McCann tells BBC colleague to 'stick to egg chasing' in live radio row after Scotland's 3-0 loss to Brazil

Kilmarnock manager Neil McCann and BBC Scotland chief sports writer Tom English clashed in a heated four-minute on-air argument following Scotland’s 3-0 World Cup defeat to Brazil in Miami, a result that leaves Steve Clarke’s side on the brink of elimination from the knockout stages.

English ignited the row by arguing that Scotland are simply “not good enough” to compete at the highest level — technically, creatively, and in front of goal — despite acknowledging the achievement of reaching the tournament. McCann, a former Scotland international with 25 caps, responded by accusing his colleague of disrespecting a squad that had qualified for the World Cup for the first time in 28 years.

“What an assault on a group of individuals that’s done something special getting here,” McCann said. “I think you’re bang out of order to let go and just pull the shutters down like that.”

McCann pointed to the individual credentials within Clarke’s squad — Lewis Ferguson winning the best midfielder award in Serie A, Scott McTominay featuring in Ballon d’Or discussions, and Aston Villa captain John McGinn lifting the Europa League — as evidence that English’s assessment was unfair.

English was unmoved, countering that those individual accolades counted for little when Scotland struggled against Egypt and were passed around by Morocco. “You’re too emotionally involved in this,” English told McCann. “You’re ignoring the evidence of your own eyes.”

The exchange grew increasingly tense, with McCann telling English to “stick to the egg chasing” — a reference to rugby union — before accusing him of being “ridiculous.” English maintained throughout that his criticism was grounded in what he had witnessed on the pitch rather than any disrespect toward the players.

The public spat underlines the pressure surrounding Clarke’s squad as Scotland face a must-win situation to have any realistic hope of advancing. The 3-0 margin of defeat to Brazil has sharpened debate about whether the team’s achievement in qualifying masks a significant gap in quality at this level — a question that McCann and English answered very differently, and very loudly, in front of a live audience.