What we’re watching - Scotland in focus, memories and more
Five2Follow - today’s developing stories
23 June 2026; Joshua Connaughton of St Brigid’s Boys National School, Killester scores his side’s first goal during the FAI U13 Schools Cup final match between St Brigid’s Boys National School, Killester and St Kevin’s, Kilnamanagh at Tolka Park in Dublin. Photo by Paul Phelan/Sportsfile
England moaning is the final straw, we had one hand on the ESTA in Prague and we blew it
Cathal Dervan, Editor
It’s time to admit it - FOMOATWC has finally taken over and the hurt of Prague is now a real thing as we watch from afar as the bagpipes flaunt with the heat in Miami and the Norwegians play Rock The Boat in Times Square.
Yes folks, disappointment is now turning to anger, upset is now turning to hurt. England’s draw with Ghana in the Celtic World Cup capital of Boston on Tuesday night proved to be the final straw.
I am a World Cupaholic. And I am suffering from FOMOATWC - with apologies to the kids who love an old abbreviation or two on their social media timelines.
FOMOATWC is a poor man’s attempt at turning FOMO into a thing as the Green Army looks on from afar and the Tartan Army and Norway’s Vikings make a good fist at taking our ‘Best Fans In the World’ wall plate away from us.
The kilts are the must have fashion item on South Beach in Miami today with bagpipes an optional extra in football’s high fashion stakes. Knowing the words to Auld Lang Syne is an advantage.
Rowing is the thing if you are a Viking from Norway, crowd rowing with thousands of fellow fans and even the World Cup squad itself out on the pitch for post match celebrations.
What have we got? The plastic Parrots were deflated in Czechia and the Coffee for Troy advert rendered redundant on a hapless night in Prague. So we’ve got FOMOATWC - Fear Of Missing Out At The World Cup.
I don’t see my new catchphrase taking off by the way. Even this veteran of the plastic shamrocks and 1990 knows that FOMOATWC is far too long to make a hashtag and go viral.
But it is a thing for me and I am sure it might be a thing for you. I am enjoying the World Cup - how could you not with Messi defying time itself, France powering forward at every opportunity and Pico flying the flag for us with his Cape Verde heroes?
What I am not enjoying is missing the World Cup experience as an Ireland fan, as someone who follows in the John Mullane tradition when it comes to loving my county and my country.
Last weekend, Meath exited the All-Ireland football championship after the game of one half down in Castlebar, a weak surrender of a summer full of dreams.
On Tuesday, we watched from afar as Ghana did what every top African side has done at this World Cup and shut England down at source, defended in numbers and stifled the creative threats of Gordon, Anderson, Kane and then Saka.
Then we had to listen as England fans and pundits decided to start moaning about the merits, or lack of, of a point against Ghana when they all expected a second win and confirmation that they would top their group en route to the second phase.
Imagine the luxury of being able to moan about a scoreless draw with Ghana. Imagine the joy of celebrating the goalscoring efforts of Haaland, Messi, Cunha and even Ronaldo against Uzbekistan.
We were 2-0 up in Prague. We were ahead in the penalty shoot-out. And we lost. We exited the World Cup at the first play-off hurdle.
FIVE2FOLLOW
Shackles off for the Scots
Disgusting citation for Degs
The debate is over
Drogheda plot for window opening
Trump Trophy presentation
And we celebrated that defeat. We spoke of the brave effort. We spoke of the commitment of the players and the dedication of the fans who moved heaven and earth to get to Czechia and did their country proud in the stands. We spoke of a reconnection between the nation and our team.
Yet this morning, I feel a World Cup emptiness. I am suffering from a real World Cup jealousy. I am hurting and it isn’t going to get any easier between now and July 19th when Donald Trump presents the most famous trophy in world football, probably to a few Frenchmen judging by the tournament to date.
It hurts and it stinks. We had one hand on the Esta. And we blew it. Thank God for Pico and Cape Verde!
No noise, just the news & views that matters. The Sports Hacks is a reader supported publication - if you like what you read, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber and sharing our work.
The last time Scotland played Brazil at the World Cup, Craig Brown ordered kilts for his players. Ahead of tonight’s match in Miami, his brother and legendary commentator Jock joins Gerry Strain and Cathal Dervan for a good old fashioned World Cup chinwag as they discuss everything from John McGinn to the Tartan Army’s new love for baseball.
or listen to the full episode on our Spotify channel
Check our socials later (X here or insta here) to get the latest from the World Cup giraffes!
The key stories developing today
History awaits Scotland in Miami tonight but manager Steve Clarke and captain Andy Robertson are simply refusing to look at the permutations table.
Even a defeat could, realistically, send the Scots through to the second phase of the World Cup finals for the first time and at the ninth time of asking.
The opening night win against Haiti may be enough to extend the Tartan Army’s American party for at least another week, even if Scotland follow the loss to Morocco with another defeat but end up as one of the best placed third teams as 64 teams becomes 32.
It’s a mouth watering prospect as Scotland prepare to take on a Brazilian side with Neymar available to Carlo Ancelotti for the first time this tournament.
But The Guardian reports that neither Clarke or Robertson would entertain any debate about the permutations when they held their pre-match press conference in Miami yesterday.
“I couldn’t care less” said Robertson when asked about the umpteen permutations attached to that third-place scenario. “After the game that might change, I can’t deny that.
“But we are in control of our own destiny at the moment, we still have a game to play. What we do know is if we get a [positive] result against Brazil, we will be 100% through.”
Clarke is more concerned about containing a Brazilian side oozing talent. He said: “The characteristics of a Brazil team is that they have to attack.
“We know what we have to do. Not overcommit going forward, don’t leave yourself open to a counterattack. And when we have the ball, create chances.”
New Rangers manager Derek McInnes could start the season in the stands after he was charged for remarks made after Celtic won a late penalty at Motherwell in May before wrestling the title from Hearts.
McInnes reacted to the controversial decision to award a last gasp penalty in the penultimate game of the season - Celtic won the game 2-1 then defeated Hearts at Parkhead to snatch the title.
The Hearts boss McInnes, speaking to Sky Sports after a win against Falkirk at Tynecastle, said: “When you heard Celtic got a 96th minute penalty that was going to VAR and they were checking it, you just assume what’s happened is they get the penalty.
“Having seen it again, it’s disgusting. It is. I don’t think it’s a penalty kick. But we’re up against it. We’re up against everybody.”
McInnes has now been cited for the remark with the BBC reporting he faces a sanction before the new season kicks-off at the end of July.
The World Cup’s all-time leading goalscorer Lionel Messi is the greatest of all time according to former Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given and striker Callum Robinson.
A report in the Irish Mirror says that Given and Robinson branded Messi as the GOAT in social media posts after Argentina’s win over Austria on Monday.
The report says that former Boys in Green goalkeeper Shay Given led the way as he posted: ‘Messi is the GOAT’ while Cardiff City striker Robinson wrote: ‘Please people just stop the debate now!! There’s only 1 goat.’
Shelbourne striker Sean Boyd could be on his way to Drogheda United when the transfer window in the League of Ireland opens next week.
The Irish Sun’s has reported that Drogheda manager Kevin Doherty will make Boyd his top transfer priority as he bids to drag United out of the bottom half of the Premier Division table.
Boyd has struggled for first team football all season and was dismissed late on in Monday’s 3-1 defeat to Bohs at Tolka Park after he had been introduced as a half-time substitute.
