Scotland V Morocco - MATCH THREAD

[vanderark14]

Three days to go till one of the biggest matches in 30 years. 

Aim for the win, never mind 3 points being enough, I believe Scotland can beat them

 

[Third Lanark]

1 hour ago, vanderark14 said:

Three days to go till one of the biggest matches in 30 years. 

Aim for the win, never mind 3 points being enough, I believe Scotland can beat them

 

Great to read a bit of positivity for a change. I note Morocco don't seem to win matches by high scores so a draw could be possible for us. We should be inspired by Cap Verde.

[csinclair]

3 hours ago, vanderark14 said:

Three days to go till one of the biggest matches in 30 years. 

Aim for the win, never mind 3 points being enough, I believe Scotland can beat them

 

exactly this. too many seem to have written us off already whereas I think this game suits us more than the Haiti one. We've won a game, the monkey is off the back now and then can go into this game feeling less pressure and just focus on the result

[mccaughey85]

2 minutes ago, csinclair said:

exactly this. too many seem to have written us off already whereas I think this game suits us more than the Haiti one. We've won a game, the monkey is off the back now and then can go into this game feeling less pressure and just focus on the result

We have two free hits at getting a result. Even if we don't get a draw from these two games then we might still scrape through if we can keep the score line down. 

I think most of us would have happily taken this situation before the world cup started.

[hoofitharder]

Beat Morocco and we're through. There is no doubt they have good players but if we get in their faces they will make mistakes. We have good players as well. If we are positionally disciplined and don't panic we have the players to hurt them.

[glasgow jock]

I honestly believe we will get at least one point from our next two games. . . . . Morocco are very good and my biggest fear from them is their pace, I actually am more confident about playing against Brazil.

Everything hinges on our top players being free from injury and our manager having the proper tactics & personnel fully ready and prepared for each game

[Saint4805]

I think the boys will be more used to the conditions now after the Haiti game and a few more days of training outdoors. Wouldn't be surprised if a lot of the poor touches we saw were down to tired minds because of the heat and maybe jetlag. The squad had barely been in the country for a week. 

The Miami heat and humidity next week worries me a bit but I have a hunch this is the game we'll deliver the goods and nick a draw at least. 

Edited June 16 by Saint4805

[JECK]

As far as I can see we need to do everything possible to ensure McTominay, McGinn and Doak can cause havoc in the final 3rd. I think Christie holding with Ferguson is a must. 

[vanderark14]

1 hour ago, glasgow jock said:

I honestly believe we will get at least one point from our next two games. . . . . Morocco are very good and my biggest fear from them is their pace, I actually am more confident about playing against Brazil.

Everything hinges on our top players being free from injury and our manager having the proper tactics & personnel fully ready and prepared for each game

We need Robertson, mctominay, mcginn and id now add Ferguson to that group. They have to be on their game for us to stand a chance 

Last week mctom was poos by his own standards, Robertson and Mcginn were average and Ferguson showed up. If those four show up, we can win 

[Lion Rampant]

I wonder how much McTominay's lacklustre performance was down to the bug he had during the lead up.

There was one point at the end of the game where he had the chance to power past a defender and get into a shooting position and he was outpaced and outmuscled which I was surprised at. Certainly at odds with how he usually plays.

[glasgow jock]

19 minutes ago, vanderark14 said:

We need Robertson, mctominay, mcginn and id now add Ferguson to that group. They have to be on their game for us to stand a chance 

Last week mctom was poos by his own standards, Robertson and Mcginn were average and Ferguson showed up. If those four show up, we can win 

Agree with all of that. . . . .I'd also add that if Tierney is fit he has to start (arguably our must gifted player when fit and on it)

[er yir macaroon]

I’m starting to get a bit of optimism going. BGD looks like he could explode onto the tournament. Both him and Hickey are young men that will have benefited enormously from a really intense opening match with a good few days to recover. They will be a lot closer to being properly sharp now. I also think the inevitable dropping of a striker will allow McGinn and McTominay to relax a bit and bring their A game. They are deadly in or around the box and I can’ see them doing something in this one. Morocco are very good, but if we are compact and pick our moments, we can get some joy provided we take any chances that come our way.

[vanderark14]

2 minutes ago, glasgow jock said:

Agree with all of that. . . . .I'd also add that if Tierney is fit he has to start (arguably our must gifted player when fit and on it)

I'd have no problem with us going with 5 at the back to allow Tierney and Robertson to rampage down the left, BGD on the right. Its got to be 541 with Tienry or 4231 with Christie and Ferguson protecting the back line 

[er yir macaroon]

1 minute ago, vanderark14 said:

I'd have no problem with us going with 5 at the back to allow Tierney and Robertson to rampage down the left, BGD on the right. Its got to be 541 with Tienry or 4231 with Christie and Ferguson protecting the back line 

Hickey on the right. I want BGD ready to pounce in the final third, down the flanks at times, but also through the middle on occasion to really open things up. Would need a back three to enable it though. 

