Scotland are back – but can they finally progress through World Cup group stage?
Scotland had not qualified for the finals since France 98.
Scotland are back at the World Cup for the first time since 1998, but this time it is about more than qualification.
The exhilarating 4-2 win over Denmark at Barclays Hampden in November meant the Scots topped their qualifying group to reach the finals in North America, where they will face Haiti and Morocco in Foxborough and Brazil in Miami.
Steve Clarke, in leading his country to their third major finals after reaching Euro 2020 and 2024, basked in the gratitude of a football-mad nation desperate to be on the biggest stage again after an absence of 28 years.
Friendly defeats against Japan at Hampden and the Ivory Coast at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium in March, both 1-0, brought back a touch of reality which may not have been a bad thing.
A 4-1 win against World Cup debutants Curacao at the national stadium on May 30 threw up a new face in 19-year-old Tyler Fletcher, son of former Scotland captain Darren, as he made his debut as a second-half substitute before replacing the luckless Billy Gilmour in the squad, after the Napoli midfielder picked up a knee injury.
The final match before the competition starts is against Bolivia in New Jersey on June 6, which will see any experimentation, tweaking or tinkering come to an end.
Showtime.
There is a real desire to get out of the group stage for the first time.
Scotland have appeared eight times at the World Cup, including five consecutive tournaments from 1974 to 1990, but have yet to play a knockout match.
Hard luck stories abound.
Scotland were knocked out on goal difference in 1974 despite not losing a game in a group containing Zaire, Yugoslavia and Brazil and exited on goal difference again in Argentina 1978 after Archie Gemmill’s famous goal helped beat Netherlands, who would reach the final, in the group stage which also included section winners Peru and Iran.
In 1982, Scotland were again eliminated on goal difference, after a 2–2 draw with the Soviet Union, following a 5-2 win over New Zealand and a 4-1 defeat by Brazil.
This summer’s World Cup has been expanded, some would say bloated, to 48 teams.
Super-computers and guys in the pub believe one victory – on the face of it most likely to come against Haiti in the opening fixture – and a couple of narrow defeats would take Scotland out the group as one of the best third-placed teams.
The pressure is already on the Scots for their first game in Foxborough and it will intensify as matchday draws closer.
Scotland’s appearances in the last two Euro finals drew stinging criticism.
Clarke was accused of keeping a leash on his players, with the 1-0 defeat by Hungary in Stuttgart at Euro 2024 which confirmed their exit a particular source of frustration.
The demand of the supporters, even in what is likely to be soaring temperatures, will be to attack with more purpose and intensity.
Clarke is aware of that. How it shapes his tactics and team selection is yet to be seen.
But this time Scotland expects.