Heartache could cease come 2014 in Brazil

After a spirited performance against Brazil in the tournament opener and clawing back to claim a 1-1 draw against Norway, it looked like Scotland might finally break the group stage hoodoo and make history at France 98'.

With Norway needing a win over reigning world champions Brazil to qualify the Scots were left with the task of defeating unfancied Morocco in St. Etienne to reach the knockout stages of a major finals for the first time.

However, as Peru, Iran and Costa Rica will testify, Scotland do not cope especially well with the pressure of the ‘favourites’ tag when the eyes of the world are watching.

The African side were expected to roll over and clear a path for the Tartan Army but instead they humbled Craig Brown’s team with a thumping 3-0 win, leaving the Scots bottom of Group A and heading home after the first hurdle yet again.

As painful as watching Salaheddine Bassir dance through the Scottish defence and rifle in Morocco’s third was then, it would have been made much worse with the knowledge that it would be Scotland’s last involvement in a major championship for 14 years and counting.

Seven consecutive failed qualifying campaigns have left a generation of Scots growing up without ever knowing what it’s like to see their home country play in a major championships. Despite this, there were signs during the Euro 2012 campaign good times might be just around the corner.

It has been a long time since we had so many players successfully plying their trade in England and in Darren Fletcher and Charlie Adam we have a central midfield pairing who play regularly for two of the biggest clubs in the world.

Left with the unenviable task of having to beat the world champions in the final group game to clinch a play-off place, it was a difficult albeit not uncommon situation for the Scots, who faced a similar final showdown with 2006 World Cup champions Italy during the Euro 2008 tournament. 

It all ended in disappointing but not unexpected failure as Spain strolled to a 3-1 win in Alicante, leaving Scottish fans stranded at home next summer and without a competitive fixture for 11 months.

Attentions will be turned to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil next. But in spite of a favourable draw it will still take an incredible effort to escape an incredibly tight and hard-fought qualifying section. 

It was shaping up to be the sort of horror draw Scotland have been accustomed to as Belgium, Macedonia and Wales were the most difficult teams in pots 3, 5 and 6. But Serbia and Croatia completing the draw instead of a possible Spain and France combination gave the group a much more inviting look. 

While Scots may be slow to underestimate anyone given the recent international exploits, there is little to fear from this bunch. Croatia finished second behind Greece in their Euro 2012 qualifying group and now face a play-off, while Serbia were beaten to a play-off spot by Estonia.

Serbia have already suffered a blow ahead of the World Cup qualifiers too – Manchester United’s Nemanja Vidic and Inter’s Dejan Stankovic announced plans to retire from international football with immediate effect following the country’s failure to reach Euro 2012.

Belgium have a squad of exciting, young players and look like they could be ready to turn the corner after years in the international wilderness. But they also proved disappointing in qualifying, dropping points against Azerbaijan and swept aside for a play-off spot by Turkey.

Scotland lost in Macedonia in the last World Cup qualifying campaign but as long as they can avoid playing them in searing daytime heat then you would expect us to fare better against a team that last week were hammered 4-1 by Armenia.

Even Wales, despite being the lowest seed, will fancy their chances in this group given their habit of dishing out morale crushing defeats to the Scots and the strong way they finished their last group.

While Craig Levein has a reasonably strong backline and a talented pool of midfielders to choose from, the biggest concern for him will be up front. Kenny Miller will be 34 by the time the next World Cup rolls around, and his style of play doesn’t exactly make it easy on his already creaking hamstrings.

Steven Fletcher would be a first pick but neither the Wolves striker nor Levein have intimated they are ready to mend differences after falling out earlier this year. If they don’t, Levein will need to find a new source of goals if there is to be any hope of reaching Brazil.

The major finals drought stretching to 16 years would be painful to bear, but at least Euro 2016 will be extended to 24 teams. That will either help Scotland finally end the barren... or at the very least provide fans with new and comical ways of failing to qualify.