While history rarely repeats itself, it sometimes rhymes. When Scotland lost to Brazil in their final game at Italia 90, Costa Rica’s win over Sweden ended any prospect of finishing in the top two of Group C. Automatic qualification for the knock-out stages was gone.
A small shaft of light remained. FIFA decreed that four of the best third place finishers from the six groups would be granted a place in the last 16. After one win, two points and a goal difference of minus one Scotland repaired to their Rapallo hotel to watch and wonder. Their fate was placed in the hands of other teams.
