The Tartan Army’s long wait for another World Cup game is over
Scotland begin their long-awaited return to the World Cup with a must-win clash against Haiti, and Steve Clarke’s side know that three points are likely to be essential if they are to progress from a difficult Group C containing Brazil and Morocco.
The Tartan Army are back on football’s biggest stage for the first time since 1998 after securing qualification with a dramatic campaign that culminated in a memorable victory over Denmark.
Central to that success was Scott McTominay, who once again heads into a major tournament as Scotland’s biggest attacking threat from midfield.
Scotland arrive in the USA with confidence. Reports ahead of the tournament suggest they scored eight goals across their two World Cup warm-up matches, while McTominay remains fully fit despite overcoming a minor illness scare earlier this week.
Haiti, meanwhile, are appearing at their first World Cup since 1974. Ranked 83rd in the world compared to Scotland’s 42nd-place ranking, they are considered outsiders in a group that also contains two of the tournament’s strongest sides.
With Brazil and Morocco having already shared a 1-1 draw, the opportunity is there for Scotland to take early control of the group standings with a convincing victory.
Scotland to Win & Over 1.5 Match Goals
Scotland simply have more quality throughout the squad and know they cannot afford to leave points behind against the group’s lowest-ranked side.
Clarke’s men have shown improved attacking intent in recent months, while Haiti’s aggressive style could leave space for Scotland’s midfield runners and wide players to exploit. With Scotland likely to push for goal difference in what could become a tight group, backing a Scotland win alongside at least two goals in the match looks a solid option.
Scott McTominay Anytime Goalscorer
If Scotland are going to enjoy a successful tournament, McTominay will almost certainly play a leading role.
The Napoli midfielder was Scotland’s top scorer during qualification with seven goals and has developed a reputation for arriving late in the box to devastating effect. Analysts covering the match have highlighted him as Scotland’s key attacking weapon, while his recent international record shows just how influential he has become for Clarke’s side.
Against a Haiti team likely to spend long periods defending, McTominay’s knack for finding space in dangerous areas makes him an attractive anytime goalscorer selection.
Score Prediction: Haiti 0-2 Scotland
Scotland may not blow Haiti away, but they should have enough quality to start their World Cup campaign with a professional victory. Expect McTominay to play a major role as the Scots take an important first step towards the knockout stages.
