Scotland
Kenny Miller predicts his Scotland XI for their World Cup opener against Haiti
The ex-striker selects Craig Gordon, Ben Gannon-Doak and John McGinn in his lineup
Miller also says picks out Gannon-Doak and Scott McTominay as players to watch this summer

Kenny Miller speaks exclusively to Ladbrokes ahead of Scotland's World Cup opener against Haiti, predicting his XI for the game and picking out the two Tartan Army players he's most looking forward to watching this summer.
I think there’s still a couple of positions up for grabs in Steve Clarke’s first eleven against Haiti. I would say the formation will be that 4-4-2 – I don’t think it’s the ideal system for us, but based on the prep games, it’d be crazy if he didn’t go with that formation now. So he’s going to have to fit his players into that system.
The goalkeeper position is still up for debate for me. I think all three are really solid choices, but for Steve Clarke, it’ll probably come down to Angus [Gunn] and Craig [Gordon].
Angus has had the jersey for a while now, but Craig has been around the national team for so long… I think Steve might opt for Craig Gordon just because of that experience, the saves he’s made and the goalkeeper he’s shown he can be. I think he’ll get the nod in goal.
Aaron Hickey will play at right-back. And then I’d personally go with Jack Hendry and Scott McKenna as your centre-backs. Left-back will be Andy Robertson.
I think the shape is going to change as the tournament goes on, and the midfield is where it gets tough, but for Haiti, I would expect four across the middle.
I thought they were great against Bolivia the other night, but John McGinn is coming straight back into that team. There’s just no getting away from it. So how do you get him in there while keeping the balance and getting the best out of everyone?
It might mean McGinn is playing off the left, if you were putting this team on a tactics board. Then maybe Ryan Christie plays inside with Scott McTominay. And then for me, Ben Gannon-Doak has to play, so he’s on the right.
And then I’d stick with the two who started against Bolivia on Saturday [Che Adams and Lawrence Shankland]. That’s not a disservice to the other players in the squad, but I just thought they played really, really well together.
Those two can cause Haiti some real problems, and then you’ve still got some great options to come off the bench if you need them.
GK: Craig Gordon
RB: Aaron Hickey
CB: Jack Hendry
CB: Scott McKenna
LB: Andy Robertson
RM: Ben Gannon-Doak
CM: Ryan Christie
CM: Scott McTominay
LM: John McGinn
ST: Che Adams
ST: Lawrence Shankland
There’s a couple of players I’m particularly excited about seeing for Scotland at this World Cup. The first one is obvious, because it’s our talisman, Scott McTominay. You know, when you think about his development, and how he started off playing in a back three for Scotland – and doing a very good job, by the way.
I was a big advocate of him playing there at the time, because he was so good at getting the game started at a time where we needed to keep the ball more. But he eventually went into midfield and became this prolific goalscorer who has just gone from strength to strength.
Honestly, I cannot overstate how big a player he is, and how good a footballer he’s turned out to be. And maybe I’m doing him a disservice, because I’ve only really seen this development since he started playing a bit more at Man United, and then the move to Napoli was just incredible for him, and he’s found this other level.
It’s an incredible journey he’s been on, and he’s our guy. You don’t get into the top 20 of the Ballon d’Or if you’re a bad player, or if you don’t have a lot of assets to your game. So of course, Scott McTominay is going to be key for us this summer.
But then if there’s another player in that squad who I think we need to keep fit and ready, it’s Ben Gannon-Doak.
He brings this incredible speed, directness, and threat. You know, he can just eliminate players and turn defence into attack in a heartbeat, with how he carries the ball.
That kind of thing relieves so much pressure on the team, and we’ve not had someone like that for a long, long time. He scares defenders; he gets them on the back foot and puts us in great positions.
He’s a big, big player and we really missed him when he got injured for the national team a while ago.
It’s important we use him right and manage his minutes to make sure he’s ready. I have no doubt he’ll start against Haiti, but he can also make an impact from the bench.
He’s someone I’m really, really excited to see in the next few weeks. You know, he’s still a young man. I don’t even know if he’s made 50 first-team appearances yet, but he’s a player we really need in this squad, because he brings something that no one else can bring.
Check out our in-depth Scotland World Cup preview and our deep dive on Group C, as well as the Tartan Army's potential opponents in the knockout stages.
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