Steve Clarke acknowledges Scotland eased their own pressure with uncommon opening victory

Under Clarke, Scotland did not win any match during the previous two European Championships. With Morocco and Brazil still to face in the World Cup, defeating Haiti was considered crucial for any hope of progressing beyond the group stage for the first time.

"The upcoming two matches against sides in the top ten of the world rankings will be challenging, but clearly we enter them under a little less pressure than everyone placed on us before this match," Clarke said to journalists.

"Like everyone else, we placed a great deal of pressure upon ourselves heading into the opening match.

"If we defend as effectively as we did in that match and demonstrate the same resilience, and hopefully perform a little better with the ball and generate a little more, we will be fine."

Opening matches have not been Scotland's sole difficulty at past tournaments, and Saturday's hard fought victory was merely their fifth triumph in 24 World Cup fixtures.

"That simply shows how challenging it is for a nation like Scotland to attend a World Cup and secure victories," Clarke stated.

"It does not occur very frequently. When you are informed that it is a must win match and you emerge victorious, then the players merit considerable credit for that. They deserve to be the side that has finally added another victory to the tally in the World Cup."

Scotland now sit at the top of the group after Brazil and Morocco drew 1-1 earlier on Saturday, and Clarke is resolved to relish this World Cup, regardless of what occurs next.

"At times I place myself under excessive pressure," he remarked.

"But when you are leading a set of players like these, I believe you must value what you have, and I truly value what I have in that squad.

"I have never been to a World Cup. I have waited 62 years to attend a World Cup, I have been involved in football for 44 years. This means everything to me, it is what I aspired to do, I wished to go to a World Cup alongside my nation."

Scotland will face Morocco on Friday, while Haiti will take on Brazil.