Steven Godden
BBC Scotland in Boston

Image source, EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

The Governor of Massachusetts has clearly done her World Cup homework.

Maura Healey received a cheer at a reception with First Minister John Swinney in Downtown Boston as she began her opening remarks with the phrase “No Scotland, No Party.”

Governor Healey said that during the day on Friday local judges had told her they couldn’t hear anything in the Boston Courthouse because of the noise from the Tartan Army gathered on the streets outside.

Presumably tongue in cheek she also told assembled guests that such was the thirst of visiting Scotland fans she was going to have to send out an SOS for more alcohol to fellow governors in New England and even Canada.

Right, we've spent the best part of this morning looking back at last night's action, so let's alter our route and begin looking forward.

The Scotland takeover of Boston has been in full swing for a few days now - you may have seen some of the videos on social media.

Let's bring you a bit closer to the action!

Image source, Getty Images

Mauricio Pochettino was appointed USA coach 20 months ago, tasked with transforming a team that was often capable of getting out of the group stage but almost never any further than that.

USA's tactical transformation under the Argentine was clear against Paraguay as they played a high-pressing, attacking style of football that their opponents could not live with.

In addition, Pochettino has been able to call upon a squad that is packed with talent - 17 of the 26 in his camp play in Europe's top five leagues with seven of those playing in the Premier League.

He has also changed the players' mentality, encouraging them to shed the idea that they are underdogs and instead believe in themselves as being able to be among the elite, capable of not just going far but actually winning the World Cup.

"Why not us?" he said earlier this year. "We need to really believe that we can be there. We need to dream."

The USA will, of course, have to beat stronger teams than Paraguay to win the World Cup, but this performance will certainly help their fans to believe they can - at the very least - match their run to the quarter-finals in 2002.

"The United States brought in Pochettino with this tournament in mind after failing to deliver in past World Cups," ex-Wales defender Ashley Williams said on Match of the Day.

"They have also got a set of players you expect to go far in this tournament, so the expectation will be massive.

"If things click with Pochettino and with a strong starting 11, I think United States can go far in this tournament on home soil. They will be looking at this group and thinking they should top it."

Image source, Getty Images

If there is one area of concern for Mauricio Pochettino and USA fans it is perhaps how this game highlighted how crucial Christian Pulisic and Folarin Balogun are to their hopes.

They were both instrumental in a first half where USA looked capable of scoring with every attack, with Balogun producing two goals and Pulisic providing an assist.

But Pulisic was withdrawn at half-time while Balogun went off with 18 minutes remaining and, while the USA still dominated, they were not the attacking threat they were in the first 45 minutes.

After the game, Pochettino confirmed that Pulisic's withdrawal was precautionary after feeling something in his calf, where he had been kicked in an earlier training session.

"I hope it is not a big issue but when we finished the first half he could not work," Pochettino said.

"Hopefully not a big issue. Now I think is better and hopefully for the next game he will be available."

As for the idea that the USA could be the surprise team of the tournament, Pochettino feels it is too soon to make that call.

"We know in the world of sports when you see good performances and good results everyone thinks of success and people try to flatter you but when you lose it is a catastrophe," he added.

"I think we've had a good match but I think to be the upset of the World Cup we need to get to the semi-finals or the quarter-finals, then yes.

"We have to see if throughout the tournament we can be that pleasant surprise that other teams have been at World Cups."

Image source, Getty Images

The question is, can the current crop of USA players go further than they did in 1994?

This tournament has an extra knockout round (round of 32). In previous tournaments the round of 16 has been the limit of their ambitions.

USA have only twice reached the quarter-finals and have never been further since the very first World Cup in 1930:

• Uruguay 1930 - Third place
• Italy 1934 - Round of 16
• Brazil 1950 - Group stage
• Italy 1990 - Group stage
• USA 1994 - Round of 16
• France 1998 - Group stage
• Korea Japan 2002 - Quarter-finals
• Germany 2006 - Group stage
• South Africa 2010 - Round of 16
• Brazil 2014 - Round of 16
• Qatar 2022 - Round of 16

Image source, Getty Images

When the United States hosted the World Cup for the first time in 1994, it turned the world's biggest football tournament into an unprecedented spectacle of entertainment as the nation's stars turned out to mark the historic event.

Along with the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Barry Manilow and Stevie Wonder, a record average crowd of 68,991 turned up to each match.

The hosts finished their group in third place, earning four points through a draw with Switzerland and a win over Colombia. Romania, who topped Group A, beat them 1-0.

Of the teams that finished their group third, the USA's record was third-best and enough to put them through to the knockout stage - where they'd face three-time champions Brazil.

With a single, 72nd-minute goal by Bebeto, Brazil knocked USA out of the tournament - before going on to win it on penalties at the Rose Bowl.

But the national team performance and the pageantry of the World Cup had captured the imagination the people of the USA, where football has increasingly become a prominent fixture in the sporting scene.

