With 54 minutes on the clock, Ben Gannon-Doak let out a roar, clenched his fist and punched the air after shielding the ball out for a Scotland goal-kick.
The winger celebrated the moment like he’d just scored the winning goal at the World Cup. This was seen as Scotland’s final, after all.
The authentic, passionate outburst galvanised the Tartan Army spread throughout the Boston Stadium stands who were perhaps – and understandably – a little concerned at what was unfolding in their tournament opener against Haiti.
He got it, though. The “wee man” got it. He got what it meant to the many travelling Scots in Massachusetts. He typified them.
Scott McTominay had recovered from a stomach bug to start in Scotland’s first men’s World Cup game in 28 years. John McGinn – the eventual matchwinner – was given the nod from the off, too. Lawrence Shankland, the goal machine, led the line.
And yet the show was stolen by a 20-year-old who wasn’t even born when Scotland last featured on the biggest stage of all.
Two years ago, Gannon-Doak was something of a surprise inclusion in Steve Clarke’s squad for Euro 2024.
The teenager never made the plane to Germany, though, as he was forced to pull out through injury. That’s kind of been his story until now.
“The Euros probably came a bit too early, but I don’t think I would have played if I was there,” he told Sky Sports, external recently.
“I think if I did go and play, I wouldn’t have given the best account of myself that I know that I could have done.”
There needn’t be any such worries here.
Credit: bbc.com
