Craig Gordon, 43, is the World Cup's oldest player and a walking miracle

Gordon: oldest man at the World Cup, and lucky to be alive

Craig Gordon will be 43 when Scotland kick off their first World Cup since 1998, making him the oldest player at the entire tournament. It's a staggering achievement for a goalkeeper who almost had his career – and his life – cut short. Gordon broke his leg in a horrific 2022 collision, and medics later told him there was a genuine risk of death during his recovery. BBC Sport calls him a "walking miracle" (1). He's back and heading to the biggest stage of all.

Robertson carries Jota's memory into the tournament

Scotland captain Andy Robertson has received a heartfelt letter from Rute Cardoso, the widow of his former Liverpool teammate Diogo Jota. Robertson says he will have Jota at the forefront of his mind throughout the World Cup (2). It's a deeply personal moment ahead of what could be the biggest month of Robertson's career – he's also on the verge of becoming Scotland's most capped men's player.

Scotland setup tailored for fans on BBC

BBC Sport has launched a feature letting Scotland fans customise the website and app to prioritise national team coverage during the World Cup (4). No more scrolling past England updates to find your own team. Small thing, but for a first tournament in 28 years, it matters.

Guardian Q&A with Ewan Murray on Thursday

The Guardian's Scotland correspondent Ewan Murray is running a reader Q&A two days before the tournament begins. Questions are open now, with the session set for Thursday, June 11 (3). Good chance to dig into tactical questions, squad selection, or the mood in North Carolina.

1978 echoes as Scotland finally return

BBC Sport has a reflective piece on Scotland's fateful 1978 campaign – Ally's Army, the Peru draw, the Iran collapse, and what could have been (5). With the current squad in the US preparing for Haiti, the parallels are hard to ignore. This team, though, feels different. Eight goals in two friendlies and a settled tactical setup have bred genuine optimism.

Podcast breaks down strikers and Norway spat

A BBC podcast is diving into Scotland's attacking options ahead of the World Cup, plus the war of words that's erupted with Norway (6). Worth a listen if you want the deeper analysis on who partners Shankland and why the camp feels so tight.

Fan reactions

One Reddit post is doing the rounds highlighting that 16 players at this World Cup were born outside the country they represent because their fathers played abroad at the time – and two of them are in Scotland's squad: Angus Gunn and George Hirst. Fans are enjoying the trivia, though some are using it to poke at eligibility rules. See the full list here.