Scotland are World Cup's life of the party but the team is mind-numbingly dull

Scotland's World Cup presence has been the life of the party, yet their football has bordered on mind-numbingly dull as they laboured against Morocco. They failed to register a shot on target against Morocco, and a sluggish first half took almost an hour to wake them from dormancy. To reach the knockout stages they realistically need at least a point against Brazil, five-time champions, a scenario that now looks increasingly remote. The crowd in Boston amplified the contrast, with chants of 'No Scotland, No Party' and a festive atmosphere that belied the team's on-pitch struggles.

Roy Keane criticized their daydreaming and 'jovial' attitude as the match wore on, underscoring a growing frustration at their approach. The narrative of Scotland's party has overshadowed on-field substance, a pattern reinforced by past campaigns where big crowds could not sustain results. Their Euro 2024 venture in Cologne ended with a solitary point after the hosts battered them, and Clarke's contract is extended to the end of the 2030 World Cup. If Brazil salvage a draw or win, Scotland's campaign risks being remembered more for atmosphere than achievement.