Midfielder Scott McTominay, who is part of the Scotland national team, has set a target of progressing beyond the group stage. According to BBC Sport, McTominay described the squad's aim as getting out of the group at all costs, believing they are more than capable of achieving that. Teammate Billy Gilmour, also speaking to BBC Sport, outlined a more immediate goal, stating the aim is to win their first match against Haiti.
McTominay, who is a star at Napoli according to major media reports, brings experience from a club that won the scudetto last year. According to Daily Mail - Sport, Scotland's first-team coach Steven Naismith described McTominay as a versatile player who has operated in multiple positions including centre half, centre midfield, and forward. A documentary titled 'Serie A Scots: Return to Naples', focusing on this connection, will air across the BBC on 1 May.
For me, when he comes into the squad, he's a beast of an athlete. He's big, he's strong, he's powerful. Even the pace he passes the ball at, you think, 'He's got some real strength here'. And then, he just grows and grows. He's played centre half, he's played centre mid, he's played as a forward. That tells you his knowledge and understanding of the game is top. But the biggest compliment I can pay him is that he has turned himself into the most professional athlete he can be. Everything else is secondary to him performing and being in peak condition. Undoubtedly, when he has been at Man United, he will have fed off the best to see what it is that you need to do. He was at a club that when they weren't at their best, he got the brunt of it at times. Then he was brave enough to move to another country and become a star, and that is what he is. The mural (near Hampden) tells you everything.
The squad is built around a core of experienced players. McTominay noted that he and Billy Gilmour have been in the national team setup for six or seven years, while Andy Robertson and John McGinn have been involved for a decade. According to Daily Mail - Sport, Naismith highlighted the leadership within the group, describing Robertson as a player who has won the Champions League and the Premier League, and McGinn as the captain of Aston Villa and a brilliant, demanding leader.
Scotland's path in the expanded 48-nation World Cup will see the top two teams from each group, plus the eight best third-placed nations, progress to the knockout stage. How this new format might specifically impact Scotland's chances of progression is a subject of ongoing analysis as the team prepares for its historic return to the global stage.
He's confident. The biggest thing I can say is that in the last camp, you'd wake up in the morning, go to breakfast and he was sitting with Andy (Robertson) John McGinn, Grant Hanley, John Souttar and Kenny McLean. And then at lunch he'd be sitting with Lennon Miller, Josh Doig and Andy Irving. That's him. I actually said to him that you don't realise the power you are having when you are sitting for 10 minutes or 15 minutes talking to a young player who is hanging onto your every word. Just understand the power of that because it is amazing. But he doesn't care.
We have a few now in their own way. We have Andy Robertson, the captain, who has won the Champions League, who has won the Premier League. We have John McGinn, how he is - we see it on social media, he is really demanding, really professional. A brilliant leader. He is the captain of Villa, who are performing as well as ever. They are leaders. Everyone trust
It's going to be a special moment. For all of us, the first time. A little bit of the unknown. But we go there and want to do well. The aim is the first game, to win. And then we take it step by step from there. We want to go there with confidence and show how good a team Scotland is.