Scotland Men's Football Team

Scott Mullen
BBC Sport Scotland in Boston

Image source, BBC Sport

So, it's a bit of a cliche, but it had to be done.

Boston's famous for many things - one of them being it's absolutely roasting, which I'm finding out to my cost - with the biggest potentially being the bar Cheers, famous from the TV show... erm... Cheers.

After eventually shutting the laptop on Thursday, I ventured out to find the local spot for Norm, Cliff and the gang (ask your parents, kids).

Instead I found two dozen Scottish people chanting along to Bits & Pieces. And a bloke carrying a set of bagpipes.

The one you notice here is everyone is Scottish... even when they're not.

Scotland's reach is huge, but so many locals we speak to talk about aunts, distant cousins, a Braveheart VHS tape in the cupboard which means they claim to be Scottish.

To be fair, I'm sure we'd take all the support we can get. One more sleep.

Image source, SNS

Injured Billy Gilmour has made the journey to Boston on his birthday to support his Scotland team-mates at the World Cup.

The 25-year-old Napoli midfielder was cruelly ruled out of the tournament after damaging his knee in 4-1 warm-up win against Curacao at Hampden the day before the squad flew out to America.

Kenny McLean, who missed the delayed 2020 Euros through injury, broke the news of Gilmour's arrival, saying: "Billy has just landed. He is going to come to see the lads tonight which is amazing.

"It is his birthday as well, so happy birthday Billy – I think he has just turned 17!

"He obviously wants to experience things around the lads and also in and around the city with the fans and soak in the atmosphere.

"He deserves so much more but there is going to be so much more opportunity for Billy. I know it's not what he wants to hear right now but there will be.

"What an amazing talent, what an amazing young man and it will be good to see him."

Scotland begin their first World Cup campaign in 28 years against Haiti on Sunday before further Group C matches against Morocco and Brazil.

Scott Mullen in Boston
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, Scott Mullen

It almost hasn't felt real.

Arriving in Boston last night, the swarm of dark blue Scotland strips at JFK airport didn't appear to follow the BBC bus as it snaked through leafy Connecticut on the way here.

Today, a slow drip of Scotland fans has now turned into a full on flood. As I type, Mexico and South Africa is raging on the television, fans are now watching a World Cup their nation's involved in. It's now here.

Boston is sizzling in the sunshine and stifling in the shade. Not that the Tartan Army will be particularly bothered.

The questions of the game on Saturday still seem far away amid the early party revellers arriving, yet there's a feeling the meeting with Haiti will be here before we know it.

There's so many questions, most of them will be thrown to Steve Clarke tomorrow afternoon at the Boston Stadium, which is about as close to Boston as Bothwell Services.

Let's see what tomorrow brings...

Catch up with the Boston Briefing on the BBC Scottish Football YouTube channel HERE, external

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter in Boston

Image source, SNS

Kenny McLean is confident "special" midfielder Scott McTominay will be fit for Scotland's World Cup opener against Haiti on Sunday (02:00 BST).

The Napoli talisman sat out training on Thursday with an upset stomach.

"Mine is alright thankfully," fellow midfielder McLean said. "Hopefully that doesn't spread. Fingers crossed Scott will be fine. I'm sure he will be."

In a side whose strength is its collective unity, McLean says McTominay's individual excellence will be key to Scotland's World Cup hopes.

"I don't need to speak too much on him, everyone knows how big he is," said the Norwich player.

"It's a team effort and always will be, but when you have special, special players like that you want them to be available. I'm sure he will be.

"His preparation has been amazing, apart from maybe something he's eaten along the line. He's up in a mural for a reason. He's an amazing guy, amazing part of the team."

The squad, may of whom are playing in their third major finals, are aiming to become the first Scotland team to progress from the group stage.

"We want to make more history," said the Norwich midfielder. "There's more to come - we believe and I believe.

"Preparation has been amazing, couldn't have gone any better. We need to maximise the opportunity we've got.

"We know how special this can be for us. We know we're in a good place to create more memories. We know it's about what we do and we have everything in place be as good as we can be, create more history and create they memories again.

"We want to make a stamp in this competition. First thing's first we start with Haiti, we don't want to look too far ahead.

"Looking beyond this, there's a lot in place. We have a lot of young boys coming through. Twenty-eight years was way too long, it's not going to be that long again."

Image source, SNS

Morocco, Scotland's second Group C opponents, have had to make two late changes to their World Cup squad.

The 2022 semi-finalists have replaced experienced central defender Nayef Aguerd and left winger Abde Ezzalzouli with Marwane Saadane and Amine Sbai before their opener against Brazil on Saturday.

Ezzalzouli went off at half-time in Sunday's 1-1 warm-up draw with Norway after a collision with a team-mate.

The 24-year-old Real Betis star scored 15 goals and provided 13 assists for the Seville club this season.

Former West Ham centre-back Aguerd, 30, has missed the past three months of action with Marseille because of a groin problem.

Sbai, capped once, is a 23-year-old winger with French club Angers, while Saadane, 34, plays in Saudi Arabia for Al Fateh.

Noussair Mazraoui was forced off with a shoulder knock against Norway but the Manchester United defender is expected to be fit to face Brazil in New Jersey.

Image source, PA Media

Midfielder Scott McTominay will not train with the Scotland squad on Thursday due to illness.

The 29-year-old has a stomach issue but there is no concern about his availability for Sunday's World Cup opener against Haiti (02:00 BST - live on BBC One).

Scott McKenna could train with the squad for the first time this week in Charlotte.

After their session on Thursday Scotland will travel to Boston, where they start their first World Cup campaign since 1998.

If fit, McTominay would be a certain starter for Steve Clarke having been a key player and scorer for Scotland.

The Napoli midfielder scored in Saturday's 4-0 friendly win over Bolivia.

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland in Charlotte, North Carolina

Image source, Reuters

Ryan Christie has never hid his love of playing for Scotland. That night in Serbia, anyone?

So it'll be of no surprise to anyone that the midfielder is getting all giddy at the prospect of featuring at the World Cup across the coming days and weeks.

"I naturally take a lot of pride playing for Scotland," the 31-year-old said on The Wayne Rooney Show.

"We're a very patriotic country, everybody absolutely loves representing and when we get to play at the World Cup - the pinnacle of football for me - I'm pinching myself a little bit that I'll get that chance."

He won't snub any start, but Brazil in the final Group C game is one he can't help but admit would be "a cool game to be a part of".

"It's proper exciting," the Bournemouth man added.

"Everyone was thinking do you want an easy group, but I think you just want an iconic game.

"Playing Brazil, like, when I was growing up, that was the international team.

"My memories of the World Cup in 2002 and of them are just unbelievable, so it'll be a cool game to be part of."