Get out the group - duo on Scots' World Cup hopes

Scott McTominay has his sights set firmly on being part of the first Scotland team to progress beyond the group stage at a World Cup, saying it would be the highlight of his career.

With the tournament 50 days away, McTominay and his Napoli colleague Billy Gilmour have been talking to BBC Scotland about their ambitions as Scotland return to the biggest stage for the first time in 28 years.

The midfield duo provide an exclusive insight into their lives in Italy, which can be seen in 'Serie A Scots: Return to Naples' across the BBC on 1 May.

Scotland open their campaign in Boston against Haiti on 13 June, then meet Morocco and Brazil in Group C.

"It's going to be a special moment," said Gilmour, who was born a little 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."

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With the competition expanded to 48 nations, the top two from each group progress, along with the eight best third-placed nations.

"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 now taken Scotland to three of the past four major finals, following back-to-back European Championship qualifications.

The 62-year-old, who will be out of contract after the World Cup, is the nation's longest-serving head coach, with 76 matches under his belt since 2019.

"He has been brilliant," enthused 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 cultivates a dour image, rarely getting too high or low, and has remained loyal to a core group, building experience and forging a strong bond.

"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."