Scotland beat Haiti 1-0 to mark a winning return to the World Cup

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 14 Jun 2026 A scrappy finish by John McGinn allowed Scotland to mark their return to the World Cup after a 28-year absence with a nervy 1-0 win over outsiders Haiti. Aston Villa captain McGinn fired in with the aid of a deflection just before the half-hour mark at the Gillette Stadium just outside Boston, which was filled to its 64,000 capacity with a majority of Scottish fans. They have travelled to the United States in large numbers to follow Scotland’s first World Cup campaign since 1998 and were able to celebrate a rare victory at the tournament as they go top of Group C. It is Scotland’s first win at a World Cup since a 2-1 defeat of Sweden in Italy in 1990, and their first victory at any major tournament in 30 years, since Euro 96. Steve Clarke’s team are bidding to make history by reaching the knockout stages, something Scotland have never done at the World Cup. They had to hang on grimly at the end, but the victory puts them on course to get to the last 32, especially as t...

Scott McTominay scores his opening Napoli goal, netting with his first ever touch in the Coppa Italia

In the last two matches, Manchester United have scored just one goal. Against Crystal Palace and Twente, the team dominated, and just lacked somebody to put the ball in the back of the net.

Last season one player who found his knack for scoring was Scott McTominay, who scored a career best 10 goals during the campaign.

McTominay left on transfer deadline day to sign with Napoli, deciding to pursue a new challenge, with United content to recoup £25 million.

And while the £25 million is undoubtedly useful off the pitch, McTominay’s goal threat would be pretty handy on it.

Scott McTominay of SSC Napoli celebrates after scoring during the Coppa Italia match between SSC Napoli and Palermo FC at Stadio Diego Armando Mara...

Scott McTominay scores for Napoli

Scott McTominay was on the bench as Napoli took on Palermo in the Coppa Italia round of 32, in what proved to be a one-sided game.

McTominay was introduced in the 77th minute, as part of a triple substitution, coming on alongside Romelu Lukaku and Khvicha Kvaratshelia.

Napoli really did not need to use their top stars, when they made the change they were already leading 4-0 against a 10-man Palermo.

It took less than a minute for Scott McTominay to score to make it 5-0, rounding off a very happy night for his new club.

Romelu Lukaku latched onto a long pass, driving into the box, before cutting the ball back into the centre, for an onrushing McTominay to slot the ball into the bottom corner with his first touch.

It was an ideal way for McTominay to open his Napoli account, assisted by his former Manchester United teammate Lukaku.

McTominay off the mark in Italy

This was Scott McTominay’s first ever game in the Coppa Italia, and he can now say he has scored with his first ever touch in the competition.

He has two Serie A appearances to his name, one start and one substitute showing, and earned rave reviews from the Italian media after his performance at the weekend.

McTominay needs to reach 10 Serie A goals to match former Manchester United and Scotland star Denis Law’s tally, from his time in Torino.

Until recently this was the highest ever by a Scot in the division, with Lewis Ferguson recently overtaking him, up to 13.

McTominay will soon start chasing him down. This goal in the Coppa Italia won’t count towards that tally – but it does reinforce what he is capable of.

Manchester United could have done with a substitute capable of scoring with his first touch in either game over the past week.

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Scotland beat Haiti 1-0 to mark a winning return to the World Cup

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 14 Jun 2026 A scrappy finish by John McGinn allowed Scotland to mark their return to the World Cup after a 28-year absence with a nervy 1-0 win over outsiders Haiti. Aston Villa captain McGinn fired in with the aid of a deflection just before the half-hour mark at the Gillette Stadium just outside Boston, which was filled to its 64,000 capacity with a majority of Scottish fans. They have travelled to the United States in large numbers to follow Scotland’s first World Cup campaign since 1998 and were able to celebrate a rare victory at the tournament as they go top of Group C. It is Scotland’s first win at a World Cup since a 2-1 defeat of Sweden in Italy in 1990, and their first victory at any major tournament in 30 years, since Euro 96. Steve Clarke’s team are bidding to make history by reaching the knockout stages, something Scotland have never done at the World Cup. They had to hang on grimly at the end, but the victory puts them on course to get to the last 32, especially as t...
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Bank of Scotland unveils limited edition £20 banknote featuring Scott McTominay

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The hum of the Glasgow crowd had barely faded when the designers at the Bank of Scotland went to work. It was November 2025. Hampden Park had just witnessed history. With a thunderous strike in the dying minutes against Denmark, Scott McTominay had done the unthinkable—he had secured Scotland's spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. In the weeks that followed, the bank decided that a standard commemorative coin simply wouldn't do for a moment of this magnitude. They wanted something that captured the raw energy of Scottish football. They decided to print money. But it couldn't be just any money; it had to be impossibly rare. Only 100 notes would ever leave the printing presses. On May 25, 2026, the wraps were pulled off the design. The front of the crisp polymer £20 note looks familiar, bearing the traditional portrait of Sir Walter Scott. But flip it over, and the note transforms into a piece of modern Scottish folklore. Towering over the iconic Glenfinnan Viaduct is a vivid ill...
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