The good omens behind Scotland’s ability to qualify for major finals...
SCOTLAND will seek to bring a wretched run of 10 unsuccessful qualifying campaigns to an end tomorrow by beating Serbia in the Euro 2020 play- off final in Belgrade.
But the national team have enjoyed their fair share of successes over the years too – they have reached the finals of the European Championships or World Cup on no fewer than 11 occasions.
Ahead of the match in the Rajko Mitic Stadium, we look back on those successes.
1950 WORLD CUP, BRAZIL
Scotland qualified to play in the 1950 finals in Brazil after finishing second in the 1949/ 50 British Home Championship. However, they declined to take their place.
George Graham, the SFA chairman, had previously stated the national team would only participate as winners. George Young, the Rangers player and Scotland captain, pleaded with Graham to reconsider. But his appeal was to no avail.
1954 WORLD CUP, SWITZERLAND
Scotland reached their first major tournament finals when they finished second in the 1953/ 54 British Home Championship. On this occasion, the SFA accepted the invitation.
1958 WORLD CUP, SWEDEN
Qualification for the first five World Cups had been convoluted and confusing.
So FIFA decided to divide teams into several continental zones, assign a pre- determined number of places to each one and delegate the organisation of the tournaments to its confederations.
Scotland clinched top spot in UEFA Group 9 by a point after beating Spain 4- 2 at home and defeating Switzerland 2- 1 away and 3- 2 at home.
1974 WORLD CUP, WEST GERMANY
The national team came up short in their attempts to reach the World Cup in 1962, 1966 and 1970. But they made it through to the 1974
tournament with a game to spare. Willie Ormond’s men thrashed Denmark 4- 1 away and then 2- 0 at home and came from behind to beat Czechoslovakia 2- 1 at Hampden in their penultimate UEFA Group 8 fixture.
A crowd of 95,786 erupted when Joe Jordan headed home the second- half winner to end 16 years of failure and disappointment.
1978 WORLD CUP, ARGENTINA
Scotland’s bid to reach Argentina got off to an inauspicious start when they lost their opening UEFA Group 7 game to Czechoslovakia 2- 0 in Prague. But Ally MacLeod’s men bounced back with a
1- 0 win over Wales and a 3- 1 triumph over the Czechs at Hampden.
Then came the famous, some would say infamous, encounter with Wales at Anfield.
Don Masson converted a contentious late spot kick and Kenny Dalglish netted a sublime glancing header with five minutes remaining.
1982 WORLD CUP, SPAIN
Scotland won four and drew three of their opening seven games in UEFA Group 6 to qualify for the World Cup finals for third successive occasion with a game to play.
A 2- 0 triumph over Sweden at Hampden in 1981, achieved thanks to a first- half Joe Jordan strike and a late John
Robertson penalty, ensured Jock Stein’s men made it through.
1986 WORLD CUP, MEXICO
This success was shrouded by tragedy. Manager Jock Stein suffered a fatal heart attack at the end of the 1- 1 draw with Wales in Cardiff that meant Scotland finished second in UEFA Group 7.
Alex Ferguson took over on a part- time basis and steered the national team through the UEFA- OFC intercontinental play- off against Australia.
The 2- 0 aggregate win is, to date, Scotland’s only play- off success.
1990 WORLD CUP, ITALY
Maurice Johnston netted six goals – including a brace in a famous 2- 0 win over France at Hampden - to top the UEFA Group 5 scoring charts and help Scotland reach their fifth World Cup in a row.
But it was Rangers forward Ally McCoist who clinched second spot in the section with a first- half strike in the final match against Norway in front of 63,987 fans at Hampden in 1989.
1992 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS, SWEDEN
A 4- 0 win over minnows San Marino at Hampden together with a 1- 0 defeat for their nearest challengers Switzerland in Romania saw Scotland finish in first place in Group 2 and reach their first ever European Championship finals after six failed attempts.
1996 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS, ENGLAND
Wins over Finland, the Faroe Islands, Greece and San Marino and two draws with Russia in Group 8 were enough to see the national team qualify for Euro ‘ 96 as the fourth best second placed side.
1998 WORLD CUP, FRANCE
The injustice of having to replay a game against Estonia couldn’t prevent Scotland from reaching France ’ 98.
Scotland responded positively and a 2- 0 triumph over Latvia at Parkhead in their final game saw them pip Sweden to second place by two points and progress.