From the Arlington Bar to America, Scotland are back on the world stage

I vividly remember the opening match of France ’98.

A few of my STV colleagues and I were in the Arlington Bar in Glasgow’s West End as we watched the cruellest of own goals. The ball glancing off Tom Boyd, trickling past Jim Leighton into the back of the net.

It felt like slow motion. It felt like a punch in the stomach.

Who would have thought we would suffer more pain – 27 years of pain. But not anymore.

The scenes of unbridled joy as Kenny McLean’s audacious strike from inside his own half against Denmark rubberstamped Scotland’s return to the global stage will live long in the memory. Very long. It was a night like no other.

The countless social media clips of the goals, Scotland fans going bananas, and Alasdair Lamont’s excellent commentary for BBC Radio Scotland went viral. And no wonder.

Scotland don’t normally win games like this. Rather, we are often on the receiving end. And what about the three majestic strikes? From Scott McTominay’s incredible overhead kick to Kieran Tierney’s sizzler. Spare a thought for Lawrence Shankland – few have talked about his tap-in that put us 2-1 up!

Steve Clarke isn’t one who shows much emotion, but even he was caught up in the pandemonium.

This was a massive moment for the country and the Scotland head coach, as he became the first national team boss to secure qualification to three major tournaments.

Following our pitiful exit from Euro 2024, there was a clamour for Clarke to fall on his sword. Battered in the opening match by Germany, devoid of ideas in the must-win game against Hungary, Scotland’s tournament was over.

When I recently interviewed SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell, he said not once did the governing body think about Clarke’s position and neither did the Scotland boss.

Clarke’s paymasters have been proven right. The 62-year-old has now unquestionably cemented himself as one of the best Scotland managers of all time. For Maxwell, he is the best, “no question”, as he put it.

Since that historic night at Hampden, thousands of Scots are eagerly anticipating Friday’s draw. Who are we going to get? How are we going to get there? How can I possibly get a ticket? Doubtless, some of the questions are being asked by many.

For the first time, the tournament will feature 48 teams, up from 32, divided into 12 groups of four countries. And for the first time, it’ll be hosted by three nations.

The top two teams of each group qualify automatically to the round of 32, along with the eight best third-placed teams.

The location of the host cities is split into three regions – Western, Central and Eastern. We’ll all have our preference as to where we would like Scotland to be based, but I reckon the East is the most appealing. What’s not to love about New York, Boston and Miami?!

It would also surely be the easiest from a logistical point of view for the tens of thousands of Scots who are expected to travel across the Atlantic.

“The draw will be what it’ll be,” was Maxwell’s response when asked if there was a preference as to which region he’d like Scotland to be in.

Indeed, wherever our team will be based, the fans will travel. It’s estimated that around 100,000 Scots were in Munich for last year’s opening match at the Euros. And it was a sight to behold.

Young, old. Male, female. Scots revelled in the moment. And, despite the journeys they’ll encounter for next summer’s World Cup, these fans will once again savour the occasion. Many, like me, have waited a lifetime for this.

The beauty about the national team is that it unifies a group that can often be divided.

Rivalries are put aside as we get on board the Scotland bus. Think back to the Denmark game. Think back to James McFadden’s winner against the Netherlands. Think back to Gary Caldwell’s goal against France. You catch my drift.

Here’s hoping there are more moments of brilliance when our World Cup commences. Steve Clarke is tasked with doing something Scotland have never done – qualify for the knockout stages of a major tournament. With the new format comes a better opportunity to achieve this.

Sure, a lot may depend on the draw.

Maxwell, Clarke and SFA president Mike Mulraney will be at Friday’s glitzy spectacle in Washington. As will I.

From the Arlington Bar to America, it’s been 28 years in the making. Scotland will be back at the biggest stage of them all.

June can’t come soon enough. Friday’s glamour draw will tell us what lies in wait at the World Cup finals.