WHILE an entire generation has missed out on seeing Scotland in a World Cup until now, the nation has a long history in the tournament.
Over the years, Scotland have appeared in eight editions of the World Cup, though it’s largely been a tough watch for fans with the team narrowly missing out on reaching the knockout stages several times.
Here we look back on how Scotland have fared in the tournament since their first appearance in 1954.
1954 - Switzerland
This World Cup in Switzerland was a bit of a non-starter for Scotland. They took just 13 players, wore heavy shirts and old-style boots in sizzling temperatures, and manager Andy Beattie quit after an opening 1-0 defeat by Austria.
Scotland went on to lose 7-0 to Uruguay in their second match as Carlos Borges scored a hat-trick for the South American nation. It remains Scotland’s heaviest defeat in international football.
Tommy Docherty, who represented Scotland at the tournament, called it a “shambles”. He marked star Uruguay player Juan Schiaffino, who was a goalscorer in the decisive match against Brazil in the previous 1950 finals, but admitted to knowing nothing about him in advance.
1958 - Sweden
Despite setting themselves up for failure in 1954, Scotland reappeared at the World Cup four years later.
This tournament went slightly better, but only slightly.
Scotland lost manager Matt Busby because of the injuries suffered in the Munich air disaster and he was replaced by Clyde coach Dawson Walker.
Scotland got off to a half-decent start as Hearts forward Jimmy Murray scored Scotland’s first World Cup goal in a 1-1 draw with Yugoslavia.
However, they went on to suffer one-goal defeats by Paraguay and France which sent them home.
1974 – West Germany
It was 16 years before Scotland appeared in the tournament again and the team threatened to end their World Cup before it began.
There was an infamous incident in Largs prior to the tournament where during a night out allowed by manager Willie Ormond, winger Jimmy Johnstone decided to commandeer a rowing boat without oars.
As Davie Hay and Eric Schaedler attempted a rescue, it transpired that the boat had a hole in it and Johnstone eventually had to be rescued by the coastguard.
Funnily enough, despite the pre-tournament antics, Scotland went on to achieve their first undefeated campaign.
A 2-0 win over Zaire, where Peter Lorimer and Joe Jordan provided the goals, was followed by a goalless draw with Brazil, best remembered for Billy Bremner’s close-range miss.
But another 1-1 draw against Yugoslavia in the final game proved not to be enough as Scotland missed out on the knockout stages on goal difference following Brazil’s 3-0 win over Zaire.
1978 - Argentina
Scotland’s Archie Gemmill scored what is widely considered the nation’s best-ever goal at this World Cup, but it was the only real gem in what turned out to be another disappointment.
Scotland opened with a 3-1 defeat by Peru and worse was to follow. Winger Willie Johnston failed a drugs test after taking a supplement to fight a cold before Ally MacLeod’s men drew 1-1 with Iran.
It left them in a situation where they needed to beat the Netherlands by three goals.
The wonder goal from Gemmill put them 3-1 up but Johnny Rep scored from long range three minutes later to leave the final score 3-2, meaning Scotland exited again on goal difference at the group stage.
1982 - Spain
Maybe it would be third time lucky for Scotland after coming so close to progress in the previous two tournaments but, you guessed it, it was not to be.
The ghost of goal difference was to haunt them again. Despite going three goals up against New Zealand inside 32 minutes in their opening game, Scotland went on to concede what proved to be a costly two goals in the match in a 5-2 victory.
Dave Narey scored one of Scotland’s great World Cup goals to put them ahead against Brazil, but the tournament favourites scored a series of classic strikes to win 4-1.
Once again Scotland were in a situation where only a win would do to see them through in the final game against the Soviet Union.
They got off to a flying start when Jordan scored in his third World Cup, but a collision between Alan Hansen and Willie Miller saw Scotland concede late on in a 2-2 draw.
1986 - Mexico
Scotland were drawn in the original ‘Group of Death’ with West Germany, Uruguay and a swashbuckling Denmark side.
Alex Ferguson’s side suffered narrow defeats in their opening two games, with the highlight Gordon Strachan’s strike against the West Germans.
A win against Uruguay would have sent Scotland through and the South Americans went down to 10 men inside the first minute, but Steve Nicol missed Scotland’s best chance in a goalless encounter.
Scotland snatching defeat from the jaws of victory was becoming a common theme.
1990 - Italy
Italia 90 saw Scotland get off to a losing start again as they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Costa Rica.
Andy Roxburgh’s side bounced back to beat Sweden 2-1 as Stuart McCall slid in to score and Mo Johnston netted a penalty.
They only needed a draw against familiar opponents Brazil to go through, but Muller netted late on and Claudio Taffarel produced a point-blank save from Johnston. Scotland were eliminated the following day when Uruguay beat South Korea.
1998 - France
In the last World Cup Scotland would appear in for almost three decades, Scotland faced Brazil again.
Craig Brown’s side stunned the holders with a penalty equaliser from John Collins but lost to an unfortunate 74th-minute own goal from Tom Boyd.
A 1-1 draw with Norway would follow that gave Scotland some hope of qualifying for the next stage after decades of hurt, but they ended bottom of the group though following a 3-0 defeat by Morocco.
2026
To be decided …
