June 23 - Scots Come Home (Again)

WHILE England fans think their national team holds the British monopoly on glorious and not-so-glorious failure at international tournaments, the Tartan Army have had their fair share of crushing disappointments in far-flung places as well.

The Scots have played at eight World Cups and two European Championships in their history yet have never progressed past the first stage of any competition. Their record at summer tournaments reads: played 29, won six.

We have already told you about the Scots’ finest hour at the 1978 World Cup when they narrowly lost out on qualification for the second round to Holland, and on this day 20 years later it was a case of déjà vu when they were sent home too soon, despite Del Amitri’s plea in the national side’s official 1998 World Cup anthem.

After an opening 2-1 loss to Brazil and a 1-1 draw with Norway, Craig Brown’s troops needed a draw or a victory, coupled with a widely predicted Brazilian win over Norway, to qualify for the next stage for the first time in the country’s history.

In the end everything went against them when the Norwegians pulled off surely their greatest ever result by beating pre-tournament favourites Brazil 2-1, while Scotland whimpered out with a 3-0 defeat to Morocco.

After the match, Scotland boss Craig Brown didn’t try to make excuses. “I’m afraid you can’t give away goals at this level like we did and hope to survive and we conceded two very bad goals.

“Thereafter it was an uphill climb. We fought bravely but we weren’t good enough at that stage. I think the result certainly flattered Morocco but we were the losing side and I think Morocco deserved to win.”

France 98 was the last time the Scots made it the finals of a major tournament despite near misses for Euro 2000, the 2002 World Cup and Euro 2008 when even beating France home and away was not enough to take one of the best supported teams in the world to the finals.

Have a look at James McFadden’s wonder goal in Paris last year that provoked this reaction from Scottish radio station Clyde1 FM - impartial commentary lives on.

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