Scotland expects: What is behind McTominay’s understated World Cup?

June 20, 2026 No Comments

Scotland expects: What is behind McTominay’s understated World Cup?Figure caption, Scotland 0-1 Morocco: Unique angles and behind the scenesByScott MullenBBC Sport Scotland in BostonPublished1 hour agoStandards are slipping here in Boston.The Scotland national team are two games into their World Cup campaign and there has not been a sniff of a bicycle kick anywhere. Scott McTominay illuminated the world with the spectacular against Denmark last November, a moment that typified the brilliance of the man whose trail has blazed fiercely in Naples.

That moment sparked the most magical of magic nights in Glasgow to bring Scotland to America, a first World Cup in 28 years that has so far delivered a narrow win and a narrow loss.

In both matches, the nation’s poster boy has been understated in his influence, but what impact is the 29-year-old midfielder making? Is he the man in dark blue to bring Brazil crashing down, and is it fair to expect him to be?

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McTominay – in sickness and in health

Across his 72 caps, the Napoli hero has amassed 15 goals and two assists, but these figures do his contribution a disservice.

He has been the man for the big occasion in so many matches. His first goal was a winner back in 2021 against Israel, it was his brace that famously downed Spain at Hampden, then of course we had that night against the Danes.

Now at the World Cup, the expectation for him to turn matches – along with Tartan Army hero John McGinn – is immense.

Against Haiti, where McTominay came within a post of a stunning goal, the BBC Sport audience rated three players better than him in salmon pink, while against Morocco a rating of 5.09 had seven Scots ahead of him.

But is that fair?

Against Haiti, McTominay had a 93% pass completion – the second-highest in the starting XI – dropping to 89% on Friday night – the third-highest in the team.

He managed two shots on goal in both games, which is one more than he managed against Denmark in November, when he was a hero.

Against Haiti, McTominay covered more than 12km, the most distance of any player on the park. Against Morocco, he was only bettered by an extra 369 metres from Lewis Ferguson.

An upset stomach was the story that struck fear into the Scotland support invading Boston prior to their opener, but he still played. Did he run the show? No, yet an underwhelming Scotland still got the job done in a 1-0 win.

Against Morocco, the Scots were struck by a lightning start from the Africa Cup of Nations winners, which undoubtedly rocked them.

But, as the game progressed, from just before half-time and into the second period, their hold on the game grew firmer, albeit without the clear chances that presented themselves at the other end.

How can McTominay be more effective against Brazil?

Undoubtedly McTominay’s biggest attributes are in the forward areas. It has been a long time since the days of Steve Clarke playing him at centre-back.

His lethal eye for goal, his guile to be in the right place, his power to beat a man and arrive on time.

It is no coincidence that the former Manchester United man’s less influential moments came in moments at Boston Stadium when Scotland were on the back foot.

For much of the game against Haiti, Scotland were not advancing into the final third with purpose, or working the ball well enough.

They received the ball 77 times in the final third compared to 116 at the other end.

The graph below illustrates just how much Haiti were the team with the attacking initiative, particularly with the amount of passes in the final third towards the end of the game.

A graph plotting how many passes made by Haiti and Scotland in the final third from 0-90 minutes

The second-half against the Moroccans has arguably been Scotland’s most forthcoming showing of the three tournament appearances under Clarke and McTominay’s involvement began to swell.

“I’ve watched a bit of Scott,” former Scotland winger Pat Nevin reported of McTominay at Napoli and Scotland. “Scott is not Billy Gilmour. He’s not going to go and run the game and pass.

“He can pass, he can do all those things. But is he going to be a technical player who runs the game? No, he’s not going to be that.

“Is he going to be world class at arriving in the box? Yeah, as a 10 or an 8. And he’s very, very good at other things and his work rate is fantastic.

“So when you say, ‘oh he didn’t do it to the last wee while’, well we weren’t up there at that end of the pitch. So it’s kind of hard to do it.”

While still not constant pressure from their possession in the second half, the graph below is evidence that Scotland were much more effective in the latter stages of the game as an attacking entity.

But why?

A graph plotting how many passes made by Morocco and Scotland in the final third from 0-90 minutes — Image caption,

Scotland, in red, got on the ball more in dangerous areas late on against Morocco

The loss of Gilmour is a key point to consider when talking about McTominay’s effectiveness.

Lewis Ferguson has been used instead, with the Bologna man arguably Scotland’s best player across both games so far.

But, while he’s been used more in a holding position, his licence to engage his energy to free up the likes of McTominay and McGinn is perhaps stifled.

This is something that changed late on against Morocco with the introduction of Kenny McLean on 71 minutes, which allowed Ferguson to roam.

Former Scotland international Leanne Crichton suggested: “I think we’ve played with bravery and quality and composure in flashes and, when that happens, I think that’s where Scott McTominay’s at his best.

“I think you can see his qualities, he’s absolutely there.

“If Scott McTominay’s been picked up and he’s been marked and doubled up in certain moments, players are tracking those runs that he normally makes then it’s up to other players around that to recognise and make better decisions with the ball.

“I think that’s probably where we’ve fallen short in certain moments in the game.”

Nevin added: “He’s not a controller of games like that. Some of the best players in the world aren’t that.

“In midfield, they are different things. And he’s got a great specialism, which is a world-class specialism. But you need to be in a position to play for him to use that to his best.

“And we didn’t really get into that position to do that because we weren’t in the final third to do that.

“So I wouldn’t be having any dig at Scott at all. He’s doing a hard shift.”