WILL CLARK – It can leave you scarred for life, but it is worth the pain
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June 10, 1998 and Scotland were about to face Brazil in the opening match of the World Cup.
I was 15 years old and lived in the middle of nowhere, the school bus used to drop me off two miles from the farm where I grew up as it refused to drive up the pothole ridden single lane road which led to my front door.
That day at school everyone wore See you Jimmy hats, a tartan bunnet with a ginger wig attached.
I ran home as fast as I could, thankfully I was still a fit cross country runner and was three years away from beer and kebabs ruining any chance of an athletics career.
The kick-off was 4.30pm and I got in the door where I missed the first three minutes of the game, the score was 0–0.
But within seconds, Cesar Sampaio scored a close range header to put Brazil in front and I slumped disconsolate on to the sofa and took a lamented swig of my bottle of Moray Cup as I feared a right doing.
But Scotland equalised through a John Collins penalty to give me and the country hope we might get something out of it.
But then the cruellest of ways to lose a game when Tom Boyd scored an own goal to give Brazil victory.
A 1–1 draw with Norway followed thanks to Craig Burley dragging us from behind with the sweetest of lobs over Frode Grodas, gave us hope we could beat Morocco in the final group game.
Unfortunately we got a 3–0 doing, and 3–0 was kind that night.
But it was all in vain for Morocco as Brazil, who had already qualified, fielded a reserve team that got beat 2–1 by Norway and they went through in second place.
Watching Scotland at a World Cup can leave you scarred, and scarred for life at that.
But you always remember every fine detail from a tournament they play at, even if it was 24 years ago.
The younger generation got their first taste of that at the European Championship last year.
Full of optimism for the tournament ahead, children across the country were forced to stare point blank at the stark reality. Following Scotland at a major tournament is a harsh lesson that life is not all smiles and rainbows.
Patrik Schick lobbing David Marshall from 45 yards was sobering enough to suck the bravado from even the most enthusiastic seven-year-old.
Sorry kids, but we warned you this is what supporting Scotland is all about, and just like that the innocence of childhood from another generation has disappeared.
And yet, we believe things have to change, the future can be bright, we can get enough points to nick second place and qualify for the knockout stages of a major tournament.
I have to believe it can eventually happen, it is the only thing that keeps me going as a Scotland supporter.
Scotland face Ukraine at Hampden on Wednesday night and if they win it is a final showdown with Wales on Sunday.
I want to go to Qatar, I’ve booked two weeks off during the group stages especially.
Even though there are no hotels rooms in Qatar during the tournament according to Booking.com.
Whose idea was it to host a tournament which is held almost entirely in one city anyway?
That will be a moan for nearer the time if we qualify for the World Cup. Even if it does leave you scarred for life, supporting Scotland is always worth going through the pain barrier.
