'Comfortable when we're underdogs': Clarke takes pressure off his Scotland side

[p]After a ‌nervy [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/haiti-nk4v10Z1/scotland-fZRU25WH/?mid=QBBoaW63"]1-0 win against minnows Haiti[/a] on Saturday, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/scotland/fZRU25WH/"]Scotland[/a] know a draw could clinch ‌a place in the knockout rounds of a major tournament ‌for the first time ever, but Clarke said he was under no ‌illusions about the scale of the task.[/p][p][b]"They reached the last ‌four of the last World Cup, and I've got a feeling this Moroccan team is probably slightly better than that,"[/b] Clarke told reporters on Thursday.[/p][p]The ‌coach said he expected his players to rise ⁠to the challenge posed by ‌the North Africans who led [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/brazil/I9l9aqLq/"]Brazil[/a] before having to settle for a 1-1 ​draw in their opening group game.[/p][p][b]"Sometimes the Scottish psyche, the Scottish mentality is that we're a little bit more ​comfortable when we're the underdogs,"[/b] Clarke said.[/p][p]Memorable Scottish performances against higher-ranked opponents include a 3-2 win over eventual finalists the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/netherlands/WYintcWb/"]Netherlands[/a] in ⁠1978, which was agonisingly ​too little to keep Scotland in the tournament.[/p][p]Clarke said being considered favourites against Haiti had contributed to the team's disjointed performance on Saturday. [b]"This time we're the underdogs, and sometimes Scotland prefer it that way,"[/b] ‌he said.[/p][p]Scotland would not be distracted by the various possibilities of qualifying for the round of 32 and would focus instead on the basics, he said.[/p][p][b]"If you can't win the game, don't lose the game,"[/b] the former [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/chelsea/4fGZN2oK/"]Chelsea[/a] defender added. [b]"Permutations and whatever you want to look at, that's for you guys and all the punters that are out there to think about, not for us."[/b][/p][h2]High praise for Hakimi [/h2][p]Scotland fans expect Clarke to opt for a more defensive lineup on Friday. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/christie-ryan/hWTaBxeh/"]‌Ryan Christie[/a] could bolster the midfield at the expense of one ​of the two strikers who started against Haiti and a ‌switch to five in defence might help to blunt [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/morocco/IDKYO3R8/"]Morocco[/a]'s attacks from deep led by right-back [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hakimi-achraf/MqFBkBsp/"]Achraf Hakimi[/a].[/p][p][b]"I think he's the best full-back in the world at the minute,"[/b] Scotland captain [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/robertson-andrew/6e7Be9VI/"]Andy Robertson[/a] said. [b]"He just plays with that freedom and ⁠can pop up ... in your ⁠own box and then all ‌of a sudden he's back, one-v-one defending."[/b][/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/morocco-IDKYO3R8/scotland-fZRU25WH/?mid=nRafcAyG"]Follow Scotland vs Morocco and every World Cup match on Flashscore.[/a][/b][/p]