Scotland v Serbia: Scotland need to avoid slow start

WITH many observers predicting an exceptionally tight Group A, a win at Hampden on Saturday would be an ideal start for Craig Levein’s men on the road to Rio.

But Scotland’s recent record in World Cup qualification openers does not make great reading. In the last 20 years, spanning five campaigns, the national team has only won their first group match on one occasion. . .

Macedonia 1 Scotland 0

6 September 2008

An Ilcho Naumoski strike five minutes into George Burley’s competitive bow as Scotland manager was enough to ensure defeat in the baking heat of Skopje.

Things would not get much better for the former Hearts manager, who was sacked 13 months later after failing to qualify for South Africa 2010 and suffering a humiliating 3-0 defeat by Wales in Cardiff.

Scotland 0 Slovenia 0

8 September 2004

A turgid 0-0 draw did little to quell the increasing doubts among the Tartan Army regarding maligned manager Berti Vogts. Paul Dickov had a chipped effort saved in what was the best chance of a poor encounter.

Vogts’ World Cup campaign would ultimately be a brief one. He resigned in November 2004, following a dismal draw against Moldova.

Latvia 0 Scotland 1

2 September 2000

The last victory achieved by the Scots in a World Cup qualification curtain-raiser was a tense one. Craig Brown’s men claimed a dramatic win in Riga thanks to a Neil McCann strike in the 89th minute following a bustling run by Don Hutchison.

Scotland only lost one match in that campaign, to Belgium in Brussels, but only managed four wins, defeating both San Marino and Latvia home and away. A plethora of draws ensured we would not be making the trip to Japan and South Korea.

Austria 0 Scotland 0

31 August 1996

A slow-and-steady start at the Ernst Happel Stadion in Vienna put Craig Brown’s Scotland on the road to France 98, the last major tournament our national team has taken part in.

A sturdy backline of Tom Boyd, Colin Calderwood, Colin Hendry and Tosh McKinlay ensured there was no way through for the hosts, who were ranked six places above the Scots ahead of the encounter.

Switzerland 3 Scotland 1

9 September 1992

Roy Hodgson, currently the man in charge of England, was the man responsible for the disastrous start to Scotland’s USA 94 campaign, and ensured Andy Roxburgh was on borrowed time as national manager.

Hodgson’s Swiss side were too good for their visitors, with Ally McCoist’s goal in Bern proving little consolation on a miserable evening. Roxburgh resigned in 1993 after failing in his mandate to guide the Scots to America.