Gilmour Opens Up About Devastation After World Cup Hopes End Due to Injury

Billy Gilmour has revealed the emotional difficulty he faces after being forced to withdraw from Scotland’s World Cup squad due to a knee injury. The 24-year-old Napoli midfielder described the situation as "a tough one to get my head around" following the heartbreaking development.

The setback occurred during Saturday’s 4-1 warm-up victory over Curacao at Hampden Park. Gilmour suffered the knee issue and was substituted shortly before the half-time whistle. Although he managed to walk off the field independently, subsequent medical scans confirmed he would miss the tournament. Images circulated showing the midfielder receiving consolation from captain Andy Robertson and other teammates in the team hotel lobby, shortly before he departed on crutches with his knee secured in a brace.

Manchester United’s 19-year-old Tyler Fletcher has been called up to replace Gilmour in the squad.

In his first public comments since the injury, the former Rangers, Chelsea, and Brighton & Hove Albion player took to Instagram to express his dismay. "I haven't got the words to describe how I'm feeling right now," Gilmour wrote. "Being so close to a childhood dream of mine, to play in a World Cup, and now it has been taken away from me with an injury. It's been a tough one to get my head around."

He continued by thanking his fans: "Your support and kind messages over the last few days mean the world to me and haven't gone unnoticed, so thank you so much." Gilmour concluded his message with a pledge of future return and support for his country: "I'll see you all back doing what I love again soon, but until then, let's get behind the team and cheer them on. Come on Scotland!"

Scotland, who have qualified for their first World Cup finals since 1998, departed Glasgow for the United States on Sunday. The team is scheduled to play their final warm-up friendly against Bolivia on Saturday in New Jersey before beginning their Group C campaign against Haiti on Sunday, 14 June. They will subsequently face Morocco and Brazil.

Source: BBC News Generated at: 2026-06-02 08:54:40 UTC