Ally McCoist admits being left out of the Scotland squad for France 98 is the worst he’s ever felt in football and still thinks about the snub "every day".
The striker had just left Rangers as their record goalscorer after 15 years at Ibrox. He netted in his final appearance, but it wasn't enough to stop the Light Blues losing the 199 Scottish Cup final 2-1 to Hearts.
Approaching the twilight of his career, McCoist still netted 16 goals in 26 appearances in all competitions during Walter Smith’s final, trophyless season of his first spell in charge of the Govan club. McCoist still feels that form should have been enough for him to make the cut for Craig Brown’s squad, who were set to open the tournament in Paris against holders Brazil, before taking on Norway and Morocco in a bid to reach the knock-out stage for the first time ever.
But it was heartbreak for McCoist as he was left out of the 22-man pool. Brown opted for Rangers teammate Gordon Durie, Celtic duo Simon Donnelly and Darren Jackson along with Kevin Gallacher as his striking options, leaving McCoist back home.
The striker still travelled to the World Cup as a pundit and a fan. But the omission still hurst him 24 years on and just like he predicts Kane will think about his England penalty miss that saw them beaten by France in Saturday’s quarter-final showdown, it still haunts the talkSport presenter.
“It’s the worst I’ve ever felt in football,” he said. “The worst I’ve felt by an absolute mile. I was in tears.
“You realise there are far more important things, and there are. But at that time, that was the most important thing and it’s the worst I’ve ever felt in football by some considerable distance, because I knew I should have gone. 100 per cent I should have gone.
“You’re talking to me and we’re having this discussion and I’ve said Harry kane will think about that penalty for the next five years. I think about not going to the World Cup in France every day. Every day, honestly.”
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