FIVE CELTS HAVE FINAL SAY

CRAIG BROWN was the manager and Celtic had FIVE players involved the last time Scotland played in the finals of a major international tournament.

Steve Clarke is asking his players for a big performance when they take on Russia in the Euro 2020 qualifier at Hampden this evening in the country’s efforts to make the breakthrough after TWENTY-ONE years in the wilderness.

Hoops stars Jackie McNamara, Tosh McKinlay, Tom Boyd, Craig Burley and Paul Lambert all figured in the 3-0 loss to Morocco in Saint-Eteinne to crash out of the 1998 World Cup Finals in France.

Since that evening when Brown’s men ended the group stages without a win after losing 2-1 to the-then world champions Brazil and drawing 1-1 with Norway, the Scots have failed to win through at either European or world level.

Parkhead midfielder Burley had mixed fortunes in the French extravaganza – he netted the equaliser against the Norwegians and was red-carded against the Moroccans in the 55th minute with the team already 2-0 adrift.
For the record the team that played in that last finals appearances was: Jim Leighton (Aberdeen); Jackie McNamara (Celtic, sub: Tosh McKinlay, Celtic, 54), Colin Hendry (Blackburn Rovers capt), David Weir (Hearts), Tom Boyd (Celtic); Craig Burley (Celtic), Paul Lambert (Celtic), John Collins (Monaco); Kevin Gallacher (Blackburn Rovers), Christian Dailly (Derby County) and Gordon Durie (Rangers, sub: Scott Booth, Borussia Dortmund, 83).

Hoops trio Jonathan Gould, Darren Jackson and Simon Donnelly were unused substitutes.