Giovanni's dad Claudio Reyna played in three World Cups for USA - 1998, 2002 and 2006.

He was also part of the 1994 squad, as a teenager, but was unable to play in his home World Cup after injuring his hamstring...

Image source, Getty Images

On the theme of celebrations - remember the 1994 World Cup, which was also hosted in the USA - when Brazil star Bebeto mimicked rocking a baby with his team-mates?

That celebration came in a quarter-final win over the Netherlands and was one of three goals scored by Bebeto at the tournament.

Brazil also went on to lift the trophy.

Image source, Getty Images

Did you notice Giovanni Reyna's celebration?

The USA player has confirmed what we all pretty much gathered - he has a child on the way with partner Chloe!

Posting on Instagram, Reyna said: "Thank you LA! Love this team! Just the start!

"Celebration was for the little one on the way."

Reyna is the son of former US national team players Claudio and Danielle... could their be another future star in the family?

It looked like USA's former Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun would take all the plaudits with his brace, including this classy strike [click play icon above].

But then Giovanni Reyna curls in a fourth goal in stoppage time with the outside of his right boot to cap off an amazing night for the hosts.

Watch the highlights below to the end for Reyna's superb finish...

Image source, BBC Sport

It's not hard to see why optimism is high in the USA, Mauricio Pochettino's players wasted no time getting themselves off the mark at their home tournament.

Former Leeds United midfielder Weston McKennie was trying to play it square to his team-mate Falorin Balogun when Paraguay's Damian Bobadilla intercepted and put the ball into his own net.

A goal ahead with seven minutes on the clock.

It was a dream start that has only been bettered by former hosts Germany in 2006, who scored in six minutes, and France in 1938 - who scored in the opening minute of their first game.

The mistaken identity call was a big talking point, but that ended up being superseded by USA's performance and historic winning margin.

The 70,000 fans in the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, and those gathered at watch parties across the country, certainly enjoyed their 4-1 win over Paraguay...

Image source, Getty Images

Fifa has introduced of a number of rule changes for the tournament, with Pierluigi Collina, the head of referees, requesting one specifically for mistaken identity.

The rule states that if a player is booked or sent off - but the foul was actually committed by the opposition team - the decision can be changed.

Another new law is second yellow cards leading to a red card can be reviewed, but not first yellow cards. The only reason referee Makkelie was able to rescind the decision was by using the mistaken identity law.

The officials allowed the game to restart before stopping, which also confused fans as normally once the game resumes it cannot be pulled back.

Former Everton and Wales defender Ashley Williams, speaking to BBC Sport, added: "They let them take the free-kick, which was bizarre but clearly the right decision.

"It's the first time we have seen it but fair play."

Former England midfielder Danny Murphy, who was co-commentating for BBC Sport, added: "Any adaptation of the rules which means diving gets more punishment is good."

Image source, Getty Images

We dedicate a large chunk of yesterday's live text talking about the three red cards in Mexico's win over South Africa and the officials were back in the headlines in Los Angeles last night.

With the USA leading Paraguay 3-0, there was a sequence of events that left everyone inside SoFi Stadium scratching their heads as the video assistant referee (VAR) made history.

Veteran defender Tim Ream, 38, conceded a free-kick and was shown a yellow card for his 'challenge' on Miguel Almiron.

After the free-kick was taken, Dutch referee Danny Makkelie was sent to the screen by the VAR and overturned his decision - something officials have not previously been allowed to do.

After rescinding Ream's caution, Makkelie instead booked former Newcastle United forward Almiron, who had clearly dived.

It is the first VAR intervention for mistaken identity at the World Cup, even if it perhaps was not used in the way most expected it to be.

It kind of feels like the pleasantries are now over as we gear up for four games in the next 24 hours, including the standout fixtures of Brazil v Morocco and Haiti v Scotland in the early hours.

Anyone planning an all-nighter?

Well, if you can't sleep with all the excitement then maybe conserve your energy by sticking with us for the build-up.

Plenty of Scotland content is coming your way shortly, after we have wrapped up the news from the overnight fixtures...

The games are coming thick and fast now with a further four within the next 24 hours.

Saturday 13 June

• Qatar v Switzerland (Group B) – 20:00 BST – ITV1
• Brazil v Morocco (Group C) – 23:00 – BBC One, iPlayer, BBC Sport website

Sunday 14 June

• Haiti v Scotland (Group C) – 02:00 – BBC One, iPlayer, BBC Sport website
• Australia v Turkey (Group D) – 05:00 – ITV1

NB: There will also be live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live for every one of these games, so we have you covered.

And here is how those results have affected the fledgling World Cup tables, with matches in Groups A, B and D so far...

Image source, BBC/Getty Images

Image source, BBC/Getty Images

It may be fair to say that this World Cup is taking a little while to get going.

We have only had four games - and three opening ceremonies - in the opening two days.

Here are the results so far...