Scott Booth + an impregnable defence = qualification
Reeling from missing the World Cup for the first time since 1970, Scotland were only third seeds in this group but struck it lucky as Greece were one of the weakest second seeds they could have drawn...though we did lose there in our fourth match. Having being held at home by Russia already, we looked like we could come third in a three horse race for the two qualification slots.
Remarkably only three goals were conceded in ten matches with six consecutive clean sheets to finish the campaign. Given the lack of quality at centre-back nowadays, the thought of being able to pick Tom Boyd, Colin Hendry and Colin Calderwood makes me weep with both nostalgia and frustration.
Highlights included Duncan Shearer scoring in Helsinki whilst taking a kick right in the chops.
But there was plenty of Ultimate Craig Brown Football, where games against the likes of Finland were grim to watch but always seemed to finish 1-0 or 2-0 with Scott Booth scoring one.
But lets make this clear; there might have been little in the way of thrills or frills, but this was a damn fine team.
And it let no-one down at the finals itself. But twenty-three years on it still hurts too much to think of Gary McAllister's penalty, Gazza's goal, and coming up just short against the Swiss.
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