Scotland v Belarus 2026 FIFA World Cup, WM, Weltmeisterschaft, Fussball Qualifier 12/10/2025. Group C Andy Robertson of Scotland during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier, Scotland vs Belarus, The National Stadium, Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland, 12/10/2025. Hampden Park The National Stadium Glasgow Scotland Editorial use only , Copyright: xColinxPoultneyx PSI-23023-0087
Scotland’s World Cup campaign drew fierce criticism from talkSPORT host Rory Jennings, who singled out defender Grant Hanley for a brutal personal attack.
Jennings branded the Hibernian stopper the worst player at the entire tournament following Scotland’s defeat to Morocco in the group stage.
The radio host made his comments during the talkSPORT lunchtime show, where he was joined by former Tottenham and Wolves midfielder Jamie O’Hara.
Hanley earned his 70th international cap in the clash against Morocco but was at fault for the Atlas Lions’ quickfire opener that settled the game.
Jennings went further than just criticising Hanley’s performance, dismissing the Scotland-England rivalry as entirely one-sided and unbalanced.
He compared the dynamic to the rivalry between his beloved Chelsea and west London neighbours QPR, casting Scotland firmly in the lesser role.
Jennings said: “But it’s a unilateral rivalry. They hate us and we’ve got other things to worry about. It’s like QPR fans hating Chelsea.”
He continued: “Scotland are QPR in that comparison and Chelsea are England. QPR fans will sing about Chelsea when they are playing Macclesfield but Chelsea fans won’t sing about QPR until they play them.”
Jennings also expressed hope that Scotland and England would meet in the last 16, suggesting Thomas Tuchel could rest players ahead of a potential quarter-final against Brazil, calling a potential Scotland fixture a “tap in.”
Jennings said: “It could still be Scotland-England in the last 16 and that would be amazing for us. That’s 5-0 at half-time.”
He added: “They’ve got Grant Hanley still playing at the back. He’s the worst player at the tournament. Scotland played five at the back and conceded in a minute.”
Jennings went on to say: “Grant Hanley against Harry Kane. Steve Clarke against Thomas Tuchel. We could rest players in that fixture so it could be great for us.”
He also suggested: “Jordan Henderson might get a runout. He wouldn’t even be the worst player on the pitch – Grant Hanley’s on it.”
O’Hara pushed back on his co-host’s most cutting remarks, defending Hanley and expressing genuine support for Scotland’s tournament hopes.
O’Hara replied: “You’re out of order. I get Scotland are our rivals, but I like to see them do alright.”
He added: “I feel like Grant Hanley’s been playing for about 30 years. He’s not the worst player at the tournament. I wouldn’t be bothered if Scotland got through. I’d like to see them doing well.”
O’Hara also noted: “If Scotland get out of the group they have something in the locker. They’re alright.”
Scotland remain on course to make history and reach the knockout stage of a major international tournament for the very first time under Steve Clarke’s management.
Hanley, who won his first cap back in 2011, has been a long-serving presence in the Scotland backline across a remarkable span of international football.
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