Scotland fans still keeping World Cup dream alive despite Morocco defeat

By Ryan McDougall, Press Association Scotland in Boston and David Young

The Tartan Army ranks that have invaded Boston remained confident their World Cup journey can still extend beyond the group stages despite the disappointment of defeat to Morocco.

Morocco’s winning goal, coming only 71 seconds into Friday’s match, quickly burst the exuberant mood that had built among Scotland fans in Massachusetts throughout the day.

Despondency turned to frustration and anger among the travelling contingent amid a feeling that the team were denied at least one, potentially two, second-half penalties.

But by full-time there was a sense of defiance with many supporters already turning their thoughts to the final group game against Brazil in Miami on Wednesday and insisting the point that would all but guarantee history-making progress from the group could be secured against the five-time world champions.

At the Boston Stadium in Foxborough ahead of kick-off, Tartan Army fans were eating, drinking and generally having a lot of fun.

Lots of supporters in kilts mingled among groups of Morocco fans draped in their nation’s colours and flag.

The atmosphere was full of excitement and anticipation as cheers and chants caught and spread throughout the crowds.

Amid all the revelry and passion, there was a moment of poignancy during the game as the crowd inside the stadium applauded in unison in the 76th minute in tribute to Donny Strathie, the Scotland fan who died in Boston on Sunday before he had the chance to fulfil a dream of watching his team play in the World Cup.

In downtown Boston, bars were packed with Scotland fans who journeyed to the US city to soak up the atmosphere despite not having tickets for the game.

Morocco’s early goal failed to dampen spirts inside Hennessy’s Bar.

Tartan Army fans continued to cheer for their team throughout.

Scott McNab, 34, from Edinburgh, said he felt Scotland were “far too defensive” in the first half.

“We sat in and played for the draw, and then second half came out, made changes, (Ben) Gannon-Doak made a massive difference and I feel like in the second half they (Morocco) were clinging on,” he said.

“In my opinion, we’ve been robbed of at least one penalty to eventually get a point. But I don’t want to be negative. We lost by one. Goal difference is what it’s going to come down to.

“I think the way the groups are going three points is going to be enough, and it’s going to come down to the goal difference.”

Looking ahead to the final game, Mr McNab joked: “It’s against Brazil, so not too hard.

“It’s just a case of just keeping it tight to the last 15 minutes, and like we’ve done tonight, just try and go for the last 15 and see what happens.”

Martin McCann, 37, from Livingston, said he was “gutted”.

“I wish we went for it a bit more,” he said.

“I’d rather lose by trying to win it, rather than sitting in, and then you concede anyway.

“But, in reality, a 1-0 defeat keeps us in it, so yeah, we go into the next game looking to get enough to get us through.”

Aidan Cunningham, 21, from East Kilbride, watched the game in Boston city centre and insisted Scotland were the better team on the night.

“Honestly, when the full-time whistle came I was a little heartbroken,” he said.

“We’ve really got to win against Brazil. I said Morocco is one of the best teams in the world and Brazil is slacking a little bit, so we’ve got a chance.”

Aberdonian Stuart Insh, who is 45 and lives in Edinburgh, said he felt a sense of “deflation”.

“Hopefully, the town of Boston is still happy with our company that we’re now sort of not as quite in the same bravado as we were before the game,” he said.

Orange traffic cones have been spotted on statues all over the city since the Tartan Army came to town.

Pre match on Friday, there were also a few on fans’ heads too amid as they again showed the World Cup why it is “No Scotland, No Party”.

The cone tradition, which has become a calling card for travelling Scotland fans, is most associated with the statue of the Duke of Wellington outside the Gallery of Modern Art in Glasgow.

Since the late 1980s, a cone has been on the statue’s head and has been persistently replaced whenever it is removed.

Even Boston mayor Michelle Wu has got in on the act, admitting to placing a cone on the head of a statue of Boston Celtics basketball great Bill Russell during a week when Bostonians have taken Scotland fans to their heart.

Caroline Warren from Connecticut joined Scotland supporters watching Friday night’s game in a bar in central Boston.

“No matter what, you guys have the best fans ever,” she said.

“Like, genuinely, you guys have won the World Cup of fans.”