WHATEVER happened to those ghosts of Scotland present, whispering about record defeats and anticipating a summer of deep apprehension for the national squad?
They were exorcised in dramatic style in an extraordinary night in Zagreb. They were chased into the night by the roars of a Tartan Army who could have been forgiven for believing that Croatian liquor had hallucinatory qualities given the performance that unfolded before them.
The interior of Mar Hall, the training pitches by the Clyde and the dressing room at the Maksimir Stadium have all resounded this week with the notion that the Scottish players must believe. It is the fans who are incredulous after Robert Snodgrass' sharp finish gave Scotland a 1-0 victory in this Group A qualifying match.
Of course, to those Tartan Army veterans of a certain age, there was something almost traditional about the victory over Croatia.
First, it was built on hard work and determination to sweat for the jersey. Second, where else would Scotland record their first victory in an awful campaign? Yup, away from home against the fourth best team in the FIFA rankings.
It may be said, too, that the Croats were ghosts of themselves last night. Their bafflingly lacklustre performance will be assessed fully and bitterly by their support but this was never a siege, never a night of constant alarm for the Scots. Gordon Strachan's team, of course, played their part in making Croatia look disjointed and increasingly frantic. A cursory, immediate examination of this match demands the observation that Scotland were never fully at sea as three points were gained at the seventh attempt in this group.
Yet such was the apprehension that preceded this match that it was suggested by Stuart McCall, the Scotland coach, that Allan McGregor may have to have his best display in a national jersey to give any hope of success. Instead, the Besiktas goalkeeper had a routine night, breathing deeply when Mario Mandzukic could only apply his studs to a beautiful cross from Ivica Olic and clapping Russell Martin when the Norwich City defender cleared off the line in the first half. The rest was comprised of leisurely goal kicks, the odd grasp at a cross and a shot saved by his legs, though a Croat had already strayed offside.
This was a match won by a piece of vibrant opportunism by Snodgrass but victory was built on solid attributes. Strachan set up his side cleverly but made brave and bold selections. Martin was picked almost by default. Such was the paucity of options in defence because of injury and incompetence that Strachan could have been forgiven for waiting outside pubs to press-gang any likely centre-halves.
However, Strachan showed his enterprise by opting for Barry Bannan, Leigh Griffiths and Robert Snodgrass, who all carried a high-risk tariff. Bannan has not played regularly this season, Griffiths is a novice at this level and Snodgrass' last intervention in a Scotland shirt was to be sent off against Wales after conceding a penalty.
His manager can bask in success this morning. "We played from the heart," he said later, but there was more than a little brain employed too.
Strachan will use his considerable grey matter to assess both the performance and performers. The result has an immediate dividend as the agenda for Scotland includes trips to Macedonia and England, and a visit from the impressive Group A leaders Belgium. Strachan can thus use the three points as a personal and collective insulation against the blows those matches might inflict.
His reflections, though, will be sober after a night of intoxicating joy for beleaguered Scottish football supporters. He has much to ponder when casting his eyes forward. He saw Alan Hutton stride forward impressively, but he will also have noted the full-back's concentration can waver and his returns to defensive positions can be leisurely.
He will be grateful for the enduring resilience of his central defence but will have spotted that Grant Hanley is erratic in possession and sometimes hesitant under the diagonal ball.
He will praise a midfield that never stopped closing down but will accept the ball was given away with a weary regularity, particularly by Bannan in the first half. He will pat Griffiths on the back after a night of unremitting labour but he knows the striker was never offered a clear-cut chance by his team-mates.
But, above all, he knows he has recorded his first competitive victory as Scotland manager. The debilitating ghosts of failure were banished, if only for the night, to be replaced by the spirit of optimism.
The road to Rio is blocked, the path to Paris and Euro 2016 is still daunting, but Strachan will always have Zagreb.
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