Why Haiti v Scotland was antidote to the ills of world football

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. Why Haiti v Scotland was antidote to the ills of world football Figure caption, McGinn fires Scotland to first World Cup win for 36 yearsByTom English Scotland's chief sports writer at Boston StadiumPublished57 minutes agoAfter 28 years of watching World Cups from football's wilderness, there was never much danger of the Tartan Army getting antsy about the gridlock on the road to Foxborough. On the contrary, in the hours leading up to what turned into a surreally stressful evening as Scotland ground their way to a 1-0 win over Haiti, fans revelled in the traffic delays, inch by inch, yard by yard. Oblivious to the anxiety they were going to experience later on, a convoy of yellow school buses stuttered their way down the I-95 four hours before kick-off and Scots hung out the windows of every one of them, singing their songs, waving their flags, partying at a pace of a mile an hour.

The sense of anticipation and joy was so palpable you could have reached out and touched it. These Scotland supporters are remarkable. Clusters on every street corner in Boston.

The Details

Seven minutes before 9pm local time, Scotland entered the most extraordinary arena, the Boston Stadium. A riot of colour and noise, a football stadium, yes, but a theatre, too. A place for gladiators.

If you have to miss out on World Cups for nearly 30 years then this was the way to mark your return. Giant screens behind both goals picking out every human emotion among the fans. Shivers up the spine, heart beating out the chest, Flower of Scotland belted out with gusto, its power almost greater on a foreign field than it is at home.

The scene was an antidote to all that is wrong in world football; the rampant greed, the unrelenting bombast. This was raw, powerful and emotional. Figure caption, Scotland sing with pride on World Cup returnScotland beat Haiti for first World Cup victory in 36 years McGinn 'beaming with pride' - and hopes kids around Scotland are too Published2 hours ago'He's become Scots' chief creative force' - how the players rated Published2 hours ago'Scotland under cosh against 83rd best team in world'Scotland began well and then slowly faded.

What Experts Say

Haiti were no great shakes but they were getting on top. Wasteful, but better than their heavily-fancied opponents. Approaching the half-hour, a familiar cry went up in a small corner of the stadium, a song to stir their favourite son.

The Tartan Army started calling on John McGinn to do something. Beseeching him, almost. Two minutes later, the Aston Villa man delivered.

It was hardly the sweetest strike, but nobody cared. It wasn't particularly pretty, not that it mattered. It only found its way into the Haiti net by way of a double deflection but that was completely irrelevant.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.