Kevin Gallagher recalls “feeling like a 10-year-old” when he watched the World Cup draw as a Scotland striker in 1997.
The former Dundee United forward was part of Craig Brown’s squad at the 1998 finals.
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“It was a boyhood dream [to play in a World Cup],” the 59-year-old told BBC Breakfast.
“I’d seen Scotland play Brazil before in a World Cup but my boyhood dream, in my mum and dad’s back garden, was to play Brazil in a World Cup final.
“That night, when I sat and watched a draw for the World Cup with major interest, when we saw the draw was Brazil as the first game, I shrank to about a 10-year-old.”
Scotland will find out their group-stage opponents for the 2026 World Cup tonight (the draw starts at 17:00 GMT) but Gallagher knows the Tartan Army will be backing the squad all the way no matter their opponents.
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“Getting there is key,” he added.
“We were getting absolutely slaughtered by the Scottish fans for being Dad’s Army because a lot of the guys were in their 30s, this was our last opportunity. It’s very similar to the squad now. There’s a few guys in there who, if we qualified for the next World Cup, wouldn’t be there.
“The Scotland fans are the best in the world. As long as the players give 100% and the supporters feel that, they’ll always be behind you. That’s what’s special about them.
“I think that’ll help the lads hopefully relax that little bit because the fans will be the 12th man.”
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