Scotland's World Cup date awaits as Boston invaded, Malbec issues and an extra 28-mile journey

Wait? It had only been eight years. An absence of just one tournament, and even then, there was a Euro 96 to lessen the blow in between. A trifling period in the context of the seal that is being broken in Boston this weekend as Scotland prepare to play a first World Cup match since bidding an inglorious farewell against Morocco in St Etienne in 1998.

Now this is what you call a wait. The sports staff at The Scotsman back then – and I was one of them - didn’t know they had it so good.

Okay, it’s not quite the 86-year drought endured by the Boston Red Sox between winning their fifth major series title in 1918 and breaking the cycle of failure in 2004. Dubbed the curse of the Bambino, which is how star player Babe Ruth was known, its onset was considered to have been owner Harry Frazee’s decision to sell Ruth’s contract to the New York Yankees in 1919.

Although Hibs supporters may well argue differently, it has become an established measure of sporting perseverance. It seems apt that Scotland should be allocated this city from the 11 in America chosen to host games, with Morocco to come at the same venue next Friday. Wave after wave of Tartan Army is washing ashore. They are the new pilgrims from across the pond though without the puritanism. Definitely without the puritanism.

A Mexican restaurant on the Cambridge side of the Charles River put out a distress signal on Thursday night: they were out of Malbec after a visit of 30 thirsty Scots. The Tartan Army are on manoeuvres, exploring every nook and cranny in the capital of Massachusetts.

Fenway Park, home of the Red Sox and “America’s most beloved ballpark", is located within the city limits. A lot of its charm is drawn from its old-worldly character. Its red brick façade, wooden seats and location embedded in the fabric of the local Kenmore-Fenway neighbourhood mean it’s a must-visit.

Many Scotland fans were hoping to take in Friday night’s match against the Texas Rangers. At least they knew they didn’t have long to travel.

Believing Scotland are playing in Boston is to be sold the kind of dummy Ben Gannon-Doak would dearly love to perform on his opposite number this evening. The ‘local’ football ground might be called the Boston Stadium - renamed from Gillette Stadium by FIFA - but it is situated in another place entirely: Foxborough. “Pack a lunch, a podcast queue, and a portable charger,” one local blogger advises.

It’s been 28 years so another 28 miles shouldn't unduly worry Scots. It is like playing in Greenock but saying the game is taking place in “the Glasgow Stadium”.

Why is the stadium such a distance from the city, I asked my taxi driver on Thursday. “Land prices, stoopid,” was the gist of his answer. They build them high, yes, but they also build them far out. A FIFA media bus took journalists to the pre-match press conference on Friday, towards places like Holbrook and Braintree, Milton and Randolph, across the Neponset River.

The bus trundled on and on. Another sign: Entering Norwood. Another one: Entering Walpole. Finally: Entering Foxborough. Let’s hope it’s not a case of abandon hope all ye who enter. Mick Morgan’s Roadside Irish Bar will do a roaring trade, as will Blondie’s Barbeque. Emma’s nails and spa, in the nearby Hercules Plaza shopping centre, perhaps not so much.

“It’s great to be here,” said manager Steve Clarke, who missed out on two World Cups as a player. He must feel jealous of his squad though leading them here surely offers some consolation on top of the two European Championships he already has on his CV. “It’s my third tournament and I feel I’m more attuned to what being at a tournament is like, although having said that, it just took me about 20 minutes to get through security just to get here!”

After such a long absence, Scotland immediately face what is effectively a World Cup final. It’s the game on which their tournament prospects hinge. And let’s not be guilty of self-obsession. Haiti’s World Cup exile far outstrips Scotland’s absence.

They are just as determined to make their mark on the stage they graced for three games in eight days in Germany in 1974, scoring twice and conceding 14, including seven times v Poland. Footage of the games identifies a team with plenty of athleticism and flair and betrays a painful lack of nous. The current side have retained the cavalier quality while adding some know-how. “They are also a proud nation and they are going to be 100 per cent committed, the same as we are,” said Clarke. “We know they have qualities.”

They are certainly now more than capable of making a splash. No one needs to tell Scotland, who have never advanced past the first stage of a major tournament, to be wary of lowly ranked opponents.

Although they have been at seven more tournaments than Haiti, Scotland have only four more victories to their name than their opponents. And considering Haiti’s total stands at zero – though they did score past Dino Zoff to break the legendary Italian goalkeeper’s proud clean sheet record stretching back two years and over 12 matches – this really isn’t very impressive.

Zaire, Netherlands, New Zealand and Sweden, which was the last time Scotland won a World Cup match – 36 years ago. Haiti really need to be added to this list if the current team are to create history and be hailed as the boys of summer for evermore.

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