Scotland fans travelling home from Miami are reflecting on the trip of a lifetime as their World Cup hopes hang by a thread. The Tartan Army have been left clinging to the slim chance that the team can still create World Cup history by qualifying out of a group for the first time ever. Barring a miracle, however, a place in the last 32 as one of the eight best third-placed teams will almost certainly be beyond their grasp by Saturday.
This follows Ecuador shocking Germany, Australia and Paraguay drawing, and Sweden and Japan playing out mutually beneficial draws, leaving Scotland in the final best third-place spot in the table and on the verge of being overtaken. Hopeful fans who travelled to Florida watched the drama unfold in the sunshine and could hardly believe their eyes after every result that could have gone against them did.
Fans Share Their Disappointment and Hope
James McFarlane, a 29-year-old lawyer, was tuned in with his dad George, a 67-year-old retired engineer. The pair were travelling back home to Glasgow, and James said: "We had the chart up with all the results we needed to go in our favour, and yesterday we just sat and watched them all disappear one by one. Hopefully we will still get there, but I'm not sure. It's looking pretty unlikely now. The result put a dampener on things, but we've still really enjoyed the experience out here. The fact that we are out here has just been class."
George added: "We watched the Germany game last night, hoping for Ecuador to get beat. The place was full of people from Ecuador, so there was a good atmosphere in the place - but we were the only ones wanting the other team to win. I think when we reflect back on the games, we had to go for it in the first game. We really needed to win by two or three goals. That's been the most disappointing thing for me. But the atmosphere has been absolutely brilliant from start to finish. The fans have been fantastic, it's just the goal difference that has killed us."
Family Trip and Unforgettable Atmosphere
Gordon Mains, a 55-year-old engineer director from Bishopbriggs, was heading home with his wife Marie, 48, and their son Lewis, 11. Gordon said: "It has been a big shame. Not that you have any big expectations going into playing Brazil, but it just felt like we had a wee bit more in the tank there and it could have been a better showing. It's also been tough watching all the other results and nothing coming in for us. We've had a brilliant time in Miami, though. We've thoroughly enjoyed it. We were lucky enough to get tickets to see us play at the Hard Rock Stadium. The atmosphere was absolutely incredible. It's just a shame the match didn't live up to the same standard."
Marie, who works in property management, added: "We watched all the games yesterday. We were rooting for Germany for the first time ever. So it was so disappointing when Ecuador won 2-1. We've just been praying for results to go our way - but it's just a shame it's had to come to that. We should have done it ourselves without having to rely on everyone. But we can live in hope, and as a Scotland fan that is all we have ever done. We've had an amazing time, though. Nothing can beat the Tartan Army."
Memories for a Lifetime Despite the Result
Nando Vastano, a 45-year-old who runs a holiday complex in Aviemore, was heading home with his pal Jamie Rodgers, a 46-year-old funeral director from Kingussie. Nando said: "The game itself was really disappointing. Yesterday, everything that could have possibly gone against us, went against us. We had all the games on in Little Havana and we're asking ourselves, 'Are we going to Mexico?'... No, we're going home. We blew it ourselves but now the results have gone against us too, it's over. But the trip has been absolutely magnificent. Memories for the rest of our life for sure."
Jamie said: "It's over now. We have no chance, I don't think we deserve to go through anyway. It's home time. We arrived on Monday night and haven't stopped partying since then, so it's probably a good thing!"
Still Living in Hope
Scott Strachan, a 55-year-old chart surveyor from Aberdeen, was enjoying a last cocktail with his son Scott Jnr before the pair headed home. Scott Snr said: "Our trip has been amazing. Friendly people. But we've been out here in America for two and a half weeks so we are ready to go home now. We felt very deflated on the night and the results haven't gone our way since. I think it's almost impossible now, but we still live in hope."
Scott Jnr, a 25-year-old quantity surveyor now living in Brisbane, said: "We've still had a really good time. We've been watching the other games, but to be honest we don't deserve to go through. If we go through, we will probably get gubbed 3-0 in the next game. So there's no hope anyway. It's time to go home."
Stephen Duncan, a 51-year-old plumber from Fraserburgh, said he was left gutted that Scotland were looking likely to be heading home early. He said: "I'm a bit disappointed, to be honest. The weather conditions didn't help though. The humidity out here is unbelievable. I think it's a hard task now. If we'd scored one we might have been in a better position, but we just need to wait and see now. To be honest I don't think we've done enough. We're looking for a miracle now - but we've had an excellent time out here. It's been fantastic."
