Burley: I'm fed up dining as Scotland's last World Cup scorer
Craig Burley speaks to FIFA about his memories of France 1998 and what to expect from the current team ahead of their World Cup return.
Burley was the last Scot to score a goal at the FIFA World Cup
The former midfielder was also the last to receive a red card
TV analyst assesses the country's return to global showpiece
Craig Burley is eager for his reign as the 'Last King of Scotland' to finally come to an end. The former Chelsea and Celtic midfielder scored Scotland's last goal at a FIFA World Cup™, almost 28 years ago, during a 1-1 draw against Norway in the group stage of France 1998.
Following Scotland's qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2026™, Burley cannot wait for a player from Steve Clarke's team to dethrone him in North America.
It will not be a simple task, however. Scotland have been drawn in Group C alongside five-time champions Brazil as well as Morocco, who were semi-finalists at Qatar 2022, and Concacaf qualifiers Haiti.
But the 54-year-old, now a respected ESPN commentator in the USA, believes that Clarke's men will be able to count on enormous support from their fans in the stands and the excellent form of Scott McTominay.
Burley spoke to FIFA about his World Cup memories, facing Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos at France 1998, plus Scotland's chances on their return to the grandest stage of them all.
Craig Burley: We had Brazil and Morocco in our group in 1998, but this time we couldn't get Norway, who were the other team we faced in that tournament. I don't know much about Haiti, they beat some decent teams in the qualifiers, so they're not mugs... [but] Scotland have a tendency to step on the biggest banana peel possible, and that has been proven over the years.
Obviously, Brazil are not the same team as in 1998 – they were the world champions with Ronaldo, Dunga and Roberto Carlos. Things have changed for them, but they still have a talented team with a new coach [Carlo Ancelotti]. Morocco have always been strong – I was really surprised in 1998 about how talented the Moroccan players were, and I don't think that really has changed much.
When you look at the players who have come through the Scottish national team over a 60-, 70-year period... some of the greats of the game like [Kenny] Dalglish, [Denis] Law, [Jim] Baxter, [Graeme] Souness, you name it... there's a long list of these great players and Scotland have never made it past the group stage of a major tournament. It's quite embarrassing for me.
Will it be different this time? They have a better chance than most — with eight third-placed teams qualifying — and now it seems that with all these extra teams in the tournaments... some teams can have a bad day in the office and still maybe qualify. So it's going to be tough, as Brazil and probably Morocco will be a tough nut to crack but Haiti, I have no idea.... Scotland should win (that game), but we've seen this movie before.
I watched in 1982 when David Narey scored and poked the bear of Socrates, Zico, and all those guys. I remember watching and thinking, 'Wouldn't it be great to go to South America and play in a World Cup?' I never had that opportunity – it was in France, which was great. Then, when we drew Brazil in 1998, it wasn't just playing against the world champions, but also playing after the opening ceremony.
That Brazil team with Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Dunga, Cafu, Roberto Carlos, Taffarel... it was star-studded. Scotland aren't going to win the World Cup, I think you can accept that. So, if you're not going to win it, you want to play in the big games, and there was nothing bigger than playing against Brazil in the opening game at the Stade de France. It was a magnificent day.
I'm not sure what effect on the game it will have, as many Scottish teams struggle financially, but I think it will do a lot for the support and the belief. There was an acceptance for 20-odd years that, 'Qualification is here but we'll probably screw it up again and be sitting at home.' So now there's a belief that Scotland can get to a World Cup. I certainly hope that kids will do what I was doing, which was sitting there watching it, soaking it all in, and thinking, 'I want that to be me.'
That's one of the things that inspired me – my uncle (George) was in the Scotland squad in 1982, but didn't play... but watching the World Cup inspired me. I sincerely hope that this will inspire more kids to take up the sport, because Scottish football needs a better conveyor belt of kids playing the game and people coming through [into professional football].
I don't know how many are planning to come, but I would say to the fans: come, have fun, and enjoy the atmosphere. From my experience walking around here, Americans love Scottish people for some reason, and many have already visited Scotland or have it on their bucket list. I hope to see many thousands of them here.
I always say to people, 'I'm fed up dining out on it.' It shouldn't really be the case so much has happened (since then). I played in the FA Cup final for Chelsea, won the title with Celtic, captained Scotland and all that... but the goal against Norway, when I chipped the ball over the Norwegian goalkeeper – my good friend and former Chelsea team-mate, Frode Grodas – and ran to the Tartan Army at the corner flag, I was that little boy again in Ayrshire again in 1982 at ten years old. I could have transported back there, it was such a great feeling.
I'm not that bothered anymore about being the last (to score), I'm too old for that now. I hope someone gets to experience that. We all see the pictures now of me with no teeth and all that.... I felt ten feet tall, it was just a magnificent feeling to achieve that. When I was kicking the ball against the garage at half-time during the Brazil-Scotland match (in 1982), that was what I wanted to do — score in a World Cup and I was able to do it.
I'm OK with that. I got a bit of stick at the time, but that's fine. I have a thick skin, these things happen. One of the Scottish players was sent off at UEFA EURO 2024, but I hope that doesn't happen at the World Cup.
He feels like he's ten feet tall right now. He got out of that mire that was Manchester United. He's gone to Napoli, where they've had superstars like Diego Maradona and Gianfranco Zola, and suddenly Scott McTominay becomes a hero. It's an incredible story. He scored some very important goals for Napoli and is now doing the same for Scotland. If he scores at the World Cup, he'll be a hero, but if he scores like he did against Denmark... my God!
The difference for Scotland has been players like McTominay, who have kickstarted their careers again and turned up in big moments. If he does that at the World Cup – and the way his career is going, there's every chance that he might – he won't be buying many drinks in Scotland if he goes back there!