There has been an unrepentant joy about much of Scotland's World Cup thus far, but the nation previously glad simply to be back on this stage will go to bed nursing a fresh grievance.
Twice in the second half in Foxborough, Steve Clarke's men were denied penalties that looked very strong claims. The Uzbek referee Ilgiz Tantashev and his VAR team saw no reason for further action for the contact in question – first with John McGinn and later Scott McTominay when it was all on the line for Scotland.
Both times it was the Roma midfielder Neil El Aynaoui who was in the frame. The son of the former Moroccan tennis pro Younes, he had a fine game but he certainly rode his luck. At the beginning of the first half El Aynaoui leaned across McGinn in the right channel of the Morocco area and sent the Scotland No 7 off balance. Later El Aynaoui would appear to catch the toe of McTominay – subtle but telling as the Scot slipped into the area.
For Scotland, whose evening had begun disastrously with a goal conceded on 70 seconds, these were crucial decisions. They go into their final game against Brazil on Wednesday in Miami with their knockout place in the balance. They have lost to the team ranked fifth in the world by Fifa, the African champions on a recount, which was the outcome that most expected. Yet Scotland will wonder if it could have been better for them.
They conceded so soon into the game to the PSV Eindhoven striker Ismael Saibari, who scored in the first game against Brazil – and it took some time for Scotland to find their feet. Generally, Morocco controlled possession with greater finesse. Scotland tended to give it back to them far too quickly. By the end Scotland had not managed a single attempt on the Morocco goal. Ben Gannon-Doak's second-half substitute's cameo had given them momentum.
Twice in the second half in Foxborough, Steve Clarke's men were denied penalties that looked very strong claims. The Uzbek referee Ilgiz Tantashev and his VAR team saw no reason for further action for the contact in question – first with John McGinn and later Scott McTominay when it was all on the line for Scotland.
Both times it was the Roma midfielder Neil El Aynaoui who was in the frame. The son of the former Moroccan tennis pro Younes, he had a fine game but he certainly rode his luck. At the beginning of the first half El Aynaoui leaned across McGinn in the right channel of the Morocco area and sent the Scotland No 7 off balance. Later El Aynaoui would appear to catch the toe of McTominay – subtle but telling as the Scot slipped into the area.
For Scotland, whose evening had begun disastrously with a goal conceded on 70 seconds, these were crucial decisions. They go into their final game against Brazil on Wednesday in Miami with their knockout place in the balance. They have lost to the team ranked fifth in the world by Fifa, the African champions on a recount, which was the outcome that most expected. Yet Scotland will wonder if it could have been better for them.
They conceded so soon into the game to the PSV Eindhoven striker Ismael Saibari, who scored in the first game against Brazil – and it took some time for Scotland to find their feet. Generally, Morocco controlled possession with greater finesse. Scotland tended to give it back to them far too quickly. By the end Scotland had not managed a single attempt on the Morocco goal. Ben Gannon-Doak's second-half substitute's cameo had given them momentum.
5 months ago
