Scotland are pushing to do something their national football team has only achieved once before as they aim for a place at Euro 2024 in Germany.
If Steve Clarke’s side can secure their goal of a spot at the tournament, they will have made it to back-to-back European Championships for the first time since their double qualification in 1992 and 1996.
Members of the Tartan Army will now be quietly confident of planning a trip to Germany, after a strong start in Group A qualifying, alongside having the back up option of a UEFA Nations League assured playoff.
The Sporting News looks at Scotland’s record at the European Championship and how they have fared in previous years.
MORE: Euro 2024 qualifying group tables, standings, fixtures and results for UEFA tournament qualifiers
Scotland at UEFA European Championships
Scotland did not enter the first two European Championships and they failed to qualify for any of the editions between 1968 and 1988.
That picture changed for Euro 92, as they secured a place at the tournament, before bowing out in the group stages in Sweden.
Euro 96 in England was a huge chapter in Scottish football history. And despite picking up four points from their first two group games, defeat to England meant another group stage exit.
Another 14-year gap followed that famous summer, before the Scots reached Euro 2020, but no wins from three games saw them fall at the first hurdle again.
| Year | Stage reached |
| 1960 | Did not enter |
| 1964 | Did not enter |
| 1968 | Did not qualify |
| 1972 | Did not qualify |
| 1976 | Did not qualify |
| 1980 | Did not qualify |
| 1984 | Did not qualify |
| 1988 | Did not qualify |
| 1992 | Group stages |
| 1996 | Group stages |
| 2000 | Did not qualify |
| 2004 | Did not qualify |
| 2008 | Did not qualify |
| 2012 | Did not qualify |
| 2016 | Did not qualify |
| 2020 | Group stages |
Scotland’s FIFA World Cup record
| Year | Stage reached |
| 1930 | Did not enter |
| 1934 | Did not enter |
| 1938 | Did not enter |
| 1950 | Qualified but withdrew |
| 1954 | Group stage |
| 1958 | Group stage |
| 1962 | Did not qualify |
| 1966 | Did not qualify |
| 1970 | Did not qualify |
| 1974 | Group stage |
| 1978 | Group stage |
| 1982 | Group stage |
| 1986 | Group stage |
| 1990 | Group stage |
| 1994 | Did not qualify |
| 1998 | Group stage |
| 2002 | Did not qualify |
| 2006 | Did not qualify |
| 2010 | Did not qualify |
| 2014 | Did not qualify |
| 2018 | Did not qualify |
| 2022 | Did not qualify |
Scotland didn’t enter the first three editions of the World Cup. They qualified for the 1950 finals but the Scottish FA stated they would only take part if Scotland won the 1950 British Home Championship. Scotland finished runners-up after losing to England and therefore weren’t involved in the World Cup.
In the 1954 British Home Championship, Scotland again finished second, but this time they were given permission by the SFA to play in the World Cup for the first time. However, they ended up going out in the group stages, something they endured again four years later. They failed to win a match in either tournament.
Scotland have never managed to progress beyond the group stages in any of the eight World Cups for which they have qualified for. They reached five consecutive tournaments between 1974 and 1990, winning four group games in total, but they could not progress to the knockouts.
In 1998, Scotland were narrowly beaten 2-1 by reigning world champions Brazil before drawing 1-1 with Norway. A victory on matchday three over Morocco, coupled with a draw or Brazil win in the other match, would have sent Craig Brown’s men into the last 16. However, a 3-0 loss to Morocco and Norway’s late comeback win over the Selecao saw Scotland finish bottom of the group.