SUCCESSION star Brian Cox has delivered his verdict on Scotland’s World Cup campaign as he says the country is “very lucky” to have “the best fans ever”.
The Dundee actor joined the ITV coverage ahead of the Spain and France World Cup semi-final, where he shared that he wished the team would “live up” to the expectations the Tartan Army had for the team.
Scotland bowed out of the tournament in the group stage after a rather unimpressive campaign where they lost to both Morocco and Brazil despite beating Haiti in their opening match.
Cox was asked how much he enjoyed Scotland’s traveling support, especially in Boston, where the Tartan Army was praised internationally for bringing a party atmosphere to the US city.
“Well, off the pitch it was wonderful,” Cox said
“We've got the best fans ever, the Scots are very lucky in our fans, they're just phenomenal, they're great people.”
He added: “I wish the team could live up to it, but the problem with Scotland's practice, except shown up by Cabo Verde, who actually played an amazing, absolutely amazing game, so I was really impressed by them.
“I think the Scots just need to believe a bit more in what they do.
“They have the English and the Scots, it's more acute in the Scots team, but the English have the similar kind of where it goes, and then you get Bellingham comes on and he solves the problem, because Harry has been playing probably his best game for a long, long time.”
"You've suffered from his 'unremittingness' I'm sure" 😅 Succession actor and Man Utd fan Brian Cox talks Scotland, England's World Cup journey and draws comparisons to Sir Alex Ferguson... pic.twitter.com/j7z4eUSJtp
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 14, 2026
Cox then went on to reveal that his cousin, Bobby Cox, who was the first and last man to lead Dundee as captain, to the Scottish title and also laid claim to inventing the “sliding tackle”.
“His pub is called the sliding tackle,” Cox said.
That's what his pub is known as, and he claims he invented the sliding tackle.
“I don't know, I wasn't around when he was playing.”
He added: “I never met him.”
Cox was then asked if he played football when he was younger, to which he jokingly replied: “I was hopeless.”
The veteran actor then went on to explain his love for Manchester United after he learned about the Munich air disaster that claimed the lives of 23 people, including eight players from the team in 1958 when he was just a young boy.
“I became a Man U fan when I was 10 because of Munich.
“I remember waiting on the word for Duncan Edwards for days, going to the local newsagent and find out, because there was no way of knowing.
“It was such a tragedy, and especially when you're that young, it impresses you, and then Busby surviving.
“I just immediately knew, my heart went to Man United and it was there forever since.”
The panel, which included Manchester United legends Roy Keane and Gary Neville, then joked about how Cox was like the famous Sir Alex Ferguson in his hit show.
Neville joked: “In succession, you're a little bit like Sir Alex Ferguson actually.”
Cox replied: “Well, I know Alex
The host asked: “In what way, Gary?
To which the former England player replied: “Just a few of the expletives.”
Cox then joked: “Unremitting?”
To which Keane joked: “Don't tell me that.”
Cox replied: “Well, you have suffered from his unremittingness, I'm sure, Roy.
Keane then laughed and replied: It's a long story. It's a long story.”
