It's the ultimate dream for every Scotland fan – their national team returning to the world stage after a 28-year wait. And as Steve Clarke's squad prepares to take on the best in the business, we're hearing from three Scots who've been there and done it. Paul Lambert, Darren Jackson, and Rachel Corsie all played at the World Cup, with Lambert and Jackson part of the 1998 squad that gave fans a taste of what to expect. Corsie captained the women's team four years ago, but her experience is just as relevant in understanding the enormity of this moment.
For these three, the experience was nothing short of surreal – "a feeling like no other", they all agree. Lambert and Corsie highlight the gruelling build-up to the tournament as one of the most intense periods in their careers. It's a pressure cooker where every detail is under the microscope: maintaining peak fitness, avoiding injury, keeping clubs happy, and staying focused on that elusive spot in the squad.
For Darren Jackson, it wasn't until he stepped onto the pitch against Brazil at the Stade de France that the magnitude of it all hit home. The sight of Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Dunga, Roberto Carlos, and Cafu loomed large – these weren't just opponents, they were football legends. And for Paul Lambert, who's won a Champions League trophy, playing at a World Cup was always the childhood dream he never dared to imagine would come true.
But it's not all about the glamour of facing the world's best teams. The reality is that fatigue becomes a distant memory as you're completely consumed by each match. Rachel Corsie's advice? Suck every moment in – this is once-in-a-lifetime stuff, and your family and friends will be bursting with pride when it's over.
The squad dynamic is crucial too. Paul Lambert praised the "club atmosphere" that Craig Brown created during their 1998 campaign, while Darren Jackson echoed that a strong team bond makes all the long hours and downtime bearable. This support system is what gets you through the most testing times – and it's what will drive Scotland forward as they take on the world.