Scotland has the “verve, energy and ability” to beat Morocco as it heads into its second World Cup match, the country’s First Minister has said.
John Swinney said he was confident Steve Clarke’s squad could defeat the African nation following its 1-0 win against Haiti in America.
He predicted the men’s national team would beat Morocco 2-1 in Boston and make it out of the group stages of the tournament.
The SNP leader also lauded the Tartan Army as “extraordinary advocates and ambassadors” for Scotland.
The country is currently at the top of its group after claiming its first World Cup match win in 36 years.
Speaking to the Press Association, Mr Swinney delivered a message to the national team ahead of their match on Friday night.
He said: “To Steve Clarke, to Andy Robertson and the Scotland national team, I would express my warmest thanks and the thanks of everyone in Scotland for reaching the World Cup and then also to be able to get the first game as a win and to get that under their belt.
“I think that provides a really strong foundation for the team going into the Morocco game with renewed and sustained confidence, and with verve, energy, and the ability to make sure that we get a win when the match takes place against Morocco.”
The First Minister said while Morocco was a “much stronger team” than Haiti, the win against the Caribbean squad “establishes some pretty good foundations for the team as they embark on the next stage of the World Cup campaign”.
“Yes, I think it will be a tougher game, it’ll be a tougher match,” he said.
“But I think we’ve got the confidence of having a win under our belt, and that’s more than Morocco has got as they approach this particular match.”
Mr Swinney said he was “confident” that Scotland could get out of the group stages of the World Cup, despite “challenging games” ahead, including five-time winners Brazil next week.
The politician predicted a 2-1 win against Morocco but said another 1-0 victory would make him “perfectly happy”.
He added: “Another win would set us in an incredible position in relation to the World Cup, and that’s what the team should go after.”
The First Minister, who watched the game in Boston last week, commended the country’s fans for “creating goodwill” on behalf of the country.
It comes after numerous headline-grabbing stories from Scots in the US, including widespread coverage from US media.
One story saw nuns singing “No Scotland, No Party” and another saw the symbolic legalisation of haggis in Massachusetts by the state’s Governor, while Scots have been recapturing the Duke of Wellington in Glasgow by placing cones on top of statues.
Other outlets reported emergency levels of beer being ordered in bars following visits from the Tartan Army.
Mr Swinney said his time in Boston was “a bounty of joy” with Scottish fans “making a positive impression for Scotland”.
He told PA: “The Tartan Army have been extraordinary advocates and ambassadors for Scotland.
“They’ve created goodwill on behalf of the country.
“It’s been lovely to watch the positive impression that they’ve made.
“When Governor Maura Healy, the Governor of Massachusetts, came to an event I was hosting last Friday night, she started off her contribution by saying, ‘I think the right thing to say is No Scotland, No Party’, and she captured beautifully the sense of welcome for the Scotland fans in Boston, and that’s something that I will cherish forever.”
