Scotland extend unbeaten World Cup run to 27 years, 11 months and 19 days

14 Jun, 15:49. UK edition

Andrew Robertson gets in the World Cup mood, baby. Photograph: Michael Zemanek/Shutterstock

In today’s Football Daily: The Tartan Army boogie, Bridget Riley and a 1938 coin toss

GREAT SCOT

Scotland reintroduced themselves to the Geopolitics World Cup in Boston and have settled in nicely, warmly welcomed even by the city’s finest. Their 1-0 win over Haiti won’t trouble the Louvre, but it will do very nicely for the Tartan Army’s emotional support portfolio. John McGinn’s first-half deflected finish gave Scotland their first World Cup win since 1990. The result also meant that it is now 27 years, 11 months and 19 days since Scotland last lost a match at the World Cup.

The victory put Steve Clarke’s side top of Group C, which feels thrilling given the five-time champions Brazil and the African champions (don’t tell Senegal) Morocco are still to come. There were moments of control, moments of panic, but Steve Clarke opted for the ‘job done’ approach to his analysis after the match. “I am absolutely delighted with my players,” tooted Scotland’s manager. “Resilience, character had to be on the pitch tonight. Everyone told us it was a must-win game and we won. When you win a must-win game, you have to be happy with yourselves.”

Andy Robertson, meanwhile, showed more chest-thumping spirit after Scotland’s first appearance at the World Cup since 1998. “What an amazing feeling. The lads achieved their dreams today,” the ~~Liverpool~~ Tottenham defender cheered. “It was such a long day waiting, I can’t imagine what the fans back home were like staying up so late.” Robertson also confirmed the key tactical insight of the night: don’t let the ball in. “The biggest thing was when we scored we didn’t look like conceding, and that has to be a credit to every single player out there that defended for their lives.”

Haiti spent much of the night refusing to behave like an opening-game subplot and their coach Sébastien Migné was understandably torn between pride and frustration. “When you play a match, what you’re trying to do is win,” he sighed. “On one hand, I’m very proud of what the boys showed tonight. It was a very good showing, with some good football. When we know where we’re coming from, we rose to the challenge, but it makes it that much more frustrating that we came up slightly short.”

So Scotland leave Boston with three points, top of the group, and with the kind of early tournament optimism that is best enjoyed quickly before more difficult questions. For now, though, the World Cup has offered them something rare: a win, a clean sheet, and the ability to look at the table without laughing nervously.

LIVE ON BIG WEBSITE

Daniel Harris is in the hot seat to bring you minute-by-minute coverage of Germany 3-0 Curaçao from 6pm BST (1pm EDT), with Rob Smyth ready to roll for the Netherlands 2-2 Japan at 9pm BST (4pm EDT). Beau Dure then delivers updates from Côte d’Ivoire 1-1 Ecuador at 12am Monday BST (7pm Sunday EDT) before Jonathan Howcroft also tunes in for Sweden 2-1 Tunisia at Monday 3am BST (10pm Sunday EDT). And yes, our heads have been and are hurting.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Irankunda have my children” – Australia fans give a measured response to the Socceroos’s 2-0 win over Turkey and goalscoring hero Nestory Irankunda. Big Website’s Rafqa Touma went down to Melbourne’s Federation Square to meet some excited individuals. And fair enough, to be honest.

FOOTBALL DAILY LETTERS

Imagine the horror: the 11th thing I learned (yesterday’s Football Daily) came when your email landed in my inbox on a SATURDAY! For a moment I thought I missed going to work. We are not getting any younger and nor are our hearts” – Krishnamoorthy V (and others).

Re: cult GWC kits (yesterday’s Football Daily). Between the wavy lines of the USA USA USA kit, along with Croatia’s red and white squares, it’s obvious that Bridget Riley is having a great influence on the tournament” – Derrick Cameron.

As a jowly and rapidly swelling middle-aged disappointment (it’s like I ate myself and then asked for seconds) I feel compelled to launch into the GWC fashion debate. While the USA USA USA kit might be striking, is there not a hint of Judge Dredd to the badge? Loved him in the 80s … but deeply unsettling now. Regardless, my vote goes to the Mexico home kit” – Ricardo Brindisi.

