Scotland Squad Reveals: Back-Shaving Secrets and the Team’s Biggest Posers

John McGinn traveled to the United States with a European plug adapter. Lyndon Dykes trails Ryan Christie around like a loyal dog. Liam Kelly frequently shaves Grant Hanley’s back. These revelations, alongside many others, emerged during a media day in a Florida hotel ballroom, offering a glimpse into the personalities of the squad that has finally ended Scotland’s 28-year wait for a World Cup appearance. Perhaps, one might argue, we learned a little too much.

Head coach Steve Clarke brought the team to the sweltering, humid climate of Fort Lauderdale for a pre-tournament camp. The goal was to help the players acclimatize to the conditions they will encounter in their Group F matches against Haiti and Morocco in Boston, as well as their crucial clash with Brazil in Miami. On Tuesday, FIFA’s content day provided a break in their rigorous schedule, allowing players to pose for photographs and rehearse their goal celebrations against green screens. Whether the heat affected their judgment or they simply had nothing left to hide, the players were eager to expose their teammates’ biggest secrets, most annoying habits, and true opinions of one another.

The Weirdest Suitcase Items

BBC Scotland posed the big questions while the players switched kits and reviewed footage from their rain-cancelled golf outing on Monday. When asked about the strangest items in their luggage, the answers varied. Findlay Curtis’s massage gun was hardly unusual, while Kenny McLean’s initial confidence that "there wasn't anything too weird" quickly unraveled as he pondered the question.

Ryan Christie, looking to optimize his sleep tracking, packed an Oura ring and nasal strips. Fortunately, he is not sharing a room with anyone, not even Dykes. Liam Kelly, the likely third-choice goalkeeper, brought red-light sunglasses and admitted he "needs to bring something to the party" after being dubbed the squad’s official hype-man by several teammates.

Then there was captain McGinn, who apparently packed the same bag he took to Istanbul recently: European adaptors. "It was just a mistake!" he insisted. However, BBC sources confirm that the vice-captain has since purchased the correct appliances for the US.

Plane Seat Disasters

Choosing a flight companion requires careful consideration, especially for the long haul from Glasgow to Miami. Defender Grant Hanley, whom McGinn described as "a bear," is not Christie’s preferred seatmate because he "takes up too much room." Meanwhile, 19-year-old Curtis is described by the Aston Villa captain as "me times 100."

"His energy has been infectious; he is a brilliant addition to the squad," McGinn noted. "He’s a character, but I wouldn’t want to sit next to him."

Instead, McGinn chose to sit with Kelly, passing the time with games of The Traitors, Uno, and Wolf. This arrangement impressed late squad addition Tyler Fletcher. Curtis, who knows Fletcher from their youth days, confidently labeled him "a loser."

The younger players showed great respect for their elders, referring to veterans like Craig Gordon and Hanley as "experienced" because they dared not use the word "old." This cohort proved to be a source of comedy. Curtis identified Gannon-Doak as the worst person to sit next to, claiming, "He doesn’t stop talking." When asked who he sat with, Curtis replied, "Gannon-Doak," and plans to repeat the pairing for the flight to New York ahead of Saturday’s final friendly against Bolivia.

Posers and Netflix Debates

Is "McSauce" the team’s biggest poser? Christie and Dykes, whom McGinn said are inseparable "though it’s not Christie’s choice," are currently binge-watching the final two episodes of the Netflix series Legends. "No spoilers, please," Christie requested. Curtis joked he would be laughing "with my best mate."

As for Hanley, known as "Grizz" to back-shaver Kelly, he may not be greeting McLean with a simple "hi."

Source: BBC News Generated at: 2026-06-03 10:40:11 UTC