The weight has been lifted off Scotland's shoulders after a gritty 1-0 win over Haiti marked a major breakthrough at this World Cup. It's been 32 years since they last tasted victory on the biggest stage, and it's clear that manager Steve Clarke is loving every minute of it as his team finally got their noses in front.
Clarke beamed with pride after the game, hailing his players for showing the character and resilience that has been missing from Scotland's World Cup campaigns in recent memory. "We all knew this was a must-win game," he said, "and to get those three points under our belts is just what we needed." With Brazil and Morocco drawing their match, Scotland now sits top of Group C – but Clarke knows they can't rest on their laurels.
The Scots' next two fixtures against the world's best will be a different story altogether. Ranked in the top 10, Brazil and Morocco will push Clarke's side to the limit, and he admits it's time for them to take a step up in class. "We defended well today, but we know we need to create more chances if we're going to make an impact," he said. "If we can do that, I'm confident we'll be just fine."
Clarke, who has been on the biggest stage before with Scotland at two European Championships, is savouring every moment of this World Cup experience. He's high on praise for midfielder Lewis Ferguson, labelling him 'exceptional', and reiterating his faith in a squad that he believes has never let him down.
Scotland's opponents Haiti may have fallen short, but their head coach Sebastien Migne was full of pride after the match. He acknowledged his team's growth and learning experience, but admitted they came up just short against a well-organised Scottish side. A penalty appeal for handball that was waved away by the referee sparked heated debate in the Haitian dressing room.