Hearts and Hibs stars depart for World Cup as John McGinn makes 'bittersweet' admission
Scotland are off to America with Hearts and Hibs stars as part of the World Cup squad.
Hearts and Hibs stars were amongst those on the Scotland National Team’s flight to America as the nation’s World Cup journey begins.
Craig Gordon was on the plane with the Hearts shot-stopper forming part of the goalkeeping core alongside Tynecastle teammate Liam McFarlane. The Gorgie academy product is not part of head coach Steve Clarke’s official playing group but performances on loan at Alloa Athletic has earned him the chance to build experience as a training keeper. Hibs defender Grant Hanley meanwhile is part of the defensive group Clarke has selected.
Fans gathered on the tarmac at Glasgow Airport, with the players given a traditional send-off to football’s biggest tournament, bagpipers playing as the group made their way onto the aircraft. Scotland defeated 10-man Curacao 4-1 in their send-off friendly at Hampden Park but it came at a cost through injury to key midfielder Billy Gilmour. Manchester United’s Tyler Fletcher - son of national team hero Darren - takes his place ahead of a final friendly match with Bolivia on June 6th. He was handed his international debut during the second half of Saturday’s victory after the Napoli playmaker suffered a knee injury in the opening 45 minutes against Dick Advocaat’s side.
What Scotland star has suffered injury ahead of the World Cup
Before flying out from to Scotland’s Florida training camp on Sunday afternoon, Clarke said: “Everybody is devastated for Billy. It is heartbreaking when it happens at any time during the campaign but for it to happen in the send-off game is particularly tough. For myself, it was a really difficult night, I haven’t slept much, I have to be honest.”
John McGinn revealed Gilmour’s bad luck had left a “bittersweet” taste. The midfielder said: “We are excited. Obviously our first thoughts this morning are with Billy. He is a huge part of the group, a big part of the country moving forward. We are devastated for him, the same way we would be for any of us who missed out so late. So we are thinking of him. It’s a little bit of a bittersweet taste in our mouth but we have to now focus, enjoy it and do ourselves proud.”
The Aston Villa captain believes the Scotland squad has another top recruit in Fletcher. He said: “I was very impressed, obviously it is in very difficult circumstances for him but it just shows you that football changes very quickly. I played with his dad Darren, so it is an amazing day for his family and he has shown that he is capable of competing with us.”
Steve Clarke on Scotland at the World Cup
After the final warm-up against Bolivia in New Jersey on Saturday, the Scots get ready for their group games against Haiti, Morocco and Brazil. It will be Scotland’s first appearance at a World Cup finals since 1998 and after guiding his side to successive European Championships, Clarke is determined to qualify for the knockout stages on the “biggest stage in the world” for the first time.
He said: “The target is always the same. This will be the third tournament we’ve been at, we want to be the first Scottish team to get to the knockout stages of the tournament, that’s our expectation and that’s what we aim to do. “I think there is a hunger and desire to do something that no Scotland team has ever done before.”