The 20-year-old who stole the show on Scotland's World Cup return

Winger Ben Gannon-Doak emerged as Scotland's most dynamic performer as they secured a narrow victory over Haiti, marking their first World Cup triumph in 36 years.

Published 5 hours ago

When the clock hit 54 minutes, Ben Gannon-Doak let out a yell, clenched his fist, and pumped the air after keeping the ball in play for a Scotland goal-kick.

The winger celebrated as if he had netted the decisive goal at the World Cup. For all intents and purposes, this was Scotland's final.

That genuine, fiery display of emotion energized the Tartan Army scattered throughout the Boston Stadium stands, who were perhaps—and understandably—feeling uneasy about what was transpiring in their opening tournament match against Haiti.

He understood it, though. The "wee man" got it. He grasped what it signified to the many traveling Scots in Massachusetts. He embodied them.

Scott McTominay had shaken off a stomach bug to start in Scotland's first men's World Cup match in 28 years. John McGinn—who would go on to score the winner—was also selected from the beginning. Lawrence Shankland, the prolific striker, led the attack.

Yet the spotlight was stolen by a 20-year-old who wasn't even born when Scotland last graced the sport's biggest stage.

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Two years ago, Gannon-Doak was a somewhat unexpected addition to Steve Clarke's squad for Euro 2024.

The teenager never made the trip to Germany, however, as he was forced to withdraw due to injury. That has largely been his narrative until now.

"The Euros probably came a bit too soon, but I don't think I would have played if I had been there," he told Sky Sports, external recently.

"I believe if I had gone and played, I wouldn't have shown the best version of myself that I know I could have."

There needn't be any such concerns here.

Dynamic and thrilling on the international stage, the Bournemouth wide player demonstrated to the world why so many Scotland fans were frustrated when he limped off against Denmark—after setting up McTominay's overhead kick—in their final qualifier back in November.

That injury—his third significant one in as many years—left his hamstring "hanging on by a thread".

Such spells on the sidelines have kept the global spotlight at a distance, but on his major finals debut, he was firmly in the glare.

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'I pray before games & read the bible on my own'

'I pray before games & read the Bible on my own'

Being in the spotlight is nothing new for Gannon-Doak.

At 16, he departed Celtic for the allure of the Premier League with Liverpool.

It was far from a smooth transition south, though, with the boy from North Ayrshire discovering that football can be a lonely experience when injured and far from home.

Then, he rediscovered God.

Raised as a Catholic, Gannon-Doak admits he "drifted away from it" for a time, before "hearing God call me, with an urge to return to it".

"I just felt God calling me," the 20-year-old revealed in a film for BBC Scotland's A View from the Terrace earlier this year.

"I realized I started to feel a bit better and stronger and began coping better with things, and I just thought, 'Oh, that's not a coincidence'. I think that's how it happened for me."

With God on his side, Gannon-Doak—who received a Bible from his grandmother—feels "strong and grounded", but it's something he keeps private.

"I'm praying before games, I read the Bible on my own—I won't really do that in the dressing room because there are many different faiths in football.

"It's also just better to do it privately so you can really concentrate. A dressing room can be quite chaotic at times, but it's at the core of everything, including my football."

'He's what you want a Scotland player to be'

Though he's "not praying for hat-tricks", many might have been asking the heavens for a favor or two as Scotland aimed for their first World Cup win in 36 years.

It was clear from the early stages against Haiti that if anything was going to happen, Gannon-Doak would be at the center of it.

Keeping things straightforward, when he received the ball down the right flank, he looked to attack. A sight that delights Scotland supporters, given how rare it has been in recent years.

When McTominay struck the post, it came from another dazzling Gannon-Doak run. He set up Che Adams shortly after for a shot that was parried directly into the path of McGinn, who was celebrating moments later as Scotland scored their first World Cup goal since 1998.

For 83 minutes, Gannon-Doak was the youngest player to appear at a World Cup for Scotland. That was until his 19-year-old friend Findlay Curtis came on.

The pair play with a carefree attitude. They don't carry the weight of years of failed qualifications or even the recent disappointments at the Euros. And it shows.

Gannon-Doak left the field with 15 minutes remaining against the Haitians. A collective intake of breath was heard.

"He had a fantastic game tonight," former Scotland winger Pat Nevin said on BBC Sportsound.

"He's what you want a Scotland player to be," added ex-captain Scott Brown on BBC One.

Like few others, Gannon-Doak gets the fans going. Believing. Hoping.

Like the rest of his generation, we've grown up believing 'it's the hope that kills you', but with this 20-year-old driving the team, it's hard not to.