Graeme Sharp reckons Steve Clarke's squad have mastered one crucial aspect ahead of the big kick off in North America.
06:00, 05 Jun 2026
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The Scotland squad at the 1986 World Cup finals(Image: Bob Thomas/Getty Images)
A divided camp. Fragmented and ultimately failed.
Graeme Sharp remembers a time when a Scotland World Cup squad was far from the united state of the current group bidding to make history in the United States.
Forget ‘in it together’ - Scotland’s Mexico ’86 line-up was more ’us and them’ according to the former Everton icon.
He admits it was “madness”. But it’s exactly why he holds out better hope for Steve Clarke’s spirited team of tartan warriors to outdo the class of 86 over the coming weeks.
Sharp still insists the players that headed across the Atlantic 40 years ago was far better than the measly single point won from three group stage games against Denmark, West Germany and Uruguay suggests.
Just like now they had top talents plying their trade across Europe’s top leagues.
Sharp was just off a prolific season with the Toffees where he banged in 19 goals beside strike partner Gary Lineker.
Frank McAvennie had finished second top scorer in England’s top flight behind Lineker with 26 goals for West Ham.
Graeme Souness was heading back to Scotland from Sampdoria to be player-manager at Rangers, Steve Archibald was loving life at Barcelona.
Then there was Charlie Nicholas, Paul McStay, Davie Cooper, Gordon Strachan, Steve Nicol, Willie Miller, Alex McLeish, Richard Gough, Roy Aitken, Jim Leighton.. the individual quality available to Sir Alex Ferguson was incredible.
But unity in the group was not. Ferguson’s decision to leave Liverpool’s Alan Hansen out of his squad caused a stir. Anfield pal Kenny Dalglish then withdrew from the squad through injury raising unsubstantiated claims the two were not unlinked.
Even at the finals, and a win-or-bust clash against the Uruguayans in the final game which ended goalless, the decision to drop Souness brought rumblings.
Turning his mind back, Sharp admits there was a clear divide between the Anglos and the Scottish based players.
He said: “Yeah, absolutely. That’s spot on. I thought our squad going to Mexico 86 was really, really strong.
“Listen, when you're playing in England, you're playing against these guys, then you have a relationship with them.
“When you're not playing with the Scottish-based boys, they're playing in their own league, and then you meet up .. it was a kind of ‘them and us’ situation.
“It was absolute madness and I don't think it was through any fault of the English lads because we were quite hospitable, wanting to mix.
“There were some big hitters in those days, and you always seemed to know that you weren't playing. It seemed to leak out in the Press.
“So, it was difficult. I wouldn't say it was a clique but suppose you had guys playing in Scotland, who knew each other, so they’d probably go and eat together at a table.
“But Sir Alex, when we went down to Santa Fe to prepare for the tournament, was great.
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Walter Smith assisted Scotland manager Alex Ferguson during the 1986 World Cup(Image: SNS Group)
“He made sure that six of us would go out with him, six of us would go out with one of the coaches, six would go out with another coach.. they'd all go for a meal.
“Sir Alex was trying to get this bond together in Mexico. But it wasn't like a club atmosphere, gelling together.
“On that trip there were no problems - but I think there were a few things before.
“Alan Hansen got left out and Kenny wasn't there. Then Graeme got left out for the last game against Uruguay.
“So, I think there was a few rumblings that people looked at and thought things weren't right there.”
Which, thankfully, could hardly be further from the spirit in the camp currently preparing for a first World Cup appearance in 28 years in North America.
Skipper Andy Robertson has dubbed it the “best group ever to lead”.
And Sharp said: “It’s really important. You want everybody pulling in the right direction.
“You don't want it to be all about individuals, it's got to be a team. You know, you'll find that teams will win more things than individuals.
“Scotland's got that good bond, you see them in the qualifiers, the way they react, the way they respond, when they celebrate, they're all in it together. So, that's a big, big plus.
“It'll be tough, it's not an easy group, but it never is when Scotland get to the World Cup finals. Fingers crossed we can get through the opening stages. It's certainly not beyond them.
“There's hope and belief. Go and enjoy it. Go and play, the way we know you can play, there's nothing to be fearful of.”
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Scotland players celebrate their World Cup qualification
There is one similar obstacle to ’86 standing in the way of the current Scotland squad though.
The intense climate, particularly in Miami where Clarke’s troops will face Brazil in the final group game.
Sharp remembers struggling to catch his breath in the do-or-die clash with the brutally physical Uruguayans - even after the South Americans were reduced to 10-men after just one minute.
He said: “We found it very difficult in Mexico. We went to Santa Fe in New Mexico to try and acclimatise, but it doesn't matter how much you do when it comes to a match day, especially when you can't get the ball off the opposition.
“When you start at first, you think, ‘oh my God, where are we?’
“In those conditions, you want to keep the ball for long phases, and have a rest, so it's going to be difficult for Scotland.
“We know that, with the opposition as well, but the acclimatisation is going to be tough.”
Clarke has a choice of five strikers for Scotland's return to the big stage - Torino's Che Adams, new Rangers signing Lawrence Shankland, Ipswich Town's George Hirst, Charlton hitman Lyndon Dykes and Southampton's Ross Stewart.
Only Hirst, with newly-promoted Ipswich, can claim to be a Premier League striker. And Sharp reckons Clarke has a major headache over how to set up in each of the three group games.
He said: “You don't want to be too detrimental but I don't see many of them playing in the English Premier League.
"I'm not saying that's always the one thing you've got to look for but I think the quality of strikers is difficult.
“I just don't know who Steve prefers, and it's going to be a difficult choice for him, how they play, how they set up.
“Do they play with one up top on his own? You talk about conditions and everything else and he's more qualified than myself.
“Getting an out-and-out goal scorer now, it's a tough, tough job. But listen, whoever they play…. Lyndon Dykes is a strong character, he can get a hold of it. He might be your best bet, but he might have to change things around.
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“I don't know what he's going to do, but I'm sure Steve knows in his mind what his first 11 is going to be, and whoever that striker may be, we'll just have to wait and see.”
* Graeme Sharp was speaking to promote Premier League rivals Newcastle United and Everton clash at Edinburgh’s iconic Scottish Gas Murrayfield on 12 August. Tickets available now at Ticketmaster.