GLORIOUS failure has long been a trait of our international football side. Especially so in the World Cup, with perhaps the exception of Argentina '78.
Four years prior to that calamity, though, the Scots took part in their first World Cup finals since Sweden '58, playing in a group which included the mighty Brazil, Yugoslavia, and Zaire in West
Germany.
The Scots held the Brazilians to a 0-0 draw in Frankfurt, defeated Zaire 2-0, and conceded their only goal of the tournament, against Yugoslavia in a 1-1 draw.
True to form, though, it was not enough to ensure qualification to the latter stages and the Scots were eliminated on goal difference, with Brazil topping the table.
None the less, it was a fine tournament for the Scots, one which goalkeeper David Harvey recalls with fond memories.
''It was an extremely enjoyable tournament,'' he began. ''The end result could've been better but overall our performances were very good.''
The Scottish squad bound for France would, without doubt, be delighted with another 0-0 draw with the Brazilians in their World Cup opener.
However, the strapping Harvey recalls the match against the silky South-American's with more than a hint of disappointment.
''We were more worried about them before the game kicked off than during it,'' he recalled. ''But in all honesty I wasn't particularly busy that day and I was bitterly disappointed that we didn't take more from it - we had a right few chances.
''Strangely, it was run-of-the-mill stuff against the Brazilians and hopefully we can get another result like it this time.''
Rather understandably, Harvey cites his world Cup experience as the most satisfying of his career. However, that belief shouldn't be taken lightly because throughout his 20-year-long Leeds United career the Yorkshire-born Scot has enjoyed tremendous success.
He was a main part of the championship-winning sides of 1969 and 1974, won the FA Cup in 1972, and was involved in the European Cup-winning campaigns of 1970 and 1975 - although a broken leg ruled him out of the latter stages of the 1975 final.
He also had the unwanted distinction of missing the deciding penalty in the final of the Charity Shield in 1974 against Liverpool. After that, the idea of ending the Charity Shield with penalties was scrapped.
When his Leeds career ended in 1983, Harvey joined team-mate and fellow countryman Peter Lorimer in Canada for three years. He played for Vancouver Whitecaps in the North American Soccer League and described his time there as a ''complete change of scenery for me - but one I thoroughly enjoyed.''
Looking ahead to this year's World Cup, Harvey believes the Scots could be on the verge of qualifying for the first time in the country's history.
''I think it may surprise a few people but I will be disappointed if we don't qualify from this
section, I think we have a real chance.''
Harvey, now 50 years old, has spent the last five years as a crofter in his native Yorkshire.
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