FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 13: Martin Experience #8 of Haiti controls the ball against Lawrence Shankland #20 of Scotland during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group C match between Haiti and Scotland at Boston Stadium on June 13, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images)
Lawrence Shankland made his World Cup debut with 82 minutes of nothingness against Haiti in Boston.
Scotland scrambled a 1-0 win thanks to a first half own goal with the newest Ibrox messiah largely posted missing.
A transfer to Ibrox plus three goals in two friendlies made it impossible for Steve Clarke to leave Shankland out of his Starting XI.
The plan was for Scotland to blitz the group outsiders to get off to a comfortable winning start. Shankland and Che Adams scoring for fun.
The inclusion of Shankland meant that Ryan Christie dropped out with Scotland losing their traditional one man advantage in midfield.
Rated 84th in the FIFA rankings Haiti dealt comfortably with Shankland and Adams in attack.
Ben Gannon-Doak on the right wing was a constant threat to the Haiti defence but there was next to nothing for him to target in the penalty box.
— AG (@AGCeltic__) June 14, 2026
Following a drinks break Adams and Gannon-Doak created a chance. The loose ball fell to John McGinn whose shot was deflected into the net.
Haiti dominated the second half but had little to offer beyond being strong and athletic.
Angus Gunn got through the match barely having to make a save.
With Grant Handley and Jack Hendry the central defensive pairing Morocco and Brazil will both be looking to get in among the goals.
Adams was substituted in the 75th minute with Lyndon Dykes doing little to justify his inclusion.
SHANKLAND FINALLY SUBSTITUTED
Eight minutes later Shankland came off looking as if he had just tried the sport for the first time.
After a season of being the main man for Hearts he was badly out of his comfort zone as Scotland held on for three points.
Next up for Clarke’s side is Morocco on Friday where they can switch back to their normal defensive shape.
With Shankland on the bench as Scotland revert to a 4-5-1 line up to salvage a point.
Ahead of the Scotland match Morocco were well worth their point against Brazil.
The North African’s looked sharper and better prepared than Brazil.
A point for Scotland against Morocco is almost certain to take them into the last 32. A win should do that for Morocco.
Sick to my back teeth with supposed Scotland fans blasting anything the squad or the manager does.
I don’t give a monkeys if they were lucky or not.
There at a WC fir the first time in yonks, the 3rd tourney the manager has taken them too.
Something better managers have never managed before with better squad depth.
I am Scottish and proud to see them there and will support them however they play.
Anyone with anything negative to say it can only be personal as I’m not believing for one second that if your not a proud Scot your not proud of what they are doing.
Maybe some need to remember that there are in fact many many many Scottish people who support Celtic and love both their club and their nation.
A win is a win and congratulations for that.
However, having watched Morocco – Brazil, Scotland is a couple of levels below that standard, and is almost certainly going home after the 3rd game.
I am looking forward to watching when the real football starts.
B4L many people couldn’t give a toss about Scotland so each to their own.
Look how our club has been treated by just about the full country you’re so proud of for winning the league again.
If we’re being honest they were very lucky to qualify in the first place.
The only thing I care about is that ALL
the celtic players come back fit and raring to go for next season.
If your Scottish u give a toss, it’s as simple as that, and as fellow Celtic fans maybe there should be a tad of respect given to the fact that there are Scotland supporting Celtic fans who don’t really want to see their national team trashed just for the sake of it?
After all, we are a club for all, so why can’t we just be happy for all?
What goes on at the spl or anywhere else will have zero impact to any Scots born Celtic fan watching this tournament, we just want out team to do as well as they can.
You’re talking bollocks pal and have no right to assume what others should or will feel or do.
The SFA, the (now) SPFL, the LRA, Police Scotland, the ‘Justice’ people, politicians and the media are all dominated by huns and masons and I’m “sick to the back teeth” of tolerating them and their antics.
I chose to leave Scotland and that was a big part of it. So dry yer eyes, you’ve got ONE opinion and few seem to share it, just as I would expect.
Scotland are the worst in the group and likely home soon and I’m just fine with that and I’m absolutely entitled to feel that way.
I won’t try to tell you what you should do, except perhaps ONE! 🙂
Here here .. ??
Shankland is as slow as a bank holiday weekend in the cells and his obvious lack of pace is never more exposed than at international level. He scored goals for Hearts because they played a style suited to creating a lot of chances for him. Sevco will likely do the same next season, particularly if Laughing Boy McInnes is in the home dugout.
Boy4life @ 10.04am…
I’m like ‘aye if Scotland win fine’ have a dram (any excuse and all that) but if they lose I certainly won’t be losing any sleep over it unlike Celtic or Clachnacuddin FC…
It’s good to see lots of Scottish independence flags on show as well to piss off the likes of Brian ‘Butchers Apron’ Wilson and his ilk especially Sevco loyalists…
Hope the fans have a good time as well and nice to see a few Celtic tops among The Tartan Army !
On Steve Clark … he’s just a yes man for the free mason establishment… why pick a therangers player who could not get into a therangers team last season , an ex therangers players who can’t get into the Everton team , a new therangers players who is absolute dogshit … non of them were chosen on merit … but to appease the Masonic establishment… Morocco and Brasil will take at least 4 off them each .. bottom of the group is the best bet .