Getty ImagesWhere were you in the summer of 1998?
If, like me, you’re in your early 40s, I’m sure you recall racing home from high school to catch the start of Scotland opening France 98 with a glamour tie against Brazil.
A bit younger and in your 30s, perhaps you can recall a few fleeting memories of John Collins levelling from the penalty spot.
And then there’s a whole new generation of Scots, anyone aged under 28, who weren’t even born the last time Scotland graced the biggest stage in international football.
The world has changed beyond recognition since then.
Tony Blair was prime minister after Labour’s landslide election in 1997, the Spice Girls ruled the charts and Titanic swept the Oscars.
Getty ImagesThe Scotland Act 1998 was passed, establishing the Scottish Parliament after the devolution referendum the previous year.
Everyone had Nokia mobile phones, and Google wasn’t even officially founded until several months after the World Cup.
The only way to get the latest developments was through mainstream media such as newspapers and terrestrial television channels. There was no ability to watch on demand, rewind key moments or catch up, unless you were organised enough to catch it on VHS.
There were no group chats, so you had to pick up the phone or meet your mates to talk about the match or express frustration at how the team had performed.
Fast forward almost three decades and fans are consuming this World Cup in many different ways – watching highlights on streaming services, engaging with short-form reels on social media platforms and listening in to analysis on video podcasts.
Memes galore flood through WhatsApp every time there is a comical or controversial incident – going viral and engagement rates are the currency of the day.
Scotland’s long wait to compete in a World Cup finally comes to an end in the early hours of Sunday morning, when Steve Clarke’s side take on Haiti in their opening match of Group C.
SNS GroupIn a quirk of fate, the other two teams who make up the group – Morocco and Brazil – also featured in Scotland’s group back in 1998.
The aforementioned Brazil match was the curtain raiser, where a cruel Tom Boyd own goal saw the Scots narrowly lose out 2-1 in front of a huge global audience.
Getty ImagesCraig Brown’s team earned a point in their second game, drawing 1-1 with fellow European side Norway – before a soul-sapping 3-0 defeat to the Moroccans ended their participation.
Who would have thought that night – June 23, 1998 – that Scotland would wait almost 30 years to once again compete at the World Cup.
Certainly not anyone aged over 60, who would recall Scotland qualifying for five consecutive World Cups – West Germany in 1974, Argentina in 1978, Spain in 1982, Mexico in 1986 and Italy in 1990.
The 1978 vintage under the guise of Ally MacLeod even thought they were going to win it! Thousands of fans turned up to wish the team good luck as an open-top bus made its way around Hampden.
For the millennials and Generation Z among us, it’s almost too much to comprehend.
SNS GroupThe perceived wisdom is that Scotland needs to get off to a flying start against Haiti, with difficult matches to follow.
Morocco are an entirely different proposition to the side we faced in 1998. They were the surprise package at Qatar 2022, reaching the semi-finals, and also won the recent Africa Cup of Nations, albeit after a controversial and farcical final against Senegal that ended with appeal judges overturning the result.
We keep hearing Brazil “are not the side they once were”, and admittedly, their star power has waned somewhat compared to that opener in Paris, when the Seleção had Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Roberto Carlos at their disposal.
But Carlo Ancelotti’s side still features an incredible wealth of talent and Steve Clarke will be hoping Scotland are in a strong position before taking on the likes of Vinicius Junior, Neymar and Raphinha.
Unlike the run-up to the Euros in 2024, Scotland are coming into the tournament on a run of form, having scored eight goals in their two warm-up matches against Curacao at Hampden and Bolivia in New Jersey.
Thousands of fans have flown to the United States for the historic clash in Boston, while millions more will tune in from living rooms and pubs at home.
The game gets under way at 2am on Sunday (9pm US time), marking the Scots’ first World Cup appearance since the national team were thrashed 3-0 by Morocco in St Etienne at the France 98 tournament 28 years ago.
Clarke has some difficult decisions to make over his starting line-up. For example, who will start in goals? Will it be Craig Gordon, the oldest player to feature in the whole tournament at the age of 43, or will Angus Gunn get the jersey, despite only playing 45 minutes of football the entire domestic season with Nottingham Forest.
SNS GroupThe battle for centre-half is also interesting, with Jack Hendry, Scott McKenna and John Souttar all in contention. At the other end of the pitch, new Rangers signing Lawrence Shankland is in a rich vein of form and there are widespread calls for him to start up front alongside Che Adams.
Scott McTominay was absent from training earlier this week after going down with a stomach complaint and McKenna is nursing a knock, but both are expected to be fit in time for the big kick-off at Boston Stadium, home of the NFL’s New England Patriots.
Among those in attendance will be First Minister John Swinney, who said he is “very optimistic and very excited” about the side’s chances of progressing through to the knock-out stages.
Getty ImagesThe Tartan Army exodus began in earnest earlier this week. Scotland fans have travelled in huge numbers to Massachusetts, overcoming numerous obstacles including exorbitant ticket prices and difficulties obtaining travel visas.
It’s been a long time coming.
The times may have changed but some things remain constant and the Tartan Army always find a way to be heard.
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