The bicycle kick that illuminated Glasgow last November brought Scotland to their first World Cup in 28 years. Scott McTominay’s moment of magic against Denmark was the spark that sent the nation to America — and with it came an immense weight of expectation.
Two games into the tournament, that expectation remains largely unfulfilled. A narrow win over Haiti and a narrow loss to Morocco have left Scotland in a precarious position, and their poster boy has been understated in his influence. But is it fair to expect more from the Napoli midfielder?
“Scott McTominay's muted World Cup performances raise questions as Scotland face Brazil after a narrow win and loss.”
Against Haiti, McTominay came within a post of a stunning goal. His pass completion was 93%, the second-highest in the starting XI, and he covered more than 12km — the most of any player on the park. Yet the BBC Sport audience rated three Scots better than him in the salmon-pink kit.
A stomach bug had struck fear into the Scotland support before the opener, but McTominay still played. An underwhelming Scotland got the job done, winning 1-0. Did he run the show? No.
Against Morocco, the team were rocked by a lightning start from the Africa Cup of Nations winners. As the game progressed, Scotland grew into it, but clear chances were scarce. McTominay’s pass completion dropped to 89%, still the third-highest in the team, and he managed two shots on goal — the same as against Haiti and one more than he managed in the heroics against Denmark last November. His distance covered was only bettered by 369 metres from Lewis Ferguson. A BBC Sport rating of 5.09 placed seven Scots ahead of him.
Across 72 caps, McTominay has 15 goals and two assists — figures that do his contribution a disservice. He has been the man for the big occasion: a winner against Israel in 2021, a brace that downed Spain at Hampden, and that night against Denmark. Now the expectation to turn matches, alongside Tartan Army hero John McGinn, is immense.
So, is McTominay the man to bring Brazil crashing down? The question hangs over Scotland’s campaign. His biggest attributes lie in forward areas, but so far his World Cup has been understated. Whether that is fair — or enough — remains to be seen.