Scotland’s pre-World Cup form: Goals, goals, goals!
Scotland warmed up for the World Cup by scoring four goals in back-to-back games.
A 4-1 victory over 10-player Curacao at Hampden sent Scotland off to the United States in style, where they also beat Bolivia 4-0 in their final game before the big-kick.
Lawrence Shankland scored twice against Curacao, with youngster Findlay Curtis getting on the scoresheet too. Shankland scored again in the win over Boliva, while Che Adams got himself a brace.
Unlike their previous two major tournament appearances, Scotland’s forwards have found some form…
(PA Wire)
Jamie Braidwood13 June 2026 21:08
Scotland’s talent to watch: Ben Gannon Doak
The winger made a huge difference for Scotland in World Cup qualifying, injecting a raw ability to beat a man out wide into a team that is often painfully one-paced. That Gannon Doak has barely played since the win over Denmark due to a hamstring injury, and only returned to action for Bournemouth shortly before the end of the season, could be an issue.
(PA)
Jamie Braidwood13 June 2026 20:46
Scotland’s star player: Scott McTominay
The glow-up since moving to Napoli has been wonderful. A scudetto-winning legend in Naples, nominated for last season’s Ballon d’Or, McTominay has developed an aura that brings genuine hope to the Tartan Army.
The overhead kick against Denmark will be replayed over and over, but we’ll take a tap-in in the USA. Either way, his ability to arrive into the box and produce a decisive moment could be crucial to getting through.
Jamie Braidwood13 June 2026 20:25
Can Scotland escape its World Cup group?
Predict the winner of Scotland’s group stage matches….
Jamie Braidwood13 June 2026 20:02
World Cup 2026 – Group C guide
Are you all ready to party like it’s 1998? Scotland’s men are making their long-awaited return to a World Cup and the Tartan Army will be reunited with two of their group stage opponents from 28 years ago in Brazil and Morocco. Fancy that.
Haiti also join the fun and will be making just their second World Cup appearance, as well as their first since 1974. The Caribbean nation are first up for Steve Clark’s side, whose hopes of becoming the first Scotland team to advance from a group stage of a major tournament could rest on that opening clash in Foxborough. Ooft.
Group C, after all, is the only pool at this expanded World Cup to feature two top-10 nations in Brazil, the record five-time champions, and Morocco, the (massive asterisk) African champions and World Cup semi-finalists from four years ago. It’s a belter of a group.
Jamie Braidwood13 June 2026 19:40
Scotland’s previous tournament openers: Germany humbling
Scotland returned to full crowds at Euro 2024, with the Tartan Army travelling to Germany in their thousands in a memorable tournament… off the pitch.
On it, Scotland were dire, perhaps the worst side at the Euros. Things got off to a bad start when they faced Germany in Munich, going down to 10 men early on and losing 5-1 to the hosts.
“Don’t get humped,” Steve Clarke replied when asked what he learned from that one…
(Getty)
Jamie Braidwood13 June 2026 19:17
IN PICTURES: Scotland fans taking over Boston
The Tartan Army travel well and, after 28 years since their last World Cup, they’re unsurprisingly out in force in the US.
Boston has become a sea of Saltires, even though we’re still seven hours away from kick-off.
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Luke Baker13 June 2026 19:06
Scotland’s previous tournament openers: Hampden defeat
Scotland made their return to a major men’s tournament when they played Czech Republic at Hampden in their opening match of Euro 2020, in front of a crowd limited by the after-effects of the Covid pandemic.
And Scotland’s return fell a little flat, losing to the Czechs 2-0. That match is best remembered by Patrik Schick’s goal from the halfway line, which beat the unfortunate David Marshall.
Kenny McLean got his own back a few years later….
David Marshall was beaten by Patrik Schick’s wonder goal at Hampden (PA Wire)
Jamie Braidwood13 June 2026 18:55
Scotland’s Steve Clarke on respecting ‘attacking, dynamic’ Haiti
Scotland have been warned that they can’t take Haiti lightly before meeting in Boston tonight. Haiti are one of the lowest-ranked sides at the tournament, but Scotland can hardly afford to be dismissive of anyone…
“It’s important we respect the opposition, make sure we’re properly prepared, we play to the best of our ability and see what the result is,” Steve Clarke said.
“We’ve watched Haiti very closely, we respect their abilities on the pitch. Since they’ve qualified, they’ve improved the squad.
“We think we know how they’ll play. We think we know their system. They have very dynamic players, especially the attacking players so we have to be careful.”
(PA)
Jamie Braidwood13 June 2026 18:33
Preview: Scotland are ready and this change can secure a new World Cup legacy
A couple of years ago, the slogan, at least outside the dressing room, was “No Scotland, no party”. Now it is different. The core of Andy Robertson’s message was “no regrets”.
No man has captained Scotland in more games, nor led them in three major tournaments. But the first two have provided disappointment. Instead of no regrets, there were no wins. Two years ago, Scotland opened Euro 2024, but it was a false start for them, walloped 5-1 by Germany. Performances were more respectable in Euro 2020 but the outcome was the same: one point apiece.
Now the objective is to go one better and win a game, to do something that has eluded every previous Scotland side and reach the knockout stages of a tournament.
Richard Jolly in Boston13 June 2026 18:17