How Serie A's Scottish surge is fuelling their World Cup qualification hopes

Scotland face a mammoth double-header this weekend that will decide their fate ahead of next summer's World Cup finals. 

Steve Clarke's men currently sit in second place in Group C, level on points with leaders Denmark.

The task? Win away in Greece and then get one over the Danes at Hampden Park and the Scots could be celebrating their first World Cup qualification since 1998. 

It would mark a major milestone for Scotland and a squad that has been heavily influenced by those currently playing their football in Serie A.

Five of the current party play their football in Italy's top flight, and it's their performances in that league that are at the forefront of the national team's recent success. 

 

Scot's on top 

Much has already been written and talked about the role and resurgence of the leader of that quintet, but you can't mention the Scottish national team and not wax lyrical about Scott McTominay. 

The midfielder's move to Napoli in 2024 was seen as a bit of a left-field decision for both player and club, despite him being one of Manchester United's best players during a difficult time for the club. Yet no-one could have predicted what an impact he would make in Naples. 

In his first season at the club, he was the star performer and the league's Player of the Year as Napoli won the Serie A title, chipping in with 12 goals as the city found a new hero to adore. 

• Read next I Why now is the best time for British players to experience life in Serie A and beyond

"I always had him as the best one or two players at Manchester United," former Scotland star Gary McAllister exclusivly tells DAZN News, thanks to Stake, providing Football betting tips

"So I was really surprised if I let him go. It was a strange one. But I don't think anybody was anticipating what he would go and do over there. He's been outstanding.

"Obviously, the fans love him. It's a very emotional city. When those fans get behind you, it makes you, I would imagine it makes you 10 feet tall. And he's just completely bought into it.

"With the national team as well, he's become a real leader." 

Indeed, his displays for the national team had already impressed even before the move to Italy, becoming the fulcrum of Clarke's side in qualifying for Euro 2024 and since joining Napoli, that influence has only grown further. 
Timothy Rogers/Getty Images

Following his lead 

However, he's not the only Scot who has used the Italian league to both force their way into the national set-up and establish themselves as a key squad member, because that's exactly what McTominay's Napoli teammate Billy Gilmour has done too. 

The technically gifted midfielder has shown from an early age what a clever footballer he is, and was thrust into the Scotland team as soon as he made the Chelsea first team.

Yet, he struggled for regular game time with the Blues and although he settled at Brighton, it's been the move to Italy that has finally unearthed Gilmour's full potential for club and country. 

"Gilmore's a special player for me," McAllister adds. 

"He's a fantastic footballer. I think maybe going to Serie A, where maybe it's a little bit slower, is better for him. The build-up's a little bit slower; he can maybe add an extra pass.

"And I think that probably suits Billy because he's a baller."

Gilmour's run at Napoli has certainly been beneficial for Scotland as has the role that Lewis Ferguson has had at another Italian club, Bologna. The midfielder took the plunge and moved to the Rossoblù in 2022 and has been a key part of the club's recent rise in Italian football.

After being named Bologna skipper in 2023, he's led a team to their highest-ever position in the top flight, qualified for the Champions League and last year, captained them to a first cup win in 51 years as they beat Milan in the Coppa Italia. 

That impact he's made in Bologna has now filtered through to the national team too, winning more caps in 2025 than in any other year and scoring his first goal for his country in the win over Greece last month. 



Also among the goals in October was Che Adams, who's also found a home in Serie A with Torino, and has now pressed his claims to be Scotland's number one striker after a successful first season in Turin.

Josh Doig completes the current line-up of Serie A Scots after steady progress in Italy with Verona and now Sassuolo, while Udinese's Lenon Miller is also another name whose Serie A move has helped Scotland's cause. 

So, if Scotland do manage to pull off a glorious history-making night at Hampden on Tuesday night and book their place in North America next summer, there's no question that their stars of Serie A will have had a big part to play in the story. 

 

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