Scotland are on the cusp of playing in a World Cup finals for the first time in 28 years. We use the stats below to highlight 7 of the key World Cup Scots carrying good form into the opening Scotland game, as the nation awaits kick off v Haiti today. These stats show why & how Scotland realistically can progress beyond the group stage.
Angus Gunn
The first of our World Cup Scots is GK, Angus Gunn. Gunn impressed when he 1st started playing for the Scotland Men’s National Team (SMNT). He then went through a period of being somewhat cotton wristed, undermining what was otherwise very competent goalkeeping. Gunn though seems to have put that uncertainty behind him. That was exemplified by Gunn’s “wonder save”, denying disbelieving Konstantinos Karetsas at a vital moment in the 3-1 win v Greece at Hampden in September.
Form: Only 1 defeat in his last 7 Scotland games.
Aaron Hickey
As opined previously, fitba.scot believes that a fully fit Aaron Hickey isn’t just the best Scottish RB; completely 2 footed, he is the best current Scottish FB, left or right. To summarise Hickey’s Scotland career, Scotland have lost only 4 times in the 21 games in which he has played. Much depends on Hickey avoiding recurrence of his recent injury woes.
Form: Only 1 defeat in his last 7 Scotland games.
John McGinn
Like Andy Robertson, McGinn now on 86 caps, is closing in on Kenny Dalglish’s record 102 SMNT caps. McGinn has 20 Scotland goals to his name. He was previously Scotland’s main goal threat from midfield until Scott McTominay took over that mantle. McGinn though has returned to top form at club level, lifting the UEFA Europa League title as Aston Villa captain.
Form: Scotland have only lost twice in games in which McGinn has scored any of his 20 SMNT goals.
Scott McTominay
29-year-old McTominay has quietly reached the 70 cap mark, also closing in on Dalglish’s caps record. While McTominay has been played in defensive roles, he has always looked at his best when allowed to attack. McTominay has 15 Scotland goals to his credit to date. He scored once in his first 39 Scotland appearances. Since being moved into attacking roles in the last 3 years, his strike rate has accelerated to 14 in 31 appearances. He has overtaken McGinn in the last 3 years as Scotland’s primary goal scorer from midfield.
Form: In games in which Scott McTominay has scored for Scotland, Scotland have lost only twice.
Ben Gannon-Doak
Like Hickey, Gannon-Doak is a welcome return from injury. Scotland have lost only once in the last 11 games in which he has played. In contrast to his criticism of too often lacking a final product, in his last 4 Scotland games he has notched 1 goal and 2 assists. Gannon-Doak is profiled in more detail here. Like Hickey, much depends on Gannon-Doak avoiding injury recurrence.
Form: The 216 mins he has played in his last 4 Scotland games, equate to a goal or assist every 72 mins in which he played.
Che Adams
Adams looked in good form, notching a double last weekend against Bolivia. He now has 13 goals from his 47 full caps, including important goals against Denmark & home & away against Belarus. Adams has 7 goals & 2 assists to his name from his last 9 Scotland games.
Adams has the potential to write himself into the history books at World Cup 2026:
| SMNT Distinction | Player |
| 1st non-white player (of Scotland & any nation globally) | Andrew Watson, 1881 |
| 1st player of Asian origin (and only non-white player in the 20th century) | Paul Wilson, 1975 |
| 1st non-white goalscorer (& 1st non-white player of the 21st century) | Nigel Quashie, 2004 |
| 1st non-white to play at a major tournament finals | Ché Adams, 2021 |
| 1st non-white to score at a major tournament finals | ? |
| 1st non-white added to the 50 cap, Scottish Football International Roll of Honour | ? |
Form: A goal scored every 93 mins that he has played in his last 9 Scotland games.
Lawrence Shankland
Cometh the man, cometh the hour? For years Scotland have been crying out for a natural goalscorer. Two-footed Shankland’s stats suggest that he could’ve been the answer all along. Shankland’s 7 goals from 20 Scotland appearances understate his prolific goal scoring. Those 7 goals have been scored in only 663 minutes of play, averaging a goal every 95 mins he has played for the SMNT. Add in his 2 assists, he has a goal or assist every 74 minutes that he has played for Scotland. Shankland is profiled in greater detail here.
Form: 4 goals in his last 3 Scotland games equate to a goal every 41 mins in which he has played.
