The mood inside Scotland’s World Cup camp has shifted dramatically following their historic victory against Haiti in Boston on Saturday.
Assistant coach Steven Naismith joked that head coach Steve Clarke was “doing cartwheels down at breakfast” after Scotland claimed their first World Cup win in 36 years.
Naismith was speaking in jest, but the comment captures the genuine change in atmosphere that has taken hold among players and staff alike.
Clarke himself has openly admitted he “didn’t enjoy” the first two major tournaments he led the country through, vowing this time to “soak it up” stateside.
That message has clearly filtered through to the players, who spent their post-match downtime not celebrating into the night but instead with their families early on Sunday morning.
“Previous tournaments there’s not been that,” Naismith told the media on Monday, back at the squad’s base camp in Charlotte, North Carolina.
“Just being a dad, being a husband, being a son. That’s not been there. What we’re doing now is working – and long may it continue.”
The shift in Clarke’s demeanour has been notable to those covering the squad, with the usually stoic manager coming across as far more relaxed and candid this time around.
At a pre-match news conference in Boston, Clarke joked that what he learned from Euro 2024 was “don’t get humped”, offering a rare and telling glimpse of his lighter side.
Naismith explained that serious reflection took place before the tournament, with the squad consulted on what they needed to perform and what had not worked in previous campaigns.
“Before the tournament, there was so much work done in terms of what the players want, what they need, what they didn’t like before,” Naismith said.
“Bringing the families closer, having more family time, having periods of real hard work and then going to relax, taking that pressure valve off so you’re not constantly thinking of football. I think it’s worked well.”
The squad has also made a visible effort to connect with supporters, with several players spotted on the streets of Boston by fans over recent days.
Injured midfielder Billy Gilmour, who is expected to rejoin his team-mates in North Carolina, was seen at the Scotland Celebration event at Fenway Park on Sunday.
Naismith praised the fans for “showing how amazing a country we are” and stressed that the players have embraced being part of the wider experience.
“We want to be part of that experience,” he said. “The connection, for me, has been as good as it’s been. There’s not trying to stay away from it.”
Back in Charlotte on Monday, 20-year-old Ben Gannon-Doak brought more good humour to proceedings, joking his “calves leaving the stadium before I did” after the win over Haiti.
The squad had returned south later than planned due to a flight delay, but even a late training session on Sunday night did nothing to dampen spirits.
Aaron Hickey, Craig Gordon, John McGinn, and Kenny McLean have all been similarly upbeat in their media appearances throughout the week.
Behind the scenes, details such as Liam Kelly shaving Grant Hanley’s back have emerged, painting a picture of a squad that feels far less insular than it did at Euro 2024 in Germany.
With history already made, Scotland now set their sights on becoming the first squad to reach the knockout stages of a major tournament, and the signs suggest they are in the best possible shape to try.
