The shirt itself may be popular, but the bigger issue is what the occasion demands.
Scotland have too often reached major tournaments needing to recover from the first game. That is rarely a comfortable way to live. An opener should set tone, tempo and belief. Lose control of it, and everything becomes reactive.
The report says Scotland’s away-kit record at the World Cup stretches back to 1958, with draws and defeats rather than wins. Whether that is coincidence or quirk, it taps into a broader truth about Scotland on this stage: margins are usually tight, and missed chances tend to haunt them.
That is why this game feels significant beyond the opponent. Breaking an awkward trend would also mean breaking a familiar cycle of slow starts and immediate pressure.
This should be a match for clarity rather than drama.
Clarke’s best teams have looked organised, direct and emotionally controlled. An opener can easily become tense if the favourite hesitates.
If Scotland are serious about making this World Cup feel different, 14 June is the moment to prove it. Beat Haiti, remove the noise around the shirt, and carry momentum into the next group test. Fail, and the old questions will return straight away.