Scotland may have secured a comfortable victory over Bolivia, but Graeme Souness believes the performance exposed worrying signs ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The former Scotland captain did not hold back after the match, delivering a ruthless assessment of Steve Clarke’s side despite the positive result on paper. According to Souness, some players looked far too relaxed, while others failed to show the sharpness and hunger needed to compete against football’s elite nations.
“Don’t accept the invite if your heart isn’t in it,” Souness said angrily after the game. “You represent your country with pride or you step aside for somebody who truly wants it.”
The Liverpool legend warned that Scotland’s performance would have been punished heavily against stronger opposition.
“Play this kind of football against Spain or Germany and the scoreline will definitely be opposite,” he added. “You cannot switch off at a World Cup. Bigger teams don’t forgive mistakes.”
Souness appeared particularly disappointed with the overall intensity of the squad, insisting that some players became too comfortable simply because Scotland were facing a weaker side.
“You don’t need to be juggling around just because you are winning against a poor team,” he said. “The fans need to feel the hunger in you. They need to see players fighting for every ball and playing like the shirt matters.”
The harshest comments were reserved for Scotland captain John McGinn, whose fitness and sharpness became a major talking point during the game.
“I was honestly sad seeing the kind of shape John McGinn is in,” Souness admitted. “He looks too heavy, not sharp at all. This is the World Cup we are talking about, not preseason football.”
The comments instantly sparked debate among supporters online, with some fans defending McGinn’s contribution and leadership, while others admitted the midfielder looked far from his best physically.
Souness also turned his attention toward young winger Ben Doak. While acknowledging the teenager’s talent and potential, the former midfielder believes the youngster still has a lot to improve if he wants to become a top-level international player.
“I understand Ben Doak is still young,” Souness continued, “but he really needs to improve his decision-making and understanding of the game.”
Then came the comparison that immediately exploded across social media.
“Maybe he should start watching how Lamine Yamal plays football,” Souness said. “Look at the movement, the calmness, the intelligence. That’s modern football at the highest level.”
The comparison between Doak and the Spanish wonderkid quickly divided opinion among Scotland supporters. Some fans felt the criticism was too harsh on a young player still developing, while others agreed that Scotland’s rising talents must reach another level if the national team wants to compete seriously on the world stage.
Despite the criticism, Steve Clarke attempted to focus on the positives after the match. Scotland scored freely, created chances, and continued building momentum ahead of the tournament. However, the manager now faces fresh pressure after Souness’ explosive remarks raised questions about fitness, mentality, and overall readiness.
One thing is now clear: Scotland may have won the match, but according to Graeme Souness, the performance itself was nowhere near World Cup standard.
And unless standards improve quickly, he believes the harsh reality against teams like Spain or Germany could be devastating.
