Jackson knows a long haul with Scotland can have long-term gains
Darren Jackson says Scotland fans need only look as far as the country’s last Champions League winner to realise the value of far-flung friendlies.
A succession of pre-tour call-offs has seen the national team’s summer trip to Central and South American to play Mexico and Peru criticised as being a waste of time and effort.
But Jackson, who went to Japan in 1995 for the Kirin Cup, insists there will be long-lasting benefits, which might not be immediately obvious.
Jackson recalled: “That one was also over 5000 miles away, and not the most popular trip.
“People wondered why we would go all that distance to play the likes of Ecuador.
“The fact was, though, it worked out brilliantly – both for me personally and, I’d argue, for the Scotland team.
“Paul Lambert made his debut in the opener against Japan. He was still with Motherwell – who had Rab McKinnon there, too – and it was a big opportunity for him.
“Paul went on to become one of the best Scotland players of his generation.
“Of course, he also had a great club career, most notably winning the Champions League with Borussia Dortmund in 1997.
“It was great for me. I only had a couple of caps at the time, and was incredibly keen to be involved.
“The games weren’t the best of all time. We had John Spencer sent off for having a go at one of the defenders against Japan, and ended up drawing 0-0.
“And although we beat Ecuador 2-1, Japan put three past them so they won the Cup.
“But going there helped me establish myself as part of the Scotland group, which in turn led to me going to Euro 96 and the World Cup two years later.
“That was the platform it provided for me. It helped me achieve some of my best moments in my career.
“If I hadn’t gone to Japan, I might never have ended up playing against Brazil in the Stade de France in the opener of the 1998 World Cup.”
The 51-year-old sees the potential for the current trip to work out just as well for several of the inexperienced squad.
“You listen to the boys who got their debuts against Peru – the likes of Dylan McGeouch, Lewis Stevenson and Stephen O’Donnell – and it is clear they relished every minute of it,” he said.
“I know the Hibs lads, and they have that love for the country and the
enormous pride you get at being chosen to represent us in an international match.
“It is not easy playing in matches where a lot of you are starting off together.
“But from what I have seen and heard of the Peru game, they did pretty well.
“They were organised and competitive, which has to be the starting point.
“If we can come back from this and kick on in the League of Nations ties to get a place in Euro 2020, it will go down as having been very worthwhile.”
And if Scotland achieve that, Jackson is looking forward to becoming an honorary member of the Tartan Army in two years’ time.
“Listen, we are all desperate for us to get back to a major final. It is hard to believe our trip in 1998 was the last one,” he continued.
“Guys like myself, and John Collins who was also involved back then, would like nothing better than the chance to go along and enjoy the day as Scotland fans.
“The fact we would be playing a couple of games at Hampden Park is just an enormous incentive.
“I remember well from Euro 96 what the atmosphere was like in the England game, and how much both sets of fans were up for it.
“We got a pretty big taste of what that would be like when Leigh Griffiths hit his two amazing free-kicks against England in the Euro qualifiers.
“This would be even better.”
You can celebrate the 20th anniversary of Scotland opening France 98 against Brazil at a couple of gala events next weekend.
Play golf with Craig Brown and his World Cup squad at Dalmahoy on Saturday, or join them for dinner next Sunday at Hilton Glasgow.
For info on La Reunion and tickets, go to www.thelongestforty.com/la-reunion or call 07725 850915.