There is a sense of melancholy to be found in watching a nation’s footballing soul flicker on the periphery of a tournament it has waited so long to grace.
The Tartan Army may have turned Miami into their own sun-soaked playground over recent days, providing a backdrop of riotous colour and noise in the build-up to tonight’s World Cup clash with Brazil.
As was the case in Boston last week, Scotland supporters have captured the imagination of the watching world.
Yet, in terms of matters on the pitch, Scotland’s presence at this World Cup feels illusory and insubstantial. Once again, another tournament threatens to pass them by.
Steve Clarke will, of course, dispute this. Earlier this week, he made the point the fans and media would have hammered him if he had gone gung-ho against Morocco and lost 4-0. There may be an element of truth in that, but it is also an argument of convenience. Nobody is asking Clarke to go gung-ho.
Scotland’s supporters are providing colour to the World Cup and partying in Miami
The Tartan Army march on Ocean Drive in Miami ahead of their game against Brazil
All they ask is for him to show some ambition and set the team up in a manner where they carry some kind of threat going forward. In major tournaments, it is a balance he has yet to find.
Clarke has also been at pains to make clear his game plan against Brazil will not be to park the bus and try to cling on for a draw, with a point guaranteeing Scotland a place in the knockout stage.
Time will tell on that. But if he is to learn anything from the Morocco game, it is that Scotland are not good enough to sit back and defend for 90 minutes.
In the first half, they were abysmal. It was utterly feeble. In the second half, they showed a level of improvement but still finished the match without a shot on target.
When you strip it back, a World Cup is about making memories. Clarke spoke this week about looking for another David Narey moment against Brazil — and one that actually counts for something tangible.
What about another Archie Gemmill ’78 moment? Or Gordon Strachan against West Germany in ’86? This is what Scotland fans crave above all else — something to cheer and shout about.
All they have had so far is a scrappy, nervy 1-0 win, courtesy of a deflected strike from John McGinn, over Haiti, the lowest-ranked team in the group. That is scant reward for a fanbase who have gone to significant personal expense to follow Scotland on their travels in Boston and Miami.
There also needs to be a sense of perspective when talking about ‘making history’. When you consider Scotland’s first two performances, it jars.
The simple reality of international tournaments in the modern day is they are bloated by the expanded format, and that reaching the knockouts is not as difficult as it once was.
Steve Clarke has also been at pains to make clear his game plan will not be to park the bus
Scotland had a tough draw against two teams ranked inside the world’s top 10, of that there is no question. They do not have any God-given right to take anything from Morocco or Brazil.
But there should be an expectation to show some ambition. Look at what Cape Verde did on Sunday night in their 2-2 draw with Uruguay. They were absolutely magnificent. Some of their attacking play was a joy to watch and they scored two terrific goals.
Cape Verde proved their 0-0 draw with Spain in their opener was no fluke and, against Uruguay, they provided arguably the moment of the tournament so far.
What has Scotland’s moment of the tournament been so far? Their football has been largely joyless, suffocated by a desire not to lose rather than an ambition to win.
Let’s suppose for a second they turn in another timid performance tonight and suffer a tame 2-0 defeat by the Brazilians, but scrape through regardless on goal difference. Is that really worth celebrating?
Scotland’s football has been largely joyless, suffocated by a desire not to lose
Sure, the Tartan Army would have another week to continue their party and they could look forward to a new opponent and new city in the last 32. But it would feel hollow. It would be a statistical achievement devoid of romance and the sort of moments which make us fall in love with football in the first place.
This writer is not intending to be a killjoy, it’s just the reality. Scotland should not be content just to be there, nor should they be content just to make up the numbers.
After the Euros in 2024, the players railed against exactly that kind of mentality. They are better than that. The question is whether we have a manager willing to take a chance. Too often in major tournaments, these players look constrained by fear, tethered to a system which prioritises not losing over the possibility of winning.
It is a sad state of affairs when a country’s contribution to the World Cup is merely the colour, energy and atmosphere provided by the fans, rather than anything relating to the team.
Scotland supporters have been the life and soul of this World Cup, but the players have yet to come to the party.
A clash this evening with the most glamorous team in the tournament is the perfect chance to change all that.
