'I love all the food here' - McTominay
Scott McTominay is determined to be part of the first Scotland team to advance beyond the group stage at a World Cup, describing it as the pinnacle of his career ambitions.
With the tournament just 50 days away, McTominay and his Napoli teammate Billy Gilmour spoke to BBC Scotland about their goals as Scotland prepares to return to the World Cup for the first time in 28 years.
The midfielders offer an exclusive look into their lives in Italy, featured in 'Serie A Scots: Return to Naples' airing across the BBC on 1 May.
Scotland will begin their World Cup journey in Boston against Haiti on 13 June, followed by matches against Morocco and Brazil in Group C.
"It's going to be a special moment," said Gilmour, who was born just under three years after Scotland's last World Cup appearance.
"For all of us, the first time. A little bit of the unknown. But we go there and want to do well.
"The aim is the first game, to win. And then we take it step by step from there. We want to go there with confidence and show how good a team Scotland is."
With the World Cup expanded to 48 teams, the top two from each group advance, along with the eight best third-placed teams.
"We want to get out of the group and take it from there," said McTominay, 29.
"We have to change the mentality of the fact that we might not be top 10, 15, whatever. We need to change that mentality that we can play against anybody and do really well.
"That's the key message going into the World Cup, prepare yourself well and make sure we come out of the group at all costs and I feel like we are more than capable of doing that. We all strive towards being one of the most successful Scottish teams in history.
"To do it with a group of guys that you have been around – like John [McGinn] and Andy [Robertson] have been there for 10 years – obviously me and Billy have been six or seven years, so for us to do it all together and we have had a lot of time on the pitch together would be probably the highlight of your career."
'The greatest Scottish manager ever'
Steve Clarke has led Scotland to three of the past four major tournament finals, achieving consecutive European Championship qualifications.
The 62-year-old, whose contract expires after the World Cup, is Scotland's longest-serving head coach, having managed 76 matches since 2019.
"He has been brilliant," praised Gilmour. "He will go down as the greatest Scottish manager ever.
"There's been some tough times and, as a group, we have come together with the manager and got ourselves out of those difficult moments and now we are starting to see the stadium packed and chanting and getting behind us."
Clarke is known for his steady demeanor, rarely showing extreme emotions, and has maintained loyalty to a core group of players, fostering experience and unity.
"We love him," said McTominay. "First and foremost, he is a great man who gives the players licence to express themselves off the pitch and on the pitch as well.
"How together we are is extremely important going into a major tournament.
"We know our goals. To come out of the group has to be the only thing on our minds."
