World Cup: Scotland must get rid of opening game curse - as opportunity knocks

In the wee hours of Sunday morning, the sight of the Tartan Army back on World Cup parade will be like reacquainting yourself with an old friend.

For Scotland’s sake, the nation will be keeping its fingers crossed that the familiarity does not extend to fatefully looking back at the outcome of an opening fixture when their latest odyssey ends.

Results in those first four cities mentioned – in the global tournaments of 1974, 1978, 1982 and 1990 – represent ‘if only’s’ in Scotland’s World Cup story.

They go a fair way to explaining why one of the most passionate footballing nations on the planet has never made it past the group stages in eight previous finals appearances.

This time around, on Scotland’s welcome return to the world stage after a 28-year absence, the competition’s expanded 48-team format, which allows a number of best third-placed teams to advance, provides their best opportunity yet.

One cursory glance at the make-up of Group C makes it crystal-clear that in order to do that, they must take care of business properly in their opener against Haiti, the second-lowest ranked nation in the competition behind New Zealand.

After that, things get serious. Next up is an excellent Moroccan side, the first African team to reach a World Cup semi-final in 2022. And then, it’s Brazil. Again.

The Haitians are making just their second appearance in the competition. Their first was back in ‘74 when Scotland’s fatal habit of cocking up tournament openers against lesser lights kicked in.

For Haiti today, read Zaire 52 years ago in another tournament where Scotland had the Brazilians for company – just like 82 and 90. It’s a reminder of the fact that a convincing victory is non-negotiable in Massachusetts.

Willie Ormond’s class of ‘74, containing five players from an all-conquering Leeds United side, is widely recognised to have been the best ever to represent Scotland in a major finals.

The problem wasn’t Scotland beating Zaire, but not scoring enough. Their goals at Dortmund’s Westfalenstadion arrived from two of their Leeds contingent in Peter Lorimer and Joe Jordan.

Draws in their next two games against Brazil and Yugoslavia knocked Scotland out on goal difference. They were the only unbeaten side in that competition.

Two-nil up against the African minnows and with Brazil on the horizon four days later in Frankfurt, Scotland eased off and paid a hefty price.

Four years later, a massively-hyped Tartan assortment crashed 3-1 in their opener against Peru, a nation who manager Ally McLeod did not even bother to scout. It set the tone for a disastrous tournament. Notwithstanding that goal from Archie Gemmill against the Dutch in Mendoza.

The Peru opener in Argentina’s second city of Cordoba is remembered for winger Teófilo Cubillas exposing the deficiencies of frizzy-permed Scotland goalkeeper Alan Rough.

It wasn’t so rough in the nations opener against the New Zealanders in Andalusia in Espana 82, but Scotland still had cause for regret.

Like in 74, they went out on goal difference. They beat the Kiwis 5-2, but the two goals conceded were crucial. They were thumped by the bewitching Brazilians in game two and then drew with the Soviet Union.

Major recriminations would again arrive at Italia 90 when they were embarrassed in the port city of Genoa in game one against Costa Rica, who triumphed 1-0 on their World Cup debut. For Cubillas 12 years earlier, read Juan Arnoldo Cayasso. So, Scotland – you have been warned. Let’s hope the lights don’t go out early, this time around.

Steve Clarke’s side will play their part in a weekend feast of action which sees this latest competition truly arrive.

A World Cup without Brazil is like a banquet without wine. Their opener against the Moroccans in New York/New Jersey on Saturday evening has the potential to be one of the games of the group stages.

After winning everything as a club manager, Carlo Ancelotti – he turned 67 this week – is entrusted with reviving the five-time winners.

Seleção are enduring their joint longest-drought without a title – 24 years. It’s their lengthiest wait since 94 when they won in North America.

They will be hoping that lightning strikes twice. Fitness concerns – more especially regarding Neymar – remain an issue as they also do for two other World Cup powerhouses in Germany and the Netherlands.

The Germans will rely on a strong Bayern Munich core, but look deficient in the goalscoring stakes.

Have they ever truly replaced Miroslav Klose? They start against debutants Curacao – whose squad includes Middlesbrough’s Sontje Hansen and Rotherham United’s Ar'Jany Martha – on Sunday tea-time in Houston.

The Dutch also lack stardust in attack. Like with Germany, their group looks tricky. They also begin in Texas later on Sunday against dark horses Japan – Ao Tanaka et al – in Dallas.