Scotland will qualify for the World Cup for the first time this century if they beat Denmark at Hampden on Tuesday.
Here, we look at how they clinched their previous eight trips to the finals.
SWITZERLAND 1954
Racecourse Ground: Wales 1 Northern Ireland 2
Scotland’s progress was sealed when two goals from Peter McParland in Wrexham ensured they would finish in the top two of the British Championship, having taken three points from their opening two matches. Scotland lost out on top spot when they went down 4-2 to England at Hampden but, unlike four years earlier when they turned down the chance to travel to Brazil after finishing second, this time the Scottish Football Association accepted the invite.
SWEDEN 1958
Hampden Park: Scotland 3 Switzerland 2
Scotland started the campaign with a 4-2 win over Spain and sealed top spot in the three-team group with this win, led by captain Tommy Docherty. Goals from Jackie Mudie, Archie Robertson and Alex Scott sealed progress.
GERMANY 1974
Hampden Park: Scotland 2 Czechoslovakia 1
The portents did not look good for Scotland when goalkeeper Ally Hunter’s mistake allowed the visitors to take the lead after 33 minutes. But an equaliser from Jim Holton five minutes before the interval set the stage for a second-half onslaught in front of a 96,000 crowd. Joe Jordan’s header 15 minutes from time lifted the burden of expectation on Willie Ormond’s men.
ARGENTINA 1978
Anfield: Wales 0 Scotland 2.
Wales forfeited home advantage for the tie that would send one of the teams to the finals, but Anfield was taken over by the Tartan Army. A French referee’s decision left the Welsh aggrieved when David Jones was controversially ruled to have handled as he jumped with Jordan. Don Masson’s penalty gave Scotland the lead before a header from Kenny Dalglish three minutes from time clinched qualification.
SPAIN 1982
Windsor Park: Northern Ireland 0 Scotland 0
The build-up to the match centred more on politics than football, with Scotland’s players urged not to travel to Belfast. With Northern Ireland believing a win was required and Scotland unsure of their own fate, the tension got to everyone. Scotland goalkeeper Alan Rough had little to do other than ward off a spell of pressure in the last 10 minutes. As it turned out, both countries qualified, with results elsewhere going their way.
MEXICO 1986
Melbourne: Australia 0 Scotland 0
The elation of scraping a 1-1 draw against Wales in Cardiff to earn a play-off had turned to tragedy with manager Jock Stein’s death from a heart attack. But after winning the home leg 2-0 thanks to goals from Frank McAvennie and Davie Cooper, Scotland, under Alex Ferguson’s guidance, produced a nervous performance at Melbourne’s Olympic Stadium. Goalkeeper Jim Leighton made a string of important saves as the Socceroos threatened a major upset, but in the end Scotland’s greater know-how prevailed to seal their fourth consecutive appearance in the finals.
ITALY 1990
Hampden Park: Scotland 1 Norway 1
Defeat for Scotland would have wrecked their bid for five out of five but they appeared in no danger when Ally McCoist gave them the lead a minute before half-time. However, Norway defender Erland Johnsen unleashed a 30-yard shot in injury time that Leighton reached but could not stop. Tension was the order of the day as Andy Roxburgh’s men hung on.
FRANCE 1998
Celtic Park: Scotland 2 Latvia 0
Scotland knew victory would all but guarantee them a place in France and Kevin Gallacher eased the tension two minutes before the break with his sixth goal in five qualifiers. Gordon Durie headed the second and Scotland’s place was later confirmed when Spain defeated the Faroe Islands 3-1 to allow Craig Brown’s side to travel to the finals as best runners-up.
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