SEVILLE has not, it is fair to say, been the happiest hunting ground for Scottish football teams over the years.
In fact, the capital of Andalucia has become synonymous with heartbreak and failure within the game in this country in modern times.
Fans of both Celtic, who played Porto in the UEFA Cup final here in 2003, and Rangers, who took on Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League final in 2022, flocked to the south of Spain in their tens of thousands hoping to celebrate historic successes.
They all returned home with only tears for souvenirs following excruciating narrow defeats. It was a familiar tale on both occasions. No side from these shores has ever prevailed in this picture postcard beautiful city in seven previous attempts.
If Scotland lose their Euro 2024 qualifier against the host nation in La Cartuja here this evening their hopes of reaching the finals in Germany next summer will remain very much alive. Indeed, they could theoretically suffer a 10-0 drubbing in their sixth Group A outing and still find they have secured their place.
Norway, who are eight points behind the section leaders with three matches remaining, need to overcome Cyprus in the AEK Arena in Larnaca or they will be unable to finish in the top two and progress automatically.
But can Steve Clarke’s charges buck a trend, record a famous result and give the Tartan Army footsoldiers who have descended on Seville in large numbers in recent days a night they will remember for the rest of their lives? It will be a tall order.
Still, Clarke, who ended a 23 year absence from the finals of a major tournament when he lead Scotland through to the Euro 2020 finals with that play-off final win over Serbia in Belgrade in 2020, knows that barren runs are there to be ended.
“This team over the last four years has been creating a lot of new history,” he said. “It’s something we speak about quite a lot. When you are in a good moment you have to live that moment. That’s what we are doing, living the moment. Hopefully we can make a few more points for history in future and people can look back and say, ‘wasn’t that a great time for Scottish football?
“I don’t think Scottish teams are the only teams that struggle here. Spain’s home record in the European championship is absolutely unbelievable (they haven’t been beaten in their last 28 qualifiers at home). So it would be nice to put a little dent in it.”
Scotland, though, will find Spain to be far, far more formidable opponents than they were when they beat them 2-0 at Hampden back in March thanks to a Scott McTominay double and will be doing very well to avoid a reverse.
Luis de la Fuentes had not long taken over from his namesake Enrique – who was sacked after his team was beaten by Morocco on penalties in the last 16 of the World Cup in Qatar in December - seven months ago and it was only his second game in charge.
Since then, his men have beaten Italy and Croatia and lifted the Nations League and thrashed Georgia and Cyprus in Euro 2024 qualifying. Alvaro Morata and his compatriots have netted no fewer than 13 goals in their last two fixtures. They will, too, be determined to exact revenge for the last loss they suffered.
Rodri was widely pilloried for his negative comments about Scotland’s style of play earlier this year. The Manchester City midfielder let himself down with his classless and embittered remarks. The £60m man will, however, have an added incentive to perform at his very best tonight.
John Carver, the Scotland assistant manager, believes the fact the Royal Spanish Football Federation have taken this game to Seville shows how serious they are about winning. It is a notoriously difficult location to play.
An exceptional team that contained, among others, Alex McLeish, Richard Gough, Willie Miller, Graeme Souness, Davie Cooper, Paul McStay, Steve Archibald and Mo Johnston found that out to their cost when they played in a World Cup qualifier here back in 1985.
Their goalkeeper Jim Leighton was pelted by oranges and toilet rolls by the home supporters in the 70,410-strong crowd in the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium much to the anger of their manager Jock Stein. They lost 1-0 at the end of the 90 minutes.
The loss of Kieran Tierney, who has been playing his club football in Spain with La Liga outfit Real Soceidad since moving to Basque Country on a season-long loan from Arsenal in August, to injury is a definite blow to Scotland’s chances. The defender has been immense at the back in this campaign.
But Clarke has coped without Tierney in the past and can do so again. Could he decide to change from a back three to a back four? He did so when Robertson was sidelined last year. His team beat and drew with Ukraine and defeated the Republic of Ireland to top their Nations League section and win promotion to Group A.
Switching to a 4-2-3-1 formation would enable him to put another body into midfield - and that could help to cut off the supply to Morata, Marco Asensio and Nico Williams up front.
The visitors need to learn important lessons from the 3-1 defeat they slumped to against England in the 150th Anniversary Heritage Match at Hampden last month if they are to take something from this game and ensure their involvement at Euro 2024.
However, if Angus Gunn, Robertson, Ryan Porteous, Jack Hendry, Aaron Hickey, Callum McGregor, Billy Gilmour, McTominay, John McGinn, Stuart Armstrong and Che Adams are back on form they can give their supporters a memorable result to cheer in Seville.
