John McGinn was thrilled to have secured a World Cup victory for Scotland, bringing joy to a generation of fans who have mostly experienced disappointment in major tournaments.
McGinn netted the crucial goal in Scotland’s 1-0 win against Haiti during their first World Cup match since 1998, as his shot deflected past goalkeeper Johny Placide to break the deadlock in the first half.
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This marked Scotland’s first victory in a major competition in thirty years, following two unsuccessful Euro appearances over the past five years, and McGinn expressed his delight at witnessing young fans take pride in wearing the national colors.
“Our country has faced a lot of heartache,” he told BBC Sport. “Many supporters from this generation have never experienced this.”
“Seeing children in Scotland kits heading to the parks, painting their faces with pride – it makes me hopeful that when they wake up tomorrow, they’ll feel the same joy I do. What a win this is, and it sets us up perfectly for the match against Morocco on Friday.”
John McGinn celebrates victory for Scotland over Haiti (PA)
Scotland’s match against Haiti, ranked 83rd in the world, was deemed essential for their hopes, given that their other Group C rivals include top-10 teams Brazil and Morocco.
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However, the Caribbean side proved to be a formidable opponent, pushing Scotland until the end, with manager Steve Clarke praising his team’s defense as “outstanding” for withstanding the pressure, particularly toward the end of the match.
Despite some nervous moments, Scotland managed to hold on for the victory, placing them at the top of the group standings after the earlier stalemate between Brazil and Morocco.
Clarke remarked, “I just told Andy Robertson that it’s about time we won a game in the group stage. Everyone said it was a must-win, and we did it.” He added, “This team can play, but they also know how to dig in when needed. Defensively, we were exceptional. While we could have been a little sharper with the ball, the important thing is that we won.”