As the World Cup qualifier against Belarus approached, Steve Clarke was peppered with questions about the potential challenges of facing a team that has so far been the section’s underdog. Some wondered if this match might be a stumbling block for Scotland.

Clarke was quick to remind everyone that under his leadership, Scotland has seldom faltered in matches against lower-ranked teams. His confidence was evident, particularly after the thrilling victory over Greece at Hampden just days earlier. Despite the celebration surrounding that win, Clarke was determined to keep his team focused and avoid any missteps.

For the Scottish squad, the dream of a lifetime—a journey to America—is becoming increasingly tangible. Although Clarke candidly acknowledged the flaws in their performance, the primary goal was achieved: securing a win. With this victory, Scotland has accumulated 10 points from their first four matches, placing them in an excellent position to qualify for next summer’s World Cup finals.

The allure of destinations like New York, California, Texas, Miami, Mexico City, and Vancouver adds to the excitement of a potential cross-country adventure along Route 66. However, Clarke and his team remain aware that the path to the World Cup may still have its share of obstacles.

Taking 10 points from their opening four matches, they have put themselves in an outstanding position to qualify for next summer’s World Cup finals.

Striker Che Adams gives Scotland an early lead in their World Cup qualifier against Belarus

Scott McTominay adds a second for the home side with six minutes left at Hampden Park

Hleb Kuchko steps away from Andy Robertson to score in stoppage time for the visitors 

New York, California, Texas, Miami, Mexico City, Vancouver and everything in between. The mother of all road trips could await them along Route 66, but there was always a chance of some speed bumps along the way.

This was so nearly one of them. As was the case against Greece here a few days previously, Scotland were deeply unconvincing. At times they were flat-out dreadful.

Belarus had a goal ruled out by VAR in the second half, at which point the score was 1-0 to Scotland. On another night, the visitors could easily have taken something from the game.

Even in victory, there was a smattering of boos from the crowd at the end. The match was never supposed to be quite as awkward and uncomfortable as this.

Scotland took the lead on 15 minutes through the excellent Che Adams, then steadily began to lose their way more and more as the night wore on.

Scott McTominay eventually put them 2-0 up with just over six minutes of the 90 remaining, but it was a slog. And a nervous slog at that.

Six minutes into stoppage time, Belarus pulled a goal back through Hleb Kuchko. What a goal it was, too, the player skinning Andy Robertson before slotting past Angus Gunn.

This was a night when Clarke surpassed Craig Brown, taking charge of his 72nd match in charge of the national team and setting a new record for any Scotland manager.

Of all 71 which preceded it, few can have matched the tension that built steadily inside Hampden over the course of this game.

Given the injury to Aaron Hickey, as well as the suspensions incurred by Lewis Ferguson and Ryan Christie, Clarke had three changes enforced upon him before a ball was kicked.

But he went further than that and made a total of five changes from the team that beat Greece 3-1 in the great Hampden heist last Thursday night.

John Souttar and Grant Hanley both dropped out at centre-back, with Scott McKenna and Jack Hendry coming in, as Tony Ralston took Hickey’s spot at right-back.

Billy Gilmour and Kenny McLean came into the midfield, and it had been the introduction of Gilmour off the bench against the Greeks which had finally given Scotland some much-needed poise and composure on the ball.

Belarus had been thumped 6-0 by Denmark last week, so the expectation was that they would be vulnerable as they arrived at Hampden.

They actually started the match fairly well. On the front foot right from the off, a simple ball over the top of the Scotland defence released Herman Barkouski into acres of space.

He teased a good ball across the face of goal but it found no takers. Similar to the early chance for Vangelis Pavlidis the other night, it was a huge let-off for Scotland.

Once again, Scotland started the match sluggishly. A succession of Belarus corners spoke of a positive start for the away side, with defender Pavel Zabelin heading just over the bar from one of them.

Whatever angst may have been building in the home crowd was eased on 15 minutes when Adams fired Scotland into the lead.

Hendry stepped out from defence, won possession, and angled a clever pass into the feet of the striker, whose movement was clever to stay onside.

Adams then took a neat touch and turned away from the Belarus defenders, before drilling a good left-foot shot low into the far corner.

It was a really tidy piece of play from the Scotland forward and, despite the goal initially being ruled out for offside, a VAR check soon turned that decision on its head. Goal given, 1-0 Scotland.

Adams was having a fine game. So, too, was Ben Gannon-Doak out wide on the right. Belarus left-back Zabelin will be having nightmares about the young Scotland winger for weeks to come.

Gannon-Doak came close to making it 2-0 shortly before half-time when a slick turn – one of many – took him away from Zabelin. Alas, his shot was saved by keeper Fedor Lapoukhov.

Despite the fact Scotland were ahead, the atmosphere felt strangely quiet and subdued. There was a flatness to the whole thing, maybe a slight feeling of nervousness in the Tartan Army ranks.

Lapoukhov made a smart low save to deny John McGinn shortly after half-time as Scotland pressed for a second goal that would have eased the tension.

Scotland thought they had a penalty on the hour mark when Adams tangled on the deck with Yegor Parkhomenko. A lengthy VAR check deemed the ball had struck Adams’ arm in the build-up.

A major wake-up call then arrived just a couple of minutes later with what looked to be a Belarus equaliser, with Yevgeni Malashevich slotting in from a Barkouski cross.

Scotland’s blushes were spared as Romanian referee Marian Barbu was ordered over to the VAR monitor. By this point, the referee must have felt like he was doing shuttle runs.

The goal was ruled out, correctly, for a foul on Scott McTominay in the build-up. Nonetheless, it demonstrated just how fragile the whole situation was for Scotland.

With just over 10 minutes to play, a smattering of boos began to ring out around the stadium. Belarus were probing, Scotland clinging on.

Desperate for a second goal to put the matter beyond doubt, Scotland finally dragged themselves over the line with just over six minutes of normal time remaining.

From an Andy Robertson cross, McTominay took the ball well and lashed home from around 12 yards with his left foot. Cue a massive outpouring of relief around Mount Florida.

McTominay couldn’t even bring himself to celebrate. Puffing out his cheeks, the Napoli midfielder let out a couple of expletives that probably summed up the mood of a nation.

Belarus were determined to tee up an awkward finish, however, and they duly did so when Kuchko nipped in ahead of Robertson and slotted a low finish past Scotland goalkeeper Gunn.

Scotland hung on for dear life. Ultimately, a 2-1 victory took them one step closer towards their World Cup dream. But, gee whizz, they made life incredibly difficult for themselves.

Another smattering of boos from the crowd at full-time told its own story.