As part of OneFootball’s collaboration with Shoot Music, we are sitting down with artists to explore their passion for football, and in the upcoming weeks, the focus will be on the World Cup.
This week, we chat with Chris Geddes, the keyboardist for Belle and Sebastian and a dedicated Scotland supporter.
Scotland is back in the World Cup after 28 years! How excited are you for this tournament?
I am truly looking forward to it. It’s fantastic that we’ll be in North America during the early days of the tournament, allowing us to catch the match against Haiti before our performance in Seattle. Currently, we’re in San Francisco, where I visited a fan zone to watch the Mexico vs. South Africa match.
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What’s your favorite World Cup memory as a fan of Scotland?
It might not be the most commonly mentioned memory compared to events like the victory over the Netherlands in 1978 or Narey’s incredible goal against Brazil in 1982, but my favorite has to be the 2-1 win against Sweden at Italia ’90. It’s the only World Cup match I’ve seen Scotland win so far, and my favorite player, Roy Aitken, was captain and converted the penalty that put us 2-0 up.
How do you assess Scotland’s chances this year?
Given the expanded format of this tournament, I think we have a fair shot at progressing to the knockout stage—perhaps a 50/50 chance. A lot will hinge on our opening match against Haiti, who I believe will be tougher than most expect.
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If Scotland is to progress far in the tournament, which player do you think will be crucial to that success?
While Scott McTominay is the obvious pick, it’s essential that players across the pitch perform well. We will need solid defensive efforts against teams like Brazil and Morocco, so players like Gannon-Doak, Christie, and McGinn will all need to contribute effectively in midfield and attack.
Who do you think will take home the World Cup this year and why?
I would favor France as the frontrunners, as they seem to boast the strongest squad overall, possibly followed by Spain. I wouldn’t be surprised if those two meet in the final. I would love to see Japan perform well, but I’d be surprised if they went all the way.
‘It Only Takes One Lion’ by Belle and Sebastian is now available.
Follow the band on Instagram: @belleandsebastian