Scotland fans in Miami are not calling for panic after the Morocco defeat. They are calling for more bravery against Brazil, and several of them want Ben Gannon-Doak in the starting side. Scotland lost to Morocco after 90 seconds, but they still have 3 points after two matches in Group C and Brazil lead the section with 4.

The demand from the Tartan Army

“We need to be more attack-minded if we are going to get through this group. Just let Morocco rule the whole game,” Stevie Allan told dailyrecord.co.uk. Adam Sandsfield was just as direct: “I’d start Ben Gannon-Doak. When he came on he made a difference going forward.”

Stephen Beedie thought Scotland began “too negative”, while Shaun Buchanan said Steve Clarke should have made changes earlier. Those are not fringe views. They are the mood in the stands after a game that felt there for the taking once Morocco scored so early.

The case for Gannon-Doak is easy to understand. He rated 7.2 against Haiti and 6.3 against Morocco, and he played 36 minutes against Morocco after 75 minutes against Haiti. Fans have seen enough from him to want more than another late introduction.

The qualification picture is still alive, but not settled. Scotland are third in Group C on goal difference, while Brazil sit top on 4 points, so the next match carries real weight without deciding everything.

Miami has changed the mood

The Boston-to-Miami shift has given the trip a different feel as well. Steven Baird said Miami felt less carefree than Boston, and Dave Robertson expects Scotland to be outnumbered by Brazil supporters. The heat has been part of the story too, with temperatures just below 35 degrees and a heat index around 43 degrees on Monday.

The atmosphere around the fans is one thing, the football point is another. The people in Miami are not asking for a reckless Scotland side, just a more positive one. After Morocco scored after 90 seconds, that is a reasonable demand, and one Clarke will hear again before Brazil.

Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →