Twenty eight years of hurt. Twenty eight years of struggle. Twenty eight years of pure embarrassment. The last time Scotland had reached the World Cup Finals I was just twenty years old. Remember it well. Having the distinction of opening the tournament to the World Champions, the almighty Brazil, the anticipation which surrounded that game was immense. My brother went to Paris to watch it, but I had to settle for a pub visit. Loved every second of it. From running full pelt down the street after my college exam to make it in time for the game, to the early sinking feeling from Brazil’s opening goal, to the pure ecstasy of the penalty equaliser, to the heartbreak of Brazil’s winning goal. Loved it, if not for the final result.
Almost a week later Scotland took to the field to face Norway in an almost must-win game. Running through the office where I worked – I was running a lot back then – to get home in time for kick-off. A final score of 1-1 was disappointing and ultimately meant nothing less than a win would do in the last game. However, an as ever disastrous result of 0-3 against the so-called minnows of the group Morocco meant that Scotland were sent packing early once again.
Scotland were infamous for never having progressed past a group stage of a major tournament and so it remained. Back then we were spoilt as it was just assumed we’d qualify for the World Cup, having done so five times in succession and six out of seven attempts. It was assumed the Scots would rock up every four years and woo the world with their Tartan Army before gloriously failing at the first hurdle.
Nobody – and I mean nobody – could have predicted the Barron spell that was to come. The global game was changing as money became an ever-more prevalent part of the game. With it came the demise of a National league which was solely dominated by two teams and a lack of investors into the sport. This subsequently brought about a lack of interest, lack of facilities, lack of talent as the Scottish game suffered while the rest of the world improved. Gone were the days of rollover teams in world football. Every match had it’s challenges and Scotland failed to keep up as they slid down the pecking order on the global stage. Once ranked as high as twelfth in FIFA’s Official World Rankings, they took an unstoppable nose-dive to a low point of eighty-eighth.
Scotland failed to qualify for the 2000 European Championships, the 2002 World Cup, 2004 European Championships, 2006 World Cup, 2008 European Championships, 2010 World Cup, 2012 European Championships, 2014 World Cup, 2016 European Championships, 2018 World Cup.
Eight major tournaments came and went without the Tartan Army’s presence. That is until a major shift in fortunes. The newly introduced Nations League would provide a path into the European Championships for one lucky lower-ranked nation. As it happened, Scotland took full advantage of this opportunity. A new manager in Steve Clarke and an upturn in overall performances saw the nation overcome a level of opposition they usually falter against. Topping the Nations League group they faced Israel in the semi finals of the play offs before coming up against Serbia in the Final. A very hard fought match was won after a penalty shoot-out.
To be honest the game itself is a blur and the celebrations were muted as I was in the throes of my gambling addiction at the time and I’m sure I lost money either on that game or another one.
Scotland’s first appearance at a major tournament was delayed due to COVID but in June 2021 they took to the field to take part on the European stage once more. Unsurprisingly exiting at the group stage yet again, they would have to wait another three years, having not qualified for the next World Cup, before once more taking on Europe’s elite.
Despite no World Cup qualification in six attempts, the future looked promising. Two European appearances and an overall improvement in every match they played. Would Scotland ever compete on the World stage again
Step up the 2026 World Cup Qualification campaign.
The upcoming Finals which will be bizarrely take place over the entire continent of North America – USA, Canada and Mexico – would provide more opportunities to qualify with an increase in the size of competition to forty-eight teams. An additional sixteen nations. None of that would matter in the case of the Scottish campaign though. A very stern test faced them with Denmark and Greece being seeded ahead of them in the group, alongside Belarus.
The qualifiers began in earnest with a very impressive opening draw in Denmark followed by a comfortable 2-0 win in Belarus. The third game would go a long way to deciding whether or not Scotland had a realistic chance of qualifying. Their first home game saw the visit of Greece. An intensely difficult game was made more difficult when the away side took a 62nd minute lead. You could be forgiven for believing their hopes wee nothing more than a false dawn yet again. However, the scores were level within just two minutes. Scotland completed their comeback to record a very impressive 3-1 victory.
Several days later and surely another win would be marked down. It was, but not before a tighter than necessary fought game at home to lowly Belarus. A marginal 2-1 victory kept the nation hot on the heels of leaders Denmark.
