In a disconcerting development, Americans have started wearing kilts. Some of them are even doing it on the TV as they try to wrap themselves around the Tartan Army. On the local Boston news on Thursday night, things were so giddy that people were predicting victory over Morocco and a passage out of the group for the first time. It was only when the camera returned to the news anchor that she reminded everyone that actually Morocco are African champions (subject to appeal) and World Cup semi-finalists.

The US has a bit to learn about football still and maybe more to understand about the Scots. Yes there’s the party side, the buoyant side, the one that makes friends everywhere it goes. But there’s the other side too, the sceptical one (some call it realistic), the one that knows you should party now because things will find a way of going wrong in a minute. The one that spies a challenge such as Morocco with foreboding.

So it was that watching this match in the evening sunshine in Foxborough sometimes felt like taking a tour through the Scottish psyche, or at least that psyche as skewed through the prism of the men’s national team. Of course things went wrong almost immediately, with the familiar sight of Grant Hanley’s arm raised in forlorn hope of an offside call as Ismael Saibari steamed past him to slam home 70 seconds into the contest. It got worse quickly after, when Bilal El-Khannouss whipped a low ball right across the Scotland box that eluded two of his teammates by millimetres. A minute later the Atlas Lions should have scored again, but failed to convert a blistering counterattack.

From a Scotland perspective, at this point, they could barely complete a pass. More frustrating than that bare fact were the types of passes being attempted. No safety-first balls or, even, anything for Ché Adams to knock down or chase. These were little intricate one-twos in the defensive third, the sort of thing you do regularly in the Premier League, but also the sort of thing that leave you incredibly exposed if, all of a sudden, your touch turns to that of the Pictish Beast.

What, exactly, was going on? Morocco were asserting themselves upon Scotland for sure, but this was to be expected. Instead it seemed that the early concession had cut right through any confidence or even determination Scotland had pulled together coming into this match. They didn’t seem to believe any longer that they could get the better of their opponents, not even in the physical duels, which Morocco were winning, especially when contested by the midfield pair of Ayyoub Bouaddi and Neil El Aynaoui.

Thank goodness, then, for the hydration break. Scotland emerged from the enforced interruption still ragged, but no longer beleaguered. By the time the clock was ticking towards half-time they appeared to have found some kind of muscle memory, started crossing balls into the box, and had a chance of their own in added time only for John McGinn to slash his back-post volley well over from 10 yards out.

The second half began with another step forward, Scotland actually keeping possession for over a minute. It was a passage that set the tone for an improved display. Steve Clarke’s men were a match for their opponents now, physically at the very least, with Lewis Ferguson the embodiment of this renewed determination. Sitting at the base of Scotland’s five-man midfield, he was dropping between the centre-halves to pick up possession and was often smothered by the Morocco press. But he never shied away from the confrontation and it was he who led Scotland’s first determined counter of the half, wrestling with Bouaddi all the way to the byline before ultimately being dispossessed.

With the introduction of Ben Gannon-Doak on the hour Scotland’s performance went up a level again, perhaps simply through the reassurance of knowing there was a direct option that could release the pressure if needed. The 20-year-old winger, meanwhile, played with the same unwavering confidence as he did against Haiti, and it proved infectious. He linked up with Nathan Patterson on the right, he encouraged the previously anonymous Scott McTominay into the game. The Napoli star quickly teed up Ryan Christie for an effort that was blazed over in the 64th minute, then had a strong penalty claim in the 82nd and saw a fierce drive deflected into the side-netting a few minutes later.

Although they could easily have conceded again late on as they sought the point that would likely seal their passage to the knockout stages, Scotland were the better team in the second half. Sadly those endeavours counted for nothing, but if they can begin their fixture against Brazil as they finished this one, then they have a chance yet.

Clarke said before the Morocco game: “Sometimes the Scottish psyche – we’re more comfortable when we’re the underdogs.” This was not the case here. In fact, it seemed more as if the team were struggling to find what their identity was – desirous of asserting themselves upon their opponent, but not entirely sure they were capable. In the end Scotland proved they could compete against the very best. Against Brazil they should remember that, as they might need to get a result too.