Scotland World Cup reaction: Steve Clarke's penalty verdict, 'love child' response and Brazil

Head coach picks bones out of second Group C match

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Steve Clarke will let his Scotland players stew over letting history slip through their fingers on an intense night in Foxborough before turning his attention to Brazil.

The squad heads back to Charlotte after the 1-0 defeat by Morocco knowing that their future participation in the tournament hinges on matchday three against the South Americans.

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Like every World Cup Scotland have been at since 1974, everything hangs in the balance in the final group game. But the format of the current expanded tournament favours the Scots, who have three points from two games and a goal difference of zero.

If Clarke's side can avoid goal difference slipping too far into the red, they will have a strong chance of qualifying for the knockout stage.

The manager praised his players for sticking to the task after conceding their quickest-ever World Cup goal. Bayern Munich-bound Ismael Saibari struck after 70 seconds, leaving Scotland gulping for air almost immediately on a warm night in Massachusetts.

Asked what he was thinking at this point, Clarke replied: “Wishing we could start again! That would have been the first thing. We lost a poor goal, we try to step up. You've got track the runners early in the game. They were full of energy and invention. We didn't defend it well. That's why we went one-nil down.”

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“I felt we picked ourselves up after that,” he added. “It maybe took us ten minutes to get into the game because when you get a setback like that it can be really difficult to respond. Weaker teams would have crumbled against that type of quality opposition. But we dug in and got ourselves back in the game.

“We started to move the ball about a little bit better. And I thought the second period of the first half, after the first hydration break, we were good in the game. We had momentum going into half-time and carried that into the second half.

“We had a right go and I’m proud of the players but we’re all devastated and disappointed that we didn’t get the result that we wanted so that we can carry on in this tournament as long as we can.

“We now have to let the players suffer a little bit over the next 48 hours because that’s what they’ll do.

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“We don’t like losing against anybody. So we’ll rest, recover and get ready to go again. The games don’t get much easier, though, eh?”

Brazil are up next for Scotland

He can say that again. Brazil, who defeated Haiti 3-0 with three first-half goals in their second game, await in hot, sticky Florida. This is not a set of circumstances anyone would necessarily pick when seeking to create a new narrative to the tread of major finals failure stretching back to 1954. He was asked what bearing the goal difference scenario would have on the mindset of his players.

“Absolutely nothing because we want to win the game and if we can’t win the game then we don’t want to lose it,” he said.

“That’s the focus we will have in the next five days before we get ourselves down to Miami with the heat and the humidity. We will take on another top side from the world’s top ten.”

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Clarke was measured on the vital decisions that seemed to go against Scotland. Two in particular were still causing debate afterwards: a bump on John McGinn by Neil El Aynaoui near the start of the second half and a late challenge from the same player on Scott McTominay as he was in the process of shooting towards the end.

Uzbekistan referee Ilgiz Tantashev was adamant neither were penalties and he was not advised to have another look at either by his VAR team. Che Adams was also bundled over by Issa Diop in the first half when potentially straight through on goal but the defender was only booked rather than red carded.

“Everyone in the flash interview area was asking me about the Scott McTominay one and that’s the only one I didn’t watch back because I don’t get much time before I come out and speak to you guys,” said Clarke.

“I thought the John McGinn one was 50-50. Some would give it and I think if the referee had then it wouldn’t have been overturned by VAR. So I can only speak on that one.

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“But I was a little bit 50-50 as well when Che Adams was brought down by the last man with a chance to go through. He would have had the chance to go through one on one with the goalkeeper but he gets brought down. Again, the referee chooses yellow and VAR backs the referee but listen, there’s nothing we can do about that.”

Clarke hailed Tierney’s performance before being replaced by Ben Gannon-Doak after an hour. He also issued a quip when a reporter once again underlined the qualities of Gannon-Doak, who gave Morocco something to think about in his half hour on the pitch. “Is he your love child or something!?” Clarke wondered.

“He is a terrific player. It took him a little bit of time to get into the game but once he gets in there you know he is going to be that little bit unpredictability off the bench. He gives us a threat which is different. My choice at the start was to just try and because they are a good side.

“I thought Kieran Tierney was terrific, he just cramped up a little bit. Ben gives us something a little bit different, we know that. Next week (Brazil) is a different game and probably a different approach, so let’s see who I pick.”

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Jack Hendry, Lewis Ferguson, once again, and goalkeeper Angus Gunn were also standouts. “Lewis has been great for me since he got his start in the team, it took a long time for that to open up for him," said Clarke. "He gives us something, that little bit of solidity in midfield.

“Jack has always been a good player for us. He doesn’t always play, he doesn’t always start. When he does Jack is always ready.” As for Gunn, who made two outstanding saves, he said: “That’s why he is in goals, that’s his job to make saves. And he did it very well.”