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The ITV football pundit Ian Wright has expressed his belief that Scotland are failing to reach their full potential due to inadequate investment in their domestic league and grassroots football development.

According to Wright, Scottish football requires a 'bolder, braver vision' if the national team hopes to progress from their current standing and achieve consistent success on the international stage.

The former England and Arsenal striker, who also had a short stint with Celtic, said he feels genuinely sorry for Scottish supporters who have endured years of watching their team struggle to qualify for major tournaments.

Following their 3-0 defeat to Brazil, Scotland now face an anxious wait to discover whether their three points and goal difference of minus three will be enough to secure a place in the knockout stage of a competition for the first time in their history.

Wright also drew comparisons between Scotland and Norway, suggesting that the Scandinavian country offers a model worth studying for future reform.

While both nations have similar populations of around 5.5 to 5.6 million people, Norway has managed to produce world-class talents such as Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard. Additionally, Norwegian club Bodo/Glimt reached the last 16 of the Champions League last season, highlighting the strength of their footballing infrastructure.

Speaking on ITV, Wright commented on the Scottish national team’s performances: “What was it, two shots on target in their first two games, and none in the Morocco match?”

He continued, “I feel sorry for Scotland, I feel sorry for the fans, I feel sorry for everything. Laura [Woods] asked me the other day, ‘What can Scotland do next?’ And I think it goes a lot deeper than that.”

Wright went on to compare the domestic football scenes of both nations: “When you look at Norway, a country the same size as Scotland, their league averages around 6,000 to 7,000 spectators every week.”

“In Scotland, the average attendance is about 16,000, yet Norway have managed to secure a broadcast deal worth £25 million more per year than Scotland’s. Clearly, they’ve built a stronger commercial structure. But when you look at Scotland, you see great fan engagement, talent, storylines, and strong grassroots participation.”

He added, “Someone in Scotland is letting down the country on a massive scale.”

“The fans are incredibly proud, travelling all over the world to support their team,” Wright remarked. “But the Scottish game must do more. There needs to be a bolder, braver vision for Scottish football, in my opinion.”