Scott McTominay has declared that leading Scotland past the group stage at the upcoming World Cup would represent the pinnacle of his career.
With the tournament now just 50 days away, McTominay and his international teammate Billy Gilmour have shared their aspirations as Scotland prepares to return to football's grandest stage for the first time in nearly three decades.
Scotland will kick off their campaign in Boston against Haiti on June 13, before facing Morocco and Brazil in a challenging Group C.
"It's going to be a special moment," said Gilmour, who was born after Scotland's last World Cup appearance. "For all of us, it's the first time. There's a bit of the unknown, but we go there wanting to do well. The aim is to win the first game and then take it step by step. We want to go there with confidence and show how good this Scotland team is."
With the competition expanded to 48 nations, the pathway has widened: the top two teams from each group will advance, along with the eight best third-placed finishers.
"We want to get out of the group and take it from there," stated McTominay, 29. "We have to change the mentality that we might not be a top-10 or top-15 nation. We need to believe we can play against anybody and do really well. That's the key message: prepare well and make sure we come out of the group at all costs. I feel we are more than capable. We all strive to be one of the most successful Scottish teams in history."
McTominay emphasized the significance of achieving this feat with a core group of players who have grown together.
"To do it with a group of guys you've been around—like John [McGinn] and Andy [Robertson] have been there for a decade, and me and Billy for six or seven years—to accomplish it all together after so much time on the pitch would probably be the highlight of your career."
The duo also paid tribute to manager Steve Clarke, who has now guided Scotland to three of the last four major tournaments, including consecutive European Championship qualifications. Clarke, the nation's longest-serving head coach with 76 matches since 2019, will see his contract conclude after the World Cup.
"He has been brilliant," Gilmour said. "He will go down as the greatest Scottish manager ever. There have been some tough times, but as a group, we've come together with the manager, navigated those difficult moments, and now we're starting to see the rewards."
The midfielders offered a glimpse into their lives playing club football in Italy, details that will feature in the upcoming BBC documentary 'Serie A Scots: Return to Naples,' airing on May 1.