Analysis— 5 min read
Twenty-eight years is a long time to wait. Scotland's return to the World Cup — their first since France 1998 — arrives not with some gentle group stage introduction, but in the company of Brazil, Morocco and Haiti in Group C. There is no easing back in.
Steve Clarke's side sealed qualification with a dramatic 4-2 win over Denmark at Hampden Park, finishing top of their qualifying group above the Danes, Greece and Belarus. They arrived in North America in form, beating Bolivia 4-0 in New Jersey in their final warm-up before the tournament.
The parallels with 1998 are everywhere. Scotland face Brazil and Morocco again — the same opponents from their group at that tournament, the one that ended with an early exit and long silence. This time, though, Clarke's squad believes it is different.
The clearest difference sits in midfield, where Scott McTominay has become one of the most dangerous box-to-box players in European football since his move to Napoli. His goals from the centre of the park gave Scotland a weapon they never had in their last spell on the global stage.
Scotland open against Haiti in Boston on June 14 — the side ranked 83rd in the world and the softest fixture of the group on paper. Two wins from the first two games would all but guarantee progression in a 48-team tournament where the best eight third-placed sides also advance.
Clarke has admitted he has "fantastic problems" with selection. Scotland have never made it out of the group stage at a World Cup. That is the first target.