The hopeful Tartan Army are desperate to see Scotland get the job done as our team gears up for the biggest game in decades. Thousands of nervous supporters out in Miami have been taking their minds off the match by relaxing on the iconic South Beach, watching the baseball, and cooling off in the many air conditioned boozers.
As our huge Group C clash against Brazil quickly approaches, though, the attention has inevitably returned to the football. Scotland know that a win or a draw will be enough to see us through a group at a major tournament for the very first time.
Even a loss might be enough if results in other groups go our way – but the loyal supporters who have made the trip out for the game want to see us seal qualification tomorrow night.
Steven McNab, a 58-year-old retired HR worker from Glasgow, has been enjoying soaking up the atmosphere down at the beach with his son Cammy, 14, and 27-year-old electrician Adam Carnegie.
View 7 ImagesScotland fans are cautiously optimistic ahead of a historic clash with Brazil(Image: Tony Nicoletti/Daily Record)
Steven told the Record: “We’re very lucky to have tickets for the game, and we can’t wait to see the greatest team in the world. Miami has been great; we’ve been here for a few days. It’s a bit hot for Scottish people, with our ginger hair and freckles – but we are acclimatising, slowly but surely.
“One of the coping mechanisms is the thought that we are going to beat Brazil tomorrow night. So we will keep the kilts on, and our fingers crossed that we’re going to do it.” His son Cammy added: “I think we’re going to draw 1-1 and it will be absolute bedlam!”
View 7 ImagesSteven McNab (L) and co are keeping their kilts on in the heat and manifesting a Scotland win(Image: Tony Nicoletti/Daily Record)
Lewis Minster, a 22-year-old trainee solicitor, and Greg Barmack, who is 23 and works in PR, have travelled across from Giffnock, near Glasgow. Lewis said: “I’m quietly confident, which might sound a bit crazy because we are against the Brazilians – but it’s not the Brazil of old.
“You never know – and if we do lose, hopefully it’s by one or two so that we can still go through on third. It’s been nuts seeing thousands of Scotland fans casually chilling out on South Beach, but it’s been so good.”
Greg said: “I’m struggling to cope with the heat to be honest – I thought it would cool down later and night but it just doesn’t seem to!
View 7 ImagesLewis Minster (L) is ‘quietly confident’ Scotland will do the job – while Greg Barmack is just trying to survive the heat(Image: Tony Nicoletti/Daily Record)
“It has been a different class down on the beach, just a really good atmosphere and people feeling really up for it. Everyone’s good a good vibe. There’s loads of Brazilians down there too – it’s been a good laugh.”
Asked for his prediction Greg said: “Can you ask me again when we’ve had a few drinks?! I don’t feel too confident now, but we will see later.”
Gilmour Hollas, a 66-year-old taxi driver from Irvine, Grant Davidson, a 64-year-old engineer, also from the Ayrshire town, and Jason Buckston, a 50-year-old detective from Ayr, were enjoying soaking up the sun on the beach when they were approached by the Record.
View 7 ImagesGrant Davidson (centre) says this is the biggest game of his 64-year life(Image: Tony Nicoletti/Daily Record)
Jason said: “I really hope we can get a good result. We were there for the Denmark game at Hampden, but this is now onto the next level.
“I know that there is all goal difference and permutations – but it’s been 28 years, let’s take the handbrake off. Give it 110 per cent. Play with freedom, and do you know what, come what may – have no regrets coming off that park, that’s what I want to see.”
Grant added: “We’re going to get to the game early because it’s going to be pandemonium getting there – but I’m 64 years old and this is the biggest game of my life. I honestly think we are going to get a draw. I think we are going to get through no matter what, but I think we will get a draw.”
Despite the sweltering conditions, a group of lads from all over the world – including one from Scotland – were playing football at a huge pitch down at the beach. Frae Martin, who is 48, works in financial services and is from Largs, and Marc McDonald, a 44-year-old information manager, were enjoying watching the game.
View 7 ImagesFrae Martin (R) has even been checking if Scotland can TOP the group(Image: Tony Nicoletti/Daily Record)
Frae said: “It’s been absolutely brilliant. We just arrived on Sunday so we’re just warming up – quite literally! I think we will get on fine – easy three points! I was just checking it earlier to see if we can still top the group. We need Haiti to do us a wee favour, but aye. Nae bother.”
Marc said: “The pubs have been full of Scottish people, it’s been absolutely bouncing. We will just need to wait and see how it goes tomorrow.
“We obviously grew into the game against Morocco. So if we can get a good start and go into half-time at 0-0, then who knows. I don’t think we should have anything to be scared of. Brazil aren’t as good as they used to be.”
Jordan Livingstone, who is 25 and from Bo’ness, and Billy Wilson, 28, from Falkirk, both work for M&S and have travelled over for the game.
View 7 ImagesJordan and Billy are confident Scotland will make it through to the knockouts for the first time ever(Image: Tony Nicoletti/Daily Record)
Jordan said: “We’ve got tickets for the game. I’m hoping for a draw but I genuinely think we can win it. We’ve been having a great time. We went on the fan march to the baseball on Monday – it was scorching, absolute torture!
“But I’m enjoying myself, we’re having a lot of fun. We’ve been down enjoying South Beach. Hopefully we get an easy game in the knockout stage. I’m hoping for redemption against Germany. If they score five goals against us again I’ll be greeting!”
Asked how he was coping with the heat in the kilt, Billy said: “It’s been terrible – but it has to be done.”
Kevin Callaghan, who is 55, works for the local authority and is from Bathgate, is in Miami with Janey Agnew, a 50-year-old who works in IT. Sporting a Loch Ness Monster hat, Kevin said: “We’ve just come down from Boston and it’s a totally different experience here – it’s like Benidorm on steroids!
View 7 ImagesMiami is ‘Benidorm on steroids’, according to Kevin Callaghan – while Janey Agnew believes Scotland will ‘keep the dream alive'(Image: Tony Nicoletti/Daily Record)
“We’re going to be watching from the fan zone tomorrow. We couldn’t get tickets, they were far too expensive. I think we will get beat 2-0, or 1-0… and we will still get through the group. I think it will be a tight game, very defensive, but we will still get through.”
Janey added: “We’re having a great time here. It’s been party central. Everyone is loving the Scots fans. We loved the fan march as well, that was really good. I think we will get the draw we need to keep the dream alive.”
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