Scotland’s group-stage hoodoo, bad luck or sporting logic? | OneFootball

Scotland’s group-stage hoodoo could finally ease. A single point in the night from Friday to Saturday against Morocco, or from Wednesday to Thursday against Brazil, both at midnight, would all but seal progress. L'Équipe notes the national side have never advanced from the groups in 12 finals, across eight World Cups and four Euros.

Misfortune has often framed the story. The 1958 Manchester United air disaster killed 23 and left Matt Busby unable to take charge of Scotland at the World Cup in Sweden. They also went to Mexico in 1986 without manager Jock Stein, who had died the previous September.

On the pitch the breaks were cruel. Scotland went out in 1974 despite a win and two draws, and were eliminated on goal difference in 1974, 1978, 1982 and at Euro 1996. Freak moments hurt too, from the Alan Hansen and Willie Miller collision that gifted the USSR a goal in 1982, to Tom Boyd’s own goal against Brazil in 1998 and Gary McAllister’s Euro 1996 penalty miss after the ball moved, which Uri Geller later claimed to influence.

Not everything was down to luck. Andy Kerr of the Scottish Football Museum argues that in 1978 Ally MacLeod’s overconfidence, including failing to scout opponents, proved costly. Scotland even went to the 1954 World Cup with only 13 players when 22 were permitted.

Historian John Bleasdale says the team have often fallen short when qualification beckoned, citing Uruguay in 1986, Morocco in 1998 and Hungary at Euro 2024, finished 0-0, 0-3 and 0-1. Anxiety appeared to grow and the narrative fed on itself.

Kerr also points to longstanding issues imposing themselves on weaker opponents, seen in the laboured 1-0 win over Haiti. With Steve Clarke’s side unlikely favourites against Morocco and Brazil, and a 48-team format sending eight best third-placed sides to the knockouts, this could be the time to break through.

Source: L'Équipe