Gerard Butler has thrown his support behind Scotland with a bold prediction: a 2-0 win over England in the World Cup final. The actor made the call while speaking about the team’s chances as Scotland prepared for their first World Cup match in 28 years.
Butler did not stop there. He also predicted Scotland would beat Haiti 2-0 in their opening game and urged the squad to “play like the lions you are” and “play with your hearts and have fun.” Speaking on Radio Scotland’s The Saturday Show, he said, “I’m confident. I’m really proud of the team we have right now. If there was ever a chance of getting out of the group it is this one.”
The timing matters because Scotland’s first fixture against Haiti was due on Saturday at 9pm local time in Boston, or 2am BST, with the Tartan Army already in the city and First Minister John Swinney and Clare Grogan also making the trip. Monday June 15 would be a bank holiday to mark the occasion, while many councils allowed extended licensing hours so pubs and other venues could stay open through the late-night kick-offs.
That is where Butler’s optimism runs into the reality of the schedule. Scotland were still at the start of their group stage when he was talking about a final against England, a leap that could only be tested one match at a time. His message was clear: the moment is here, the pressure should not be the point, and Scotland have to turn the noise around them into something they can use against Haiti first.
For now, the next step is simple and immediate. Scotland had Haiti in Boston first, and only after that would Butler’s bigger prediction have a chance to move from bravado to possibility.
