Craig Brown in Scotland hope and expectation claim as he compares Steve Clake's squad to France 1998 heroes

For too long the tortured Tartan Army’s mantra remained: ‘It’s the hope that kills you’.

Yet for Craig Brown - still the last man to guide Scotland to a World Cup Finals 24 years ago - the outcry that accompanied failure to reach major tournaments back in the 90s was akin to having killed someone himself.

Having qualified for five consecutive World Cups between 1974 and 1990 the nation expected - not hoped - to take it’s place at the greatest show on earth.

When that remarkable run finally came to an end ahead of USA 94 there was uproar.

Thankfully Brown, who had been assistant to Andy Roxburgh for that qualifying campaign in which we finished behind Italy, Switzerland and Portugal in a ridiculously hard group, restored normality four years later by guiding Scotland to France 98.

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But then came the barren years. More than two decades and five World Cups in the wilderness.

Expectation had turned to forlorn hope among the footsoldiers on the terraces.

That was until Steve Clarke arrived on the scene exactly three years ago and began a restoration job that saw us end the major finals exile by leading Scotland to last year’s European Championships.

A year on and Scotland stand on the cusp again with a