Take the playoff hammering at the hands of Netherlands in 2003, the defeats to Georgia and Italy in 2008, or the infamous 4-6-0 formation against the Czech Republic in 2012.
Nobody could have predicted that barren spell, which lasted 196 matches.
The elder statesman in Scotland’s Euro squad, 38-year-old goalkeeper Craig Gordon, remembers running to his friend’s home after school on June 10 that year to watch Colin Hendry lead Scotland against Brazil in their World Cup opener in the Stade de France.
Such is Scotland’s abundance of left-sided players, with Arsenal’s Kieran Tierney also in the squad, they’ve shifted formation to accommodate both in the same team.
Then you have Southampton’s Che Adams up front, the ever-dependable Marshall or Gordon in goal, and a spine forged in the Premier League.
“I can think of better Scotland teams — you can go back to the side I was part of that didn’t make it past England in the playoffs,” Don Hutchison, who won 26 caps for Scotland from 1999 to 2003, told ESPN.
Between 1998 and 2021, Scottish football lurched through an ugly cycle of eager expectation and brutal heartbreak; the two emotions would clash as tournaments came and went.
But, after they finished third behind Belgium and Russia in Euro 2020 qualifying Group I, Scotland were offered another chance via the playoffs due to their success at the top of Nations League pool C.
In an empty Red Star Stadium, they led Serbia 1-0 through Ryan Christie’s goal, only for Luka Jovic to score an equaliser in the 93rd minute.
Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic strode up for Serbia’s last penalty; he hit it low, to the right but Marshall pounced off his line and batted it away.
“I know I’m definitely one of the slowest players in the squad, but I was one of the first to jump on the pile of celebrating bodies.
The twin incentives of qualifying and hosting matches had kept Gordon focused in the hope of one day making a major tournament.
Gordon and I spoke in late May, just a few days before Scotland were due to begin their pre-tournament training camp in Spain.
Having started his career at Hearts and then moved to Sunderland in 2007, Gordon’s career was halted by knee problems in 2012.
“And then once I managed to get a level of fitness that allowed me to do that, I wanted to be the best that I possibly could…
After six strong years at Celtic, having joined in 2014, Gordon had two options: stay at Celtic in a supporting role, or move elsewhere and prove his form, keeping his dreams of a Scotland recall alive.
In the process, he set a new record for the longest-spanning international career for a Scottish player at 16 years, 5 months and 17 days.
Hearts’ season finished on April 30 with promotion, but Gordon asked to train with the team’s U-18s and reserves, who still had games left.
The younger players in the team won’t have any fear, as they haven’t been weathered by the years of failure, while they’ll also be buoyed by the buzz around the country as the tournament starts.
“It’s going to be a challenge, but we’re looking to be the first Scottish team to get out of the group,” Gordon said.
And I sort of said to the sort of attendant, like ‘this is for my dad, but he’s passed away, so if you if you feel as though someone really needs this ticket, give the ticket away, obviously, but don’t tell me, I don’t want to know’.