Steve Clarke says World Cup pressure has eased after Scotland beat Haiti
Steve Clarke believes the pressure has eased off after Scotland returned to the World Cup finals for the first time in 28 years with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Haiti in Foxborough.
In the Scots' first game on the big stage since 1998, midfielder John McGinn fired them ahead in Boston with a deflected strike after 28 minutes but they were left hanging on a bit at the end.
Morocco and Brazil drew 1-1 in New Jersey earlier in the day which means Scotland top Group C with three points going into the second fixture against AFCON champions at the same venue next Friday before travelling to Miami to face the Brazilians on June 24 and looking to qualify for the knockout stages for the first time.
Clarke, said: "I'm tired but absolutely delighted with my players, resilience, character, everything about this group of players had to be on the pitch tonight and it was.
"Not relief, everyone told us it was a must-win game and we won the game.
"If it is a must-win game and you win, I think you can be happy with yourselves.
"The next two games against teams inside the World's top-10 will be tough games.
"But obviously we go into them with a little bit less pressure than everybody put on us going into this game.
"And as well as everyone (else), we put a lot of pressure on ourselves going into the first game so we go into the next two games with a little less pressure.
"If we defend as well as we did there and show the same resilience, and hopefully play a little bit better with the ball and create a little bit more, we'll be okay."
Clarke contextualised Scotland's first World Cup win since 1990 and only the fifth ever win in the World Cup.
He said: "It tells you how difficult it is for a country like Scotland to go to a World Cup and win games.
"It doesn't happen very often.
"These group of players, as I have spoken about many times, I think they showed their experience tonight.
"I spoke about the disappointment of the two opening performances in the Euros, this time you go with that pressure as wells as the pressure of you must win the first game, and they deserve it.
"They have been so good for their nation for the last seven years.
"They deserve to be the team that has finally got another win on the board in the World Cup so delighted for them."
Haiti boss Sebastien Migne said: "We are definitely disappointed, we were trying to win.
"I am very proud, we played good football and a good showing.
"In the last 30 yards we lacked spontaneity and there were also some poor decision-making at times.
"We rose to the challenge which is why we are frustrated that we came up slightly short.
"We hope we can use that to continue to play well."
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