ByPaul O'HareBBC Scotland and Megan BonarBBC ScotlandReporting fromMiami

It is only a fortnight since Scotland fans on both sides of the Atlantic woke up after the country's first World Cup win in 36 years.

An emotional 1-0 victory over Haiti was followed by a jubilant takeover of Boston's iconic Fenway Park.

Back home, thousands bounced out of venues - from the Hydro in Glasgow to village pubs - some time after 04:00, having witnessed history.

But fast forward two weeks and the mood music surrounding the national team is funereal.

Since John McGinn's goal secured three points in the opening game, Scotland have lost back-to-back matches against Morocco and Brazil.

The country's prospect of qualifying as one of the eight best third-placed teams then plummeted from 42.9% to 0.07% on the eve of the last group games.

And, when the inevitable elimination was finally confirmed, there was a final twist as Steve Clarke resigned - a month after signing a new four-year deal.

From No Scotland No Party to No Scotland No Manager.

But, mercifully, the picture is not all doom and gloom.

Indeed Scotland's return to the World Cup after a 28-year absence will be fondly remembered for the Tartan Army's occupation of Boston and march on Miami.

From the moment flights began arriving in Massachusetts, thousands of kilted supporters created a carnival atmosphere.

As the numbers swelled, pubs ran out of beer and social media feeds became populated by feel-good footage.

This included fundraiser Craig Ferguson completing his 3,000-mile trek from Los Angeles, which raised more than £1m for Scottish Action for Mental Health (SAMH).

He arrived at Boston Common on the eve of the Haiti match and as the anticipation, ahead of Scotland's return to the game's biggest stage, was close to fever pitch.

Despite controversy over match ticket prices, visas and soaring transport costs fans showed up in their thousands - and their energy was contagious.

Viral videos featured joyful boat parties on Boston Harbour and a police officer doing keepy uppies in the fan zone.

One group of supporters, who arrived at their Airbnb during the night, treated a neighbourhood to the bagpipes at 06:30.

A social media post by Mike Morrison, external, who lives across the road, has been viewed more than 9.5m times and he was adopted as an honorary member, external of the Tartan Army.

Scotland fans also introduced Americans to the tradition of putting traffic cones on statues.

When it was time to travel to the Boston stadium at Foxborough, enterprising supporters hired yellow school buses to make the 50 miles (80km) journey from Providence, Rhode Island, to the stadium in Foxborough.

And once inside the stadium, which is home to the New England Patriots, the Tartan Army delivered a spine-tingling rendition of Flower of Scotland.

The Haiti match was not an easy watch but Scotland emerged with the three points.

The earlier draw between Brazil and Morocco meant Scotland topped Group C for nearly a week.

Back home, 5,000 fans packed into the Hydro in Glasgow to watch the match on a 20ft (6m) screen.

The atmosphere built before the game with live performances of Caledonia by Dougie MacLean and Loch Lomond by Donnie Munro.

And when Scotland took the lead, fans in the standing area were treated to a shower of beer.

Similar scenes were played out across the country as supporters took advantage of temporary licensing changes, with many venues operating a ticketing system.

Fans filed into pubs and clubs ahead of the 02:00 BST kick-off and emerged blinking in the dawn light.

First Minister John Swinney had approved an extra bank holiday for the Monday - which was honoured by many local authorities - to allow the nation to recover.

It was a heady few days in which saltires and Scotland's striking salmon-pink away top were everywhere.

Meanwhile, back in Boston the Red Sox had marketed the 14 June game against Texas Rangers as a Scottish celebration.

What transpired was a night for the ages at one of sports most iconic venues.

Thousands of Tartan Army members sang their hearts out during the game and left a lasting impression on their US hosts.

Sam Kennedy, president of the Boston Red Sox, later wrote an open letter, external to SFA president Mike Mulraney and chief executive Ian Maxwell.

He said: "We knew the Tartan Army was coming. We did not fully understand what that meant until we saw it."

Kennedy added: "Hundreds of Scotland supporters gathered at the foot of a statue of Robert Burns in the Back Bay and marched all the way to Landowne Street to the sound of bagpipes.

"Kilts and Scottish flags filled our ballpark with a spirit that has no equivalent in American sport.

"It was genuinely one of the most moving things we have witnessed at Fenway Park in a very long time."

Kennedy said he was proud that the 114-year-old venue could be part of Scotland's World Cup celebrations.

He concluded: "They treated our home like their own, and we are better for it."

The partying continued throughout the week and Dawn the Duck was among the participants in the Tartan Army's Downtown March in Providence, Rhode Island, on 18 June.

The following night, Scotland returned to the Boston stadium to take on African champions Morocco.

The match ended in a disappointing 1-0 defeat which saw Scotland drop from first to third in the group, after Brazil beat Haiti 3-0.

But despite the result, fans set off for the Sunshine State in the knowledge that they had arguably made their greatest ever impression on a city.

It read: "Dear Tartan Army, you came for the World Cup, but gave us something more.

"For a week, you turned train stations into sing-alongs, Fenway into a football ground, and an ordinary June into something we'll be talking about for years.

"Boston has hosted championships, parades, and celebrations of every kind. But we've never hosted guests quite like you all.

"Thank you for the laughter, the bagpipes and the memories. The World Cup will move on. So will the songs, but we'll never forget the joy you brought to our city."

The Tartan Army later responded in The Herald newspaper., external

The letter thanked the city for welcoming supporters with "open arms, open bars and open minds".

It added: "Boston, you've embraced us like long-lost cousins who turned up unannounced, drank all your beer, decorated your statues, and somehow remained welcome. You are all welcome back to ours to keep this party going.

"We loved making memories together. Stories will be told down through future generations in Boston and in Scotland."

Last weekend, Scotland fans began to make the journey south to the state of Florida, to set up base in Miami and Fort Lauderdale.

Many said the Tartan Army wouldn't make its mark on this state in the same way.

Police would be stricter, they would be outnumbered by South American fans - and they couldn't possibly wear kilts in the baking sun.

But just like they have done so many times before, the supporters proved their doubters wrong.

Just days in, a spokesperson for Miami Police department told BBC Scotland the Scottish fans had a "kind" and "beautiful" attitude.

And they described the Tartan Army's visit to the city as "awesome".

Sadly Scotland's final group match was anything but, as five-time world champions Brazil won 3-0.

In the Bayfront Park fan zone afterwards, the Scotland supporters swapped shirts with their Brazilian rivals but the sense of disappointment was palpable.

At one stage they had been studying the knockout possibilities - from a return to Boston to face Germany to a clash with Mexico in the co-host's legendary Azteca stadium.

But having spent thousands to travel across the world, they only got to witness Scotland's 13th major tournament exit at the group stage.

It's an unenviable record across nine World Cups and four European Championships.

Indeed, no team has been to as many tournaments and failed to progress to the sudden death rounds.

While many fans made the most of their remaining time in Miami, there was a real sense of an anti-climax after the crushing Brazil defeat.

This only intensified as the results needed to progress in the remaining 20 group games failed to materialise.

As the final foot soldiers prepare to head home, they can reflect on a performance that, from Boston to Miami - and several stops in between - did Scotland proud.

We may not be world-beaters on the pitch but the Tartan Army proved, once again, that they are in a league of their own.

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