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World Cup 1962
Scotland'sec starting time "play off" decided who qualified from a three team group for the 1962 World Cup in Chile. Scotland were going for a World Cup qualification lid-trick subsequently appearing at the 1954 and 1958 finals.
Czeckoslovakia too the Scots finished on equal points in Group 8 European qualifying, merely despite the Czechs having a meliorate 'goals for' column, due to a thumping seven-one win over Rep of Ireland, this wasn't counted back inward the early on 1960s. so it was onto the neutral venue of Brussels in 1961 to make up one's mind who would caput to the seventh World Cup finals.
A Scotland side alongside eight habitation based players inwards the starting job up led 2-one inward that really starting time play off tally with vi minutes to get, thanks to 2 goals from the tardily Ian St John, simply the impressive Czech side equalised inward the 84th infinitesimal to post the game into extra-time, earlier taking charge inward the additional 30 minutes to function out iv-2 winners.
It is peradventure typical of Scotland's frustrating football game history at international degree that, subsequently beingness within touching distance of going through against Czechoslovakia, they would lose out to a squad that would and then get all the style to the concluding inwards '62 earlier beingness denied by Pele too Brazil who retained the trophy in Chile.
Would Scotland have been at that place against Brazil instead had their first play-off ended in success?
Some would say they'd sure enough accept come close amongst Dennis Law (and so of Torino), Ian St John (signed from Motherwell by Liverpool) and Rangers greats Eric Caldow in addition to Jim Baxter inwards the side.
World Cup 1962
Scotland'sec starting time "play off" decided who qualified from a three team group for the 1962 World Cup in Chile. Scotland were going for a World Cup qualification lid-trick subsequently appearing at the 1954 and 1958 finals.
Czeckoslovakia too the Scots finished on equal points in Group 8 European qualifying, merely despite the Czechs having a meliorate 'goals for' column, due to a thumping seven-one win over Rep of Ireland, this wasn't counted back inward the early on 1960s. so it was onto the neutral venue of Brussels in 1961 to make up one's mind who would caput to the seventh World Cup finals.
A Scotland side alongside eight habitation based players inwards the starting job up led 2-one inward that really starting time play off tally with vi minutes to get, thanks to 2 goals from the tardily Ian St John, simply the impressive Czech side equalised inward the 84th infinitesimal to post the game into extra-time, earlier taking charge inward the additional 30 minutes to function out iv-2 winners.
It is peradventure typical of Scotland's frustrating football game history at international degree that, subsequently beingness within touching distance of going through against Czechoslovakia, they would lose out to a squad that would and then get all the style to the concluding inwards '62 earlier beingness denied by Pele too Brazil who retained the trophy in Chile.
Would Scotland have been at that place against Brazil instead had their first play-off ended in success?
Some would say they'd sure enough accept come close amongst Dennis Law (and so of Torino), Ian St John (signed from Motherwell by Liverpool) and Rangers greats Eric Caldow in addition to Jim Baxter inwards the side.
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| Ian St John scored twice inward the disappointing play-off loss |
World Cup 1986
Another 23 years would go before Scotland would be involved in another play-off too once once again it would live the World Cup that would furnish the Tartan Army alongside an extra hurdle. In the form of a ii-legged tie alongside Commonwealth of Australia enroute to the 1986 World Cup inward United Mexican States.
Commonwealth of Australia had won the Oceania Qualifying grouping just were forced to play the runners-upwards in Europe Qualifying Group 7 to claim a home from that region inwards the finals in Mexico.
Scotland had lost the great Jock Stein in tragic circumstances inward their concluding European qualifier inwards Wales when the strain of a difficult fought ane-1 describe proved besides much for the already frail Scotland director who had looked pale too drawn earlier the xc minutes that would sadly try out to live legend Stein'sec final. Alex Ferguson took charge for the Oz two-legger amongst the start game inward Nov 1985 at Hampden.
Frank McAvennie'second opportunism together with Davie Cooper'sec skilful gratis-kicking pose the Scots inward a commanding two-0 Pb, only Jim Leighton inwards goals would accept to live at his best inward the 2nd Leg in Dec 1985 as Commonwealth of Australia gave a expert business relationship of themselves. Drawing 0-0 first, Scotland would so deny them their starting time World Cup finals appearance inwards 12 years inward the Olympic Stadium in Melbourne inward front of a crowd of 32,000.
