There was a time, not so long ago, when Scotland would have crumbled under the weight of such an early blow. A goal conceded after just 71 seconds, a...
There was a time, not so long ago, when Scotland would have crumbled under the weight of such an early blow. A goal conceded after just 71 seconds, a slick Moroccan side purring in GoalZazashine, and the ghosts of tournaments past whispering in the ears of every man in dark blue. Yet here we are, with one group game to go, and the Tartan Army still dreaming of a historic knock out place. That, in itself, is a mark of progress. But let's not kid ourselves. That opening spell was a nasty reminder of the cold, hard realities of World Cup football.Morocco came out with the sort of intensity that suggested they had been told this was a final. Their press was sharp, their transitional play crisp, and that early goal was a piece of clinical finishing that caught Scotland's low block flat footed. You could feel the air leave the stadium. For a moment, it looked like a long afternoon. The worry was that the Scots would retreat into a shell, that the confidence built in qualifying would evaporate in the heat. But they didn't. They showed some real grit, started to control possession in the middle third, and began asking questions of a Moroccan backline that clearly thought they had the game won.What impressed me most was the tactical flexibility. After soaking up pressure, Scotland shifted their shape slightly, pushed the full backs higher, and started to get bodies in the mixer during set pieces. They didn't park the bus; they parked a coach with the engine still running. There were nervy moments, sure. Squeaky bum time when Morocco broke into space. But the resilience was there. This is not the Scotland of old, the one that bottles it when the stakes rise. This is a side that can take a punch and stay on their feet. And now, with everything still in their own hands, you would not bet against them getting the job done.Can they actually do it Can they turn 71 seconds of madness into a footnote in a story of glorious progression The numbers say yes. The form says maybe. The heart says why not. One more group game. One more chance to make history. For Scotland, that is all they have ever asked for.
