Scotland camp hails Tartan Army impact on World Cup and the 'big change' making a difference

Steven Naismith credits a new relaxed regime inside the Scotland camp as being key to the team’s winning start at the tournament. Rather than shielding players from fans, as at Euro 2024 when they were based in a remote town in the Bavarian Alps, manager Steve Clarke has positively encouraged them to mingle with supporters and embrace the atmosphere.

Nowhere has this World Cup fever been more evident than on Sunday at Fenway Park, where Scotland fans performed an extraordinary takeover of the storied baseball venue the night after watching the 1-0 win over Haiti.

The home of the Boston Red Sox became a mini Hampden as the hosts lost 9-4 to the Texas Rangers. The game was billed as a Scottish Heritage Celebration Night by an enterprising member of the club’s PR team.

An estimated 10,000 Scots were inside the ground, which holds 37,000. Baseball fans were heard enthusiastically joining in with Tartan Army songs, including “Yes, Sir, I Can Boogie”. The clips have since gone viral.

“You don’t need to be on social media to see it,” said Naismith. “Going back to the schedule and where we are based, how we see each day leading to the game and after the game, we have seen how amazing a country we are. I think that’s been a big change. We have embraced it. We want to be part of that experience.

“In terms of the players, we went into Boston a couple of days early. They were roaming about the city at certain points, seeing fans. The connection for me has been as good as it’s been. They are not trying to stay away from it but there is also the respect that the players are here to do a job.

"The last three or four days in Boston have been brilliant, seeing how many Scottish fans are there. On top of that every local you speak to in Boston only has good things to say about us. It’s amazing. Long may it continue.”

The relaxed vibe has stretched to within the squad camp, where contact with loved ones has been encouraged at the right times. “The families have been brought closer and there’s a lot more family time, having periods of real hard work and then periods where they can go and relax,” explained Naismith.

“That takes the pressure value off where they’re not just constantly thinking about football. It’s worked well because I think you can see it with everybody.

“We came back to Charlotte late on Sunday night after a delay with the flight. We were on the training pitch at 9.30pm. The session was brilliant and that was guys who could have been unhappy at not getting on. Everybody is just so focused because it’s a working day. Then they’ll have their down time when the time is right.

“At previous tournaments there’s not been that aspect of just being a dad, being a husband, being a son,” he continued. “That’s not been there. The Thursday before the game, we were in Boston and the families came to the hotel.

“In previous times that wouldn’t have happened. We’d have felt we have to be so focused. But that subconscious focus all the time drains you. And what we’ve been doing has been working, so long may it continue.”