What history tells us about Scotland's World Cup openers

What history tells us about Scotland's World Cup openersImage source, SNSImage caption, Scotland faced Brazil in Paris in their most recent men's World Cup openerByNick McPheatBBC Sport ScotlandPublished3 minutes agoThere is evidence to suggest why Scotland fans are heading into a World Cup opener against an 83rd-ranked nation with an equal sense of trepidation and excitement.Just say the names of Costa Rica or Peru and you will see a shudder go down the spine of any experienced member of the Tartan Army.With Sunday's (02:00 BST) encounter with Haiti ending a 28-year absence from football's grandest stage, BBC Scotland has been digging through the archives.So what does history tell us about the Scots' World Cup curtain-raisers?The rise and rise of 'Meatball' McGinnPublished1 hour agoScotland have chip on shoulder in search of historyPublished8 hours agoSet up BBC Sport website and app to show you more Scotland this World CupPublished2 days agoZaire regret & punished by PeruScotland would have to wait until 1974 for their first victory at a World Cup, never mind one in the opening game, after winless tournaments in 1954 and 1958.Goals from Peter Lorimer and Joe Jordan ensured a 2-0 success over minnows Zaire in West Germany - a result the Tartan Army would certainly sign up for this weekend.But it was a scoreline Willie Ormond's men ultimately went on to regret. Draws with Brazil and Yugoslavia meant Scotland failed to progress on goal difference.An unbeaten three-game sequence of one win and two draws would almost guarantee qualification for the knockouts under the more favourable current-day format. Not back then, though."In hindsight we should have tried to score more goals," said former striker Jordan. "Looking at the big picture, it was a mistake. There was a bit of naivety in it. If that game had been our second or third, the scoreline might have been a little different."Four years later, manager A...