Scotland National Football Team

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Introduction

Team Representation: The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in men's international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association.
Nickname: The team is commonly known as 'The Tartan Army'.
World Cup Appearances: Scotland has qualified for the FIFA World Cup eight times but has never progressed beyond the first group stage.
European Championship: Scotland has qualified for the UEFA European Championship four times.
Home Stadium: Hampden Park in Glasgow is the traditional home of the Scotland national football team.
Recent Performance: Scotland's recent performance in Euro 2024 saw them finish bottom of Group A with one point.

Early Success: Scotland lost just two of their first 43 international matches.
British Home Championship: Scotland won the British Home Championship outright 24 times and shared the title 17 times.
Wembley Wizards: A notable victory was the 5-1 win over England in 1928, earning the team the nickname 'Wembley Wizards'.
World Cup Qualification: Scotland has qualified for the FIFA World Cup eight times, including five consecutive tournaments from 1974 to 1990.
European Championship: Scotland has qualified for the UEFA European Championship four times.

Euro 2024: Scotland finished bottom of Group A with one point after defeats by Germany and Hungary and a draw with Switzerland.
World Cup 2026 Aspirations: Midfielder John McGinn expressed the team's determination to qualify for the World Cup in 2026.
Fan Support: Despite the disappointing performance, the team received strong support from fans both in Germany and back home in Scotland.
Managerial Criticism: Opinions are split on whether Steve Clarke should continue as the national team's manager after the Euro 2024 exit.
Statistical Highlights: Scotland completed 249 passes in the first half against Hungary, the most they have completed in the first half of a major tournament match on record.

Kenny Dalglish: Holds the record for Scotland appearances with 102 caps and shares the record for most goals scored (30) with Denis Law.
Denis Law: Scored 30 goals in 55 appearances for Scotland.
Jim Leighton: Second in appearances with 91 caps, a record for a Scottish goalkeeper.
Hughie Gallacher: Third highest scorer with 24 goals from only 20 games, averaging 1.2 goals per game.
Recent Call-ups: The squad includes players like John McGinn, Scott McTominay, and Andy Robertson.

First Manager: Andy Beattie was the first team manager, taking charge in 1954.
Current Manager: Steve Clarke has been the manager since 2019, leading the team to consecutive European Championships.
Managerial Success: Alex McLeish is statistically the most successful manager with seven wins in ten games during his first spell.
Managerial Criticism: George Burley is considered the least successful manager with just three wins in 14 games.
Recent Criticism: Clarke has faced criticism for the team's performance in Euro 2024, with some fans calling for a change in management.

Hampden Park: Located in Glasgow, it is the traditional home of the Scotland national football team.
History: The current Hampden Park site was opened in 1903 and became the primary home ground from 1906.
Capacity: The stadium has a capacity of 52,000 after redevelopment in the 1990s.
Attendance Record: The record attendance of 149,415 was set during a match against England in 1937.
UEFA Rating: Hampden Park is rated as a category four (elite) stadium within the UEFA stadium categories.

Primary Colors: Scotland traditionally wears dark blue shirts with white shorts and dark blue socks.
Historical Colors: The blue shirt was first used in a rugby international in 1872.
Crest: The shirt is embroidered with a crest based on the lion rampant of the Royal Standard of Scotland.
Alternative Kits: Scotland has used various alternative kits, including white or yellow shirts with blue shorts.
Special Kits: In 2016-17, Scotland wore pink shirts with black shorts and socks as the away kit.

Nickname: The fans are collectively known as 'The Tartan Army'.
Support: The team receives strong support both at home and abroad, with thousands traveling to major tournaments.
Recent Support: Despite the disappointing performance in Euro 2024, fans represented Scotland in the best possible way in Germany.
Fan Behavior: The fans are known for their good behavior and significant contribution to the local economy of host cities.
Emotional Connection: Players and fans share a strong emotional connection, with players often expressing gratitude for the support.