Scotland will take part in their ninth World Cup this summer.
Steve Clarke’s side ended a 28-year wait when they qualified for the tournament in North America.
Here, the Press Association looks at Scotland’s past record.
1954
Scotland’s first World Cup was an organisational shambles. They only took 13 players, wore heavy shirts and shorts which meant players were sweating in the Swiss sun and manager Andy Beattie resigned after an opening 1-0 defeat by Austria. They then suffered a record 7-0 defeat to Uruguay.
1958
Scotland lost manager Matt Busby because of the injuries suffered in the Munich air disaster and he was replaced by Clyde coach Dawson Walker. Hearts forward Jimmy Murray scored Scotland’s first World Cup goal in a 1-1 draw with Yugoslavia, but they suffered one-goal defeats by Paraguay and France and went home.
1974
Scotland started off with a 2-0 win over Zaire through first-half goals from Peter Lorimer and Joe Jordan but ultimately that was not enough. They created a series of chances in a goalless draw with Brazil, best remembered for Billy Bremner’s close-range miss, before drawing 1-1 with Yugoslavia. Willie Ormond’s unbeaten side went home on goal difference after Brazil’s 3-0 victory over Zaire.
1978
Manager Ally MacLeod whipped up a nation before suffering a disastrous tournament in Argentina. Scotland opened with a 3-1 defeat by Peru and worse was to follow. Winger Willie Johnston failed a drugs test after taking a supplement to fight a cold before MacLeod’s men drew 1-1 with Iran. There was still time for glorious failure though as, needing to beat the Netherlands by three goals, a wonder goal from Archie Gemmill put them 3-1 up before Johnny Rep scored from long range three minutes later.
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1982
Again Scotland went out on goal difference, despite going three goals up against New Zealand inside 32 minutes in their opening game. They ultimately won 5-2. Dave Narey scored one of Scotland’s great World Cup goals to put them ahead against Brazil, but the tournament favourites scored a series of classic strikes to win 4-1. That meant Scotland needed to beat the Soviet Union and they got off to a flying start when Jordan scored in his third World Cup. However, a collision between Alan Hansen and Willie Miller saw Scotland concede late on in a 2-2 draw.
1986
Scotland were drawn in the original ‘Group of Death’ with West Germany, Uruguay and a swashbuckling Denmark side. Alex Ferguson’s side suffered narrow defeats in their opening two games, with the highlight Gordon Strachan’s strike against the West Germans. A win against Uruguay would have sent Scotland through and the South Americans went down to 10 men inside the first minute. But Steve Nicol missed Scotland’s best chance in a goalless encounter.
1990
Another low point came in Genoa when Scotland suffered a 1-0 defeat against Costa Rica. Andy Roxburgh’s side bounced back to beat Sweden 2-1 in a physical encounter as Stuart McCall slid in to score and Mo Johnston netted a penalty. A draw with Brazil would have sent Scotland through, but Muller netted late on and Claudio Taffarel produced a point-blank save from Johnston. Scotland were eliminated the following day when Uruguay netted a stoppage-time winner against South Korea.
1998
Scotland again faced Brazil and Craig Brown’s side stunned the holders with a penalty equaliser from John Collins but lost to an unfortunate 74th-minute own goal from Tom Boyd. Craig Burley’s lob earned a 1-1 draw with Norway that gave Scotland huge hope. They ended bottom of the group though following a 3-0 defeat by Morocco.