With two games remaining, Scotland knew they would have to maintain or, indeed, increase performances in order to qualify. They had already guaranteed themselves a play-off spot but had their eyes firmly on that automatic qualification. Four points from their last two games, as long as that included beating Denmark, and they would be there. The two games could not be any tougher, though.
First up, Greece away. The Greeks had already proven how difficult they would be after their performance at Hampden. That difficulty came to pass and that qualification slipped further away as Scotland disastrously fell three goals behind. With Denmark playing at home to Belarus the task seemed insurmountable. However, in a twist Roy Of The Rovers would be proud of, Scotland hit back twice to pull within one goal and the massive underdogs of Belarus turned the world on its head with a quickfire double to lead at Denmark. If Scotland could grab an equaliser and Belarus hold on to record an unimaginable victory it would put the Scots in pole position to qualify. However, the Tartan Army are well versed in glorious failure and that’s exactly how it felt as they failed to get level, while Denmark snatched a late leveller in their match.
It may have felt like so-near-yet-so-far, but in reality what it meant was that they were given a second chance with that highly unlikely drop of points by the Danes. A winner takes all final match of the group. Scotland versus Denmark. It was set up to be a phenomenal game of football. We never knew just how true that would turn out to be.
Denmark just required a draw from the game to take them through and Scotland needed nothing less than a win. As the game begun in earnest, the home side started on the front foot, pushing the Danes back, primarily from their speedy winger Ben Gannon-Doak. So it proved as he cut in from the right, after just three minutes, and clipped in a perfect cross for the unmarked Scott McTominay who produced the most perfect, the most beautiful, the most poetic
bicycle kick into the the top corner. The Tartan Army went wild and the dream was well and truly on.
For the next ten or so minutes the home side continued to dominate.. until the injury and stretchering off of their most dangerous attacking threat. Gannon-Doak pulled up lame as his hamstring went beneath him. As he left the pitch, the hopes and dreams of an entire nation seemed to dissipate. Despite their slender advantage, their game plan was completely out the window. Dropping further and further back, inviting wave after wave of attack it was only a matter of time before Denmark broke through. So it proved. Just after the interval a clumsy challenge by Andy Robertson right on the corner of the penalty area was deemed a foul and inside the area, although this was contentious. The penalty kick was duly despatched and the entire nation of Scotland feel to its knees as any remnants of hope washed completely away.
It wouldn’t be a Scotland journey without another twist. Minutes after the equalising goal, a very very harsh red card for a Dane swung things back in favour of the home team. However, even with ten men, the Danish side remained in control. Time was against Scotland in their bid to gain automatic qualification for the upcoming World Cup. Enter
Lawrence Shankland as he was thrown into action, alongside Che Adams as Scotland really went for it.
With twelve minutes remaining, Scotland won their very first corner of the match. From the kick, Shankland poked the ball over the line to regain their lead. The Tartan Army were sent into raptures. Surely now. Surely this time and against ten men, they would hold out for that so-needed victory. However, just four minutes later, the Scots were stunned by a sucker punch as Denmark levelled once more.
Scotland were by no means giving up without a fight though. Wave after wave, shot after shot. Surely only a matter of time. That was running low though. Stoppage time approached. Four minutes. The team in red desperate to hold out by any means necesary. One minute left. Another corner, another clearance. The ball fell invitingly from 22 yards to Keiran Tierney. With the inside of his wicked left boot the Celtic man curled the ball beyond the despairing reach of his club teammate Kasper Schmeichal in the Denmark goal. The ball nestled inside the far corner of the net. The Tartan Army went absolutely berserk. The noise was immense. The rafters of the famous old stadium were well and truly sent flying.
Just moments remained of the most incredible of football matches. Denmark came forward desperate for a third equaliser. The referee checked his watch. Continued. Checked it again. Played on. And on. And on. And on. With the ever-elastic watch never ending the Scots couldn’t take it any longer and took matters into their own hands. As Kenny McLean picked up the ball around the half way line, he looked up and saw the goalkeeper well off his line and produced an incredible chip over his head and into the back of the empty goal.
Scotland had produced one of the finest permances and results in their illustrious history and secured their first appearance at a World Cup Finals for twenty-eight years.
