Are DR Congo & Cape Verde the template for Scotland?

[PA Media] Scott Allan takes encouragement from some other lesser-fancied nations' performances at the World Cup before Scotland's crucial Group C match with Morocco. The Scots are two points better off than Morocco before Friday's meeting (23:00 BST) after the opening round of fixtures and one more point is likely to be enough for a place in the last 32. Morocco are sixth in the world rankings - 31 places above Scotland - and former Celtic and Hibs midfielder Allan feels the Scots are in for a tough match. "I'm a wee bit more uplifted by the fact I've seen teams like DR Congo and Cape Verde against some real top-class opposition, how defensively disciplined they were and managed to get a point," Allan told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast. "I'm looking at Scotland thinking that is probably the best way of getting a result. There's no getting away that Morocco have some real quality throughout their team. They've got pace, they've got energy and they've certainly got quality. "Tonight's going to be all about a real strong disciplined performing for Scotland and if we do create a chance, can we take it? But I'm a bit more uplifted than I was maybe after the Haiti game just by seeing how some of the smaller nations have performed against better opposition. "It'll be nerve-stricken because I think that's just the Scottish way, isn't it? We'll need a full 11 players absolutely at it. "We'll be relying on the goalkeeper making saves at times, clearances, and, to be fair in the Haiti game I thought we defended well, especially that back five with the goalkeeper included. I just hope we can be a lot better on the ball. That was the key takeaway for me against Haiti. "If you give the ball away as loosely as you did against them against Morocco, then ultimately you're going to give chances away against better opposition."