a 28-year absence.
Our heroes stood tall en route to a battling 1-0 win over Haiti as John McGinn's deflected strike catapulted us to the top of Group C. Steve Clarke's stoic expressions were replaced with palpable joy as the national team boss hugged and congratulated his players.
Our players were rugged and the fans who flooded the Boston Stadium were simply world class – their passion earned praise across the globe. And the win over Haiti has Brazil and Morocco on red alert with both keenly aware there is now a three-way fight to emerge out of Group C. We look at the best reaction as Scotland toasts a magical late-night/early morning for the ages.
Le Figaro (France)
"If you're a sports fan, or simply crave excitement, you absolutely must attend a Scotland match at least once in your life. Whether it's the Six Nations Tournament or the national football team, for a fleeting moment, you'll experience a truly special moment with the world's most beautiful anthem, Flower of Scotland. On Saturday night at Gilette Stadium in Foxborough, the 65,000 spectators at the Scotland-Haiti match were transported to the suburbs of Edinburgh or to the hallowed halls of Murrayfield. The anthem was sung in unison by thousands of supporters, a deep respect for the Haitian people, and a total sense of shared experience. Guaranteed goosebumps."
Globo (Brazil)
"Brazil's group in the World Cup has a leader, and it's not Ancelotti's team nor the emerging Morocco. It's Scotland, who won a tough game against Haiti on Saturday night in Boston, USA, with a goal from McGinn, midfielder for Aston Villa (England). The Scots withstood the pressure in the second half to come away with a valuable 1-0 victory. Scotland ended two long and frustrating droughts in their match against Haiti. They won a World Cup game for the first time in 36 years: their last victory was a 2-1 win against Sweden in 1990; and McGinn's goal marked the first World Cup victory for the country in 28 years: the last one was by Craig Burley in a 1-1 draw with Norway in 1998."
NBC Boston (United States of America)
"There are 64,146 people in attendance for Haiti–Scotland, according to organisers, which is the stadium's capacity. So much for empty seats. Most of Haiti's players sang along to 'La Dessalinienne,' while Scotland's players all appeared to sing, while standing shoulder to shoulder for 'Flower of Scotland.' Some people keep a close eye on the anthems, thinking the players' demeanor gives some insight into how they'll play. I'm not sure there's much in the way of statistics behind that, though."
Lance (Brazil)
"With Scotland's victory, Brazil is now tied on points with Morocco for second place in the group. Therefore, the Brazilian team needs a perfect record in the remainder of the group stage to avoid depending on other results and finishing in second place, which would lead to a match against the leader of Group F, which includes the Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, and Sweden. The Scottish fans were one of the highlights of the match. After a 28-year absence, European supporters were able to see their national team in a World Cup again and they did not disappoint. Outnumbering them in the stadium, they cheered on Steve Clarke's team throughout the 90 minutes and left with three points and, most importantly, the lead in their group at the end of the first round."
MS Sport (Morocco)
"The Scottish national team finished the first half ahead with a goal scored by John McGinn in the 28th minute. The second half witnessed continuous pressure from the Haitian national team, who tried to equalize the result, but to no avail, perhaps the most notable attempt was by player Perrot in the 85th minute. With this victory, Scotland tops Group C with three points, while Morocco is in second place with one point after its draw with Brazil, which also has one point, while Haiti is in last place with zero points."
Aawsat (Saudi Arabia)
"John McGinn deflected a shot off an opposing defender and past goalkeeper Johny Placide in the 28th minute, and Scotland defeated Haiti 1-0 in Group C of the World Cup on Saturday. The Scots, making their first appearance in the tournament since 1998, earned their first World Cup victory since 1990, when they beat Sweden 2-1. Group favorites Brazil and Morocco played to a 1-1 draw earlier in the day, putting Scotland at the top of the group standings. Haiti, whose only other World Cup appearance was in West Germany in 1974, is still in search of its first World Cup point."