[Johnnyshaker]

1 minute ago, vanderark14 said:

Its got to be 541 with Tienry or 4231 with Christie and Ferguson protecting the back line 

More or less what I was in the middle of typing out.

Totally depends whether he goes 4 or 5 at the back.

I'm edging towards 5 and playing Tierney to help cover Brahim Diaz.

Otherwise it'll be Christie in and Shankland to drop out.

I'd also be surprised if he didn't swap out at least 1 CB as they both played 90 mins on Saturday.

I'm also slightly optimistic that we'll get something from one of the remaining games!

[TDYER63]

Like @glasgow jock, I am more optimistic about getting something from the Brazil game than Morocco , mainly due to their pace. Its possible however that Morocco might underestimate us after our fairly poor performance the other night . We got 3 points and head the group but Morocco must fancy their chances against us. If we can soak up the initial pressure I will be much more confident of getting something from the game. 

 

[exile]

1 hour ago, vanderark14 said:

We need Robertson, mctominay, mcginn and id now add Ferguson to that group. They have to be on their game for us to stand a chance 

Last week mctom was poos by his own standards, Robertson and Mcginn were average and Ferguson showed up. If those four show up, we can win 

Was it a "jobby" performance?

[exile]

2 hours ago, hoofitharder said:

Beat Morocco and we're through. There is no doubt they have good players but if we get in their faces they will make mistakes. We have good players as well. If we are positionally disciplined and don't panic we have the players to hurt them.

We won our last two "must win" matches, after all. This is not quite "must win"; but "win and we're through" must be a massive motivator - like "must win" but without the fear of slipping up for a draw.

[daviebee]

1 hour ago, glasgow jock said:

Agree with all of that. . . . .I'd also add that if Tierney is fit he has to start (arguably our must gifted player when fit and on it)

It'd be interesting seeing Tierney man-marking Hakimi. Got the game intelligence for it certainly. Craig Brown often used to deploy Alan McLaren in a man-marking role and nullifying Hakimi wouldn't be the worst idea in the world.

[vanderark14]

5 hours ago, csinclair said:

exactly this. too many seem to have written us off already whereas I think this game suits us more than the Haiti one. We've won a game, the monkey is off the back now and then can go into this game feeling less pressure and just focus on the result

Looking at our most recent results against higher ranked sides, we have taken one spanking and that was against Germany where they were hosts and on their turf

We were the only team to beat spain in their run to winning the Euros. we have lost narrowly to Portugal and Croatia but we also drew with the former and beat the latter. We beat Poland on their own Turf and most recently we took 4 points from 6 against Denmark

Morocco were awarded the african Nations they did not win it, they got to a WC semi final but does this make them world beaters? no it doesn't!  teams like them make it to the latter stages sometimes. Croatia got a Euros final and then lost to us at Hampden. 

I will concede that they are better than us but nothing close to unbeatable. 

I would take backs against the wall 1 nil win right now with the goal coming off Mcginns massive arse 🤣

[The Black Bra]

Saudi Arabia v Uruguay last night kicked off at 23:00 in Miami, I think I heard it was 33 degrees? 🤯😡🥵

[Clyde1998]

1 hour ago, exile said:

We won our last two "must win" matches, after all. This is not quite "must win"; but "win and we're through" must be a massive motivator - like "must win" but without the fear of slipping up for a draw.

Even a draw should be enough for us to finish as one of the best third-placed teams.

That takes the pressure of this (and the Brazil) game, for better or for worse. Morocco really have to beat us, we don't have to beat them. With how we often perform best, that could benefit us.

[The Black Bra]

Not sure if I’d say Morocco ‘have to beat us’, if they don’t they’d just have to make sure they beat Haiti but I imagine they’d be pretty confident of that. We’ll get a better idea about Haiti after they play Brazil.

[Orraloon]

1 hour ago, exile said:

Was it a "jobby" performance?

He's watching the games with his we lassie so he has to mind his language. 🤣 

I think he meant "pish"

[prideothenorth]

We need them all to show up tbh but yes especially our more experienced players.

Lack of possession is worrying as we just can't seem to keep the ball.

Hoping this is going to be one our big performances and not a total fuck up like we did v Hungary in the Euros.

Huge chance to make history, so let's do it.