Scotland ended upwardly losing i-0 to Kingdom of Denmark as well as then 2-1 to Federal Republic of Germany (Gordon Strachan scoring for the Scots) inwards the Mexico finals, earlier drawing 0-0 amongst Uruguay inward a lack lustre last group game. The necktie saw the South Americans reduced to 10 men within the kickoff duo of minutes following a dreadful foul on Gordon Strachan.
Euro 2000
The Euro 2000 qualification play offs saw the Auld Enemy clash over ii legs for a home in the finals.
England took the upper-mitt inwards a robust, yellowish menu led tense first game at Hampden, amongst a two-0 victory in addition to it seemed unlikely Scotland would come back against Seaman, Scholes, Shearer, Owen, Beckham too co inward the 2nd Leg at Wembley.
Once over again the contrary nature of Scottish international football shone through in the 39th minute when Christian Dailly sent Neil McCann away downwards the flank alongside his eventual cross being headed dwelling house by Don Hutchison for ane-0 Scotland.
Only the brilliance of Seaman and sheer bad luck prevented Craig Brown'sec side from taking the tie to extra-time, in addition to Kevin Keegan was a relieved Three Lions Head Coach at the end every bit England squeezed through to Euro 2000 on a ii-1 aggregate.
Euro 2004
It is sometimes forgotten that the much maligned Bertie Vogts really took Scotland to a play off for Euro 2004 qualification only, despite James McFadden scoring a cracker to reach Scotland a daze one-0 first leg atomic number 82 at Hampden, the reality of the Vogts era bit hard in the second game inward Amsterdam. Netherlands hammered the Scots 6-0 (Van Nistelrooy chapeau-fox) for a 6-1 aggregate victory despite inwards grade Barry Ferguson in addition to Darren Fletcher appearing for the visitors.
Euro 2020
Scotland'second about recent play off saw them through to Euro 2020 every bit they made heavy operate of beating Serbia away, taking a deserved atomic number 82 via Ryan Christie, then throwing it away amongst the last impact of the ball, earlier winning a dramatic punishment shoot out later a ane-1 describe cheers to a super topographic point-kick salvage from Mitrovic by David Marshall.
It was also Scotland'second outset tournament qualification since World Cup French Republic 1998. The Scots had beaten Israel on penalties besides inwards their Nations League semi-concluding to qualify for their game against the Serbs, aye Scotland sure beloved to do it the difficult style!
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| David Marshall was penalty hero 5 Serbia |
World Cup 1950?
Some might fence Scotland actually offset imposed a play-off on themselves inwards 1950, when both Scotland as well as England were invited to have part in the get-go World Cup later on WW2 inward Brazil.
The SFA said Scotland would solely go if they were crowned British Home International Champions subsequently the annual four-cornered tournament that ran through the opening years of organised football inwards the United Kingdom until the 1980s. The contest featuring Wales together with Northern Republic of Ireland too, likewise the Scottish in addition to the English language.
This effectively left Scotland having to shell England inward their concluding jibe of the 1950 Home Internationals at Hampden to clear away their self-imposed exile from Brazil. Sadly they lost ane-0 as well as steadfastly refused to travel to the 1950 World Cup despite the invitation remaining open up.
I intend no such "costless pop off" to a finals would be turned downward if it existed in the mod era.
©, 2021
Some might fence Scotland actually offset imposed a play-off on themselves inwards 1950, when both Scotland as well as England were invited to have part in the get-go World Cup later on WW2 inward Brazil.
The SFA said Scotland would solely go if they were crowned British Home International Champions subsequently the annual four-cornered tournament that ran through the opening years of organised football inwards the United Kingdom until the 1980s. The contest featuring Wales together with Northern Republic of Ireland too, likewise the Scottish in addition to the English language.
This effectively left Scotland having to shell England inward their concluding jibe of the 1950 Home Internationals at Hampden to clear away their self-imposed exile from Brazil. Sadly they lost ane-0 as well as steadfastly refused to travel to the 1950 World Cup despite the invitation remaining open up.
I intend no such "costless pop off" to a finals would be turned downward if it existed in the mod era.
By Alex Horsburgh, written for @TFHBs
(All pictures borrowed together with non owned inward any course past TFHB)