Great Scott! The Tartan Army puts their hopes on McTominay and others to grace first World Cup in 28 years

Analysis

By Phil Gordon for World Soccer in the 2026 World Cup Special, May 2026.

Scott McTominay was crucial in getting Scotland to the World Cup, and the Napoli midfielder will be vital again in the United States...

Baseball’s iconic “Shot Heard Round The World” was actually hit by a Scot, Bobby Thomson, so it was fitting that Scott McTominay was doing the same for football in Thomson’s home city 74 years later. The Napoli midfielder, rising high into the Glasgow night sky at Hampden Park, produced a stunning overhead kick in November to help send Scotland on their way to an epic 4-2 triumph over Denmark, and their first World Cup in 28 years.

Steve Clarke’s team will play all three games in the US, the land of baseball, and the Scotland manager will be hoping that his players follow in Thomson’s footsteps. After moving to New York, Thomson played for the New York Giants, and his home run against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1951 sealed the National League pennant.

Thomson’s bat is in baseball’s Hall of Fame, and if McTominay can lead Scotland out of the World Cup group stage for the first time ever – there have been eight previous failures, including five in a row between 1974 and 1990 – his No.4 shirt will surely be in Hampden’s Hall of Fame.

Under Clarke, McTominay has been reinvented. His seven goals in Euro 2024 qualifying – including that famous brace in the 2-0 victory over Spain – helped earn a £25.4 million move to Napoli in August 2024. And what a success he has been in Italy, winning a Scudetto and the Serie A MVP award for 2024-25, not to mention repeating his acrobatic heroics with another stunning bicycle kick to help clinch the Italian title.

Still, there is not much chance of the ex-Manchester United man getting too big for his boots. Clarke does not tolerate big egos, and neither do his most experienced players: captain Andy Robertson at left-back, a European champion with Liverpool, and Aston Villa skipper John McGinn in midfield. With Bournemouth midfielder Ryan Christie and Celtic full-back Kieran Tierney also heavily involved, this is a team and squad built around a solid core of honest, experienced pros.

It was back in September, when the European World Cup qualifying campaign kicked off, that belief began to creep into the Scottish camp that they could qualify for these finals. The spirited 0-0 draw in Copenhagen gave Clarke’s side the conviction that they could do the job, and laid the foundations of the sensational 4-2 defeat of Denmark in the last game.

Boosted by that and the invaluable experience of playing at two European Championships in 2021 and 2024, this group is primed and ready for the biggest challenge yet. Backed by thousands from the Tartan Army in Boston and Miami, they will ensure that Scotland are heard around the world once again.

Steve Clarke's view

Has the reaction from the Scottish public to qualifying surprised you when you come back from your base in London?

I never had so many selfies or requests for people wanting a photo, walking about or going to games. There has been a real feel-good factor. The thing is to continue that into the World Cup. I told the players in March: “this is what you did” by beating Denmark, and spoke a bit about what we can do when we get to the tournament.

Tell us about your choice of training base in the United States for the World Cup…

Charlotte FC’s training ground, in North Carolina, is first-class and been used by Real Madrid and Inter. I am sure our players will enjoy it. We had to be on the east coast with two games in Boston and the other in Miami. It is close to a city centre and that will help the players relax and have things to do. I felt our training camp at Euro 2024 in Bavaria was a little bit isolated and not so easy for everyone to have some downtime. That was something we learned from and hopefully this will make a difference. We are away for a long time.

Does the fact that no goals were scored by Scotland in the two March friendlies concern you before the World Cup?

No. We played better in Liverpool [against Ivory Coast] than we did at Hampden against Japan. We were more on the front foot and showed enough against the Ivory Coast, an excellent team, but we just need to show a bit more quality and calmness in the last third of the pitch, and if you do that the chances will come. But that is why I chose hard opponents for friendlies, to improve and get better.

What is your assessment of your group, containing Brazil, Morocco and Haiti?

It is a good group. I didn’t want another European side and we have three opponents from different continents – that is what the World Cup is all about. Brazil is an iconic name at the World Cup, especially for Scotland. Ironically, we faced Brazil and Morocco in 1998 [Scotland’s last World Cup appearance]. Haiti did well in qualifying and will be strong. We had their recent games scouted by my staff, and [they are] not a pot four team. But every time I look at the group I think we can get out of it – otherwise what is the point of being there?

Given your longevity in the job, and your contract ending after the World Cup finals, how do you feel about the SFA not extending it before the tournament?

Honestly, I just want to concentrate on the World Cup now. If something happens, I am sure you guys [the media] will know about it. If it does not happen, I am not bothered. I’m sure my players are the same. I just want my players to be in the right frame of mind, too. So, that subject is finished. I am not talking about my contract any more.

[Clarke would eventually sign a new deal before the World Cup]

Tactics

The fact that the top two goalscorers in Scotland’s current squad are midfielders (John McGinn, 20, and Scott McTominay, 14) tells us two things: midfield is Scotland’s strong suit, and the team lacks a top-class centre-forward.

Competition is fierce in midfield. The talented Billy Gilmour only played three qualifiers due to injury, with fellow Serie A midfielder, Lewis Ferguson, playing instead, and the Bologna captain is likely to keep his spot thanks to his superior defensive attributes. Further forward, McGinn comes in from the left to become a No.10, with Andy Robertson providing overlapping width. Wide right, Ben Gannon-Doak is the new kid who gets everyone excited, but if he’s not around – as he wasn’t in the last 69 minutes of the Denmark game when he went off injured – the team sorely lacks pace and skill.

Lyndon Dykes is favoured as the No.9 for his physicality, and he was missed when injured at Euro 2024, but Che Adams’ pace and pressing will also play a part, while Lawrence Shankland offers more of a poacher’s instinct – as he demonstrated by scoring in that win over the Danes.

Any observers sensing a weakness in veteran keeper Craig Gordon are likely to be disappointed – the 43-year-old has been in excellent form this season.

The View From Scotland

“Although Scotland have not performed in the past two Euros, the experiences gained by Steve Clarke and his squad will surely benefit them. Players such as McTominay and McGinn are at their peak and Clarke’s team can surprise some observers with strong showings if lessons have indeed been learned.” - Craig Swan, Daily Record

“Scotland has its best group of players for a generation and a team spirit that is exceptional. Stevie Clarke has nurtured this spirit brilliantly but he will know that all of Scotland’s best players will have to be fit and on form for us to have any chance.” - Pat Nevin, former Scotland winger

The Coach

Clarke became the first manager since Craig Brown, in 1998, to guide Scotland to the World Cup. Now in his seventh year, after replacing Alex McLeish, he has transformed perennial strugglers into regular qualifiers; this summer will be his third major tournament following the Euros in 2021 and 2024.

Clarke began coaching as an assistant to Jose Mourinho at Chelsea, and Kenny Dalglish at Liverpool, before becoming manager at West Brom in 2012. It was his work at Kilmarnock though, turning a struggling side into European qualifiers, which convinced the SFA to hire him.