Why Haiti v Scotland was antidote to the ills of world football
Get the Sports newsletter
Daily sports — scores, transfers, the storylines from the leagues you actually follow. Free.
- John McGinn scored the winning goal around the half-hour mark via a double deflection, giving Scotland their first World Cup victory in 36 years on their return to the tournament after 28 years away
- Scotland were dominated for long stretches against Haiti, ranked 83rd in the world, with Frantzdy Pierrot missing two clear chances — one headed just wide a dozen minutes from time — as the Scots clung to a 1-0 lead
- Manager Steve Clarke called it a "must-win game" and acknowledged his side's performance left plenty of room to improve ahead of fixtures against Morocco and Brazil
- Goalkeeper Angus Gunn admitted "we won't be happy" despite the result, capturing the bittersweet mood of a win that sparked relief more than celebration among the Tartan Army
- Ben Gannon-Doak was singled out as Scotland's best player, while the composure of Billy Gilmour and the authority of Scott McTominay were notably absent for long periods
Why it matters: Three points from a Haiti side ranked 83rd gives Scotland a platform to chase a historic group-stage exit at a World Cup, but the performance — outplayed for long spells by the tournament's lowest-ranked side in their group — raises serious doubts about their ability to compete with Morocco and Brazil, with Clarke's own admission that they have "more gears to go up" underlining how far below their ceiling they played.
