‘Scotland awaits Haiti with mix of positivity and anxiety, faith and fear’

An overhead kick from Scott McTominay, a Lewis Ferguson corner that was going in until Laurence Shankland helped his way in, a curler from Kieran Tierney to beat all curlers and then a quarter – or half line to be precise – from Kenny McLean from the other side of the world.

It was the perfect night, a night that strengthened the bond between these players, which is indeed strong. It is always said, but this team is extremely close-knit, a club side in national team colours, a band of brothers who have each other’s backs.

There was a collective gasp when news broke Thursday that Totem McTomin had an iffy stomach, but he’s fine now. The Napoli midfielder with the Midas touch probably waved his hand over his stomach and hey presto, he was cured.

What’s absolutely fascinating about this game is the options Clark has and the way he talks about his bench usage, indicating he can keep a heavy hitter in reserve.

On multiple occasions he has suggested that the team that finishes the game must be as strong or stronger than the team that started.

It’s unthinkable for this game that he will move away from the new approach of playing Shankland and Chey Adams up front, so one of his star midfielders probably won’t start.

Scotland are buoyant with eight goals in their last game. There were caveats – Curacao had 10 men for most of the game at Hampden and were beaten 4-1, and Bolivia weren’t much better.

But confidence is a precious thing, no matter how you get it. Clark, as is his wont, has been talking about Haiti’s threats, regularly citing their size, their strength and their athleticism.

Haiti beat New Zealand 4–0 in a warm-up game, followed by a 1–0 loss to England. That form line plays them.

Haiti are ranked 83rd in the FIFA world rankings, but Clarke is at pains to highlight their strengths. One of these strengths is an emotional fortitude that represents a country wracked by crisis and humanitarian disaster.

The capital, Port-au-Prince, is controlled by armed gangs – instability, hunger, murder, kidnapping and sexual violence are rife. Government services have collapsed. Thousands of schools were closed, 10% of the population fled. Football teams cannot play any games at home. Two years into his role as head coach, Sebastien Migne has yet to set foot in Haiti.

That level of suffering can breed some degree of determination. Clarke knows it and you can sense his players know it too.

Scotland have played 23 matches at the World Cup and won just four, a staggering statistic when you throw in memories of past nightmares as well as losing to Costa Rica in 1990.

So Clark is not taking anything lightly. It’s definitely a win given what could happen against Morocco and Brazil.

No one in the Clark camp is immune from that. They have repeatedly said they are here to make history as the first Scotland team in a group.

They are accompanied by a huge traveling force and millions more at home, a strange combination of positivity and anxiety, faith and fear. All human emotions on the great stage.

Exciting and terrifying. What a time to be alive.