Think Brexit’s been torture? What about... WEXIT
1 WOMEN’S WORLD CUP 2019
IT was enough to drive anyone to the bevvy – and in the case of Shelley Kerr and her backroom staff, that’s exactly what it did.
The suitcases were packed for Grenoble in the last 16, with Germany lying in wait, as Scotland raced to a 3-0 lead against Argentina in the Parc des Princes.
A victory was essential, the goal difference was looking good, only for the Scots to collapse in the last 16 minutes and ship three.
History was within grasp but the women passed up the chance to become the first Scottish national side ever to emerge from the group stage of a football finals.
An impromptu debrief the following day after a lunch in which alcohol was consumed by the coaching staff only added to the chaos.
2 WORLD CUP FINALS 1974
TYPICAL Scotland – ended up unbeaten at the World Cup in a group that included champions Brazil and still papped out.
In hindsight, the Scots were far too conservative in their first match against Zaire, opting to retain possession when they were 2-0 up. However, the miss by Billy Bremner against the Brazilians in the second match in Frankfurt was to prove pivotal – and provide Scottish football with one of its most iconic images.
With half an hour to go and the game still goalless, Bremner had no time to react to a slip in the Brazilian defence in the sixyard box and the ball bounced off his shin and dropped agonisingly wide of the post.
3 WORLD CUP FINALS 1978
ARCHIE GEMMILL’s balletic weave through the heart of the Dutch defence in Mendoza, the ball tied to his left foot, is the greatest goal in Scottish football history. After an abject start to a tournament in which Ally MacLeod predicted we’d win a medal, it also offered genuine hope of progress to the last eight. The goal gave Scotland a 3-1 lead and, almost instantly, the embarrassment of a draw against Iran and disappointment of defeat against Peru had been forgotten.
Scotland needed to win by three clear goals to progress to the second round and with Gemmill’s strike coming on the 68th minute, time was on our side.
Three minutes later, Johnny Rep cracked one in from 30 yards. Dream over.
4 WORLD CUP FINALS 1982
SCOTLAND could proudly boast two of the most elegant defenders in football when Jock Stein led the squad to Spain.
Unfortunately, Willie Miller and Alan Hansen were a pairing that proved opposites really do attract.
Miller was used to sweeping up at Pittodrie, while Hansen was the cultured foil to Phil Thompson and, later, Mark Lawrenson, at Anfield.
They wandered into the same area of the pitch at La Rosaleda and Soviet striker Ramaz Shengelia took advantage of their collision, running on with six minutes remaining to put his side 2-1 in front.
Graeme Souness struck an equaliser but the damage was done as Scotland, who also shipped two in a 5-2 win over New Zealand, exited.
5 CRICKET WORLD CUP 2015
THE legend of Freuchie may live on in club cricket, but Scotland’s international select have known only heartache on the world stage.
Scotland have qualified for the Cricket World Cup three times – in 1999, 2007 and 2015 – and have lost all 14 games they have played.
The nadir was reached in February 2015 when Scotland took on hosts New Zealand in Dunedin.
The Kiwis won by three wickets as the Scots became the first nation in World Cup history to have four players dismissed for golden ducks – when the batsman is out on the very first ball he faces.
In total, five Scots were dismissed for ducks as they staggered to a total of 142 off 36.2 overs.