If you have any, please send letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. Today’s prizeless letter o’ the day is … Derrick Cameron. Terms and conditions for our competitions, when we run them, are here.

RECOMMENDED LISTENING/WATCHING

Listen up! It’s the latest World Cup Daily podcast. And watch up! You can watch it here if video is more your thing.

NEWS, BITS AND BOBS

Qatar have earned the first World Cup point in their history thanks to some wasteful Switzerland finishing and a thumping injury-time header that went down as an own goal at their 1-1 draw in Group B. “We achieved one dream when we arrived here, to be here, and now today is another little dream,” whooped Qatar boss Lopetegui. “And we have the right to continue having the dream.”

In a a move that Ciao, Footix and, yes, even Goleo VI would be envious of, GWC mascots Clutch the Bald Eagle and Maple the Moose have helped Peruvian police in a drugs raid. “We were able to establish that the person we were about to arrest was a die-hard football fan, living and breathing the World Cup fever,” declared police colonel Carlos Fredy Alcántara Obregón. “So we proceeded to disguise my Green Squad personnel as World Cup mascots in order to approach him without arousing suspicion and make the arrest.”

Tommy T’s summer camp became a dangerous prospect on Sunday as a tornado lashed the Kansas City region. The storm passing meant England were able to train as planned.

David Raya is playing a straight bat to questions about who will be Spain’s No 1, with the Arsenal keeper vying with Unai Simón for the starting berth. “Spain is in very good hands no matter who gets to play,” he honked.

The Somali referee Omar ⁠Abdulkadir Artan, denied entry into the USA USA USA to ⁠officiate at the World Cup, will be paid his full ⁠tournament fee.

MORE RECOMMENDED WATCHING

Are the USA USA USA … actually good at football? Barney Ronay offers some thoughts from his latest travel diary.

STILL WANT MORE?

Electric Ben Gannon-Doak heralds a return to Scotland’s tradition of tricky wingers, writes Paul MacInnes.

Jack Snape is excited after watching Australia’s 2-0 win over Turkey and thinks the young Socceroos offer something new and tantalising: the hope of an adventure like in 2006. And from a Cahill-tribute and drinking from a shoe: here are the best images from Australia’s victory.

Nick Ames went along to talk soccer with those at the Texas Republican party convention so that you don’t have to.

Sharon Nadeem heads out to meet the people of Vancouver and finds the GWC has come with a supercharged police campaign.

Japan have surpassed South Korea but being the best in Asia is no longer enough, writes Jonathan Wilson.

Aaron Timms offers the US view of their own opening night, from Big Lalas Energy to ulcerative colitis meds.

Mo Salah has eyes of a nation on him as Egypt look to end a 92-year wait for a World Cup win, writes Yara El-Shaboury.

In New Jersey, Brazil found that everything must flow through Vinícius Júnior, writes Leander Schaerlaeckens.

David Hytner takes in the sights and sounds and meets the locals of Swope Soccer Village, doubling as the England camp.

BEYOND THE GWC

Roberto Mancini has done one from Qatar Stars League champions Al Sadd, and seems set to return to the Italy national team he led to winning Euro not-2020.

Yaya Touré is the new manager of Slovan Bratislava while Ruben Amorim is in line to take 3-4-3 to Milan, meaning Manchester United’s compensation payment for offing him will be cut. Sir Big Jim likes this.

RECOMMENDED FOLLOWING

How do you do fellow kids? Yes, there’s now a TikBook account with all things of a Big Website sporting focus. So, if you’re there, you know what to do.

MEMORY LANE

The coin toss before the 1938 World Cup quarter-final between Italy and France. Italy are wearing black shirts by order of flatulent blowhard Benito Mussolini, simply to goad opponents none too enamoured by fascism. Italy sadly ran out 3-1 winners, helped on their way by one of the genuinely great goalkeeping c0ck-ups. Watch out for that post, Monsieur Di Lorto!