Gordon Strachan - International Career

International Career

Strachan won his first cap for Scotland on 16 May 1980, in a British Home Championship defeat to Northern Ireland at Windsor Park. Strachan helped Scotland qualify for the 1982 FIFA World Cup, and scored a crucial goal in qualifying by scoring the only goal against Sweden at the Råsunda Stadium in Stockholm. He did not feature in the 1982 British Home Championship, as Jock Stein wanted to rest him for the World Cup in Spain. The Scots cruised to a 5–2 victory over New Zealand at the Estadio La Rosaleda; Strachan was named as 'Man of the Match'. Scotland then lost 4–1 to a world-class Brazil side at the Estadio Benito Villamarín. In the third game, a 2–2 draw with the Soviet Union back in Málaga saw Scotland exit the tournament on goal difference.

They also qualified for the 1986 FIFA World Cup. However shortly after the draw with Wales at Ninian Park on 10 September 1985, Jock Stein died of a heart attack, and his assistant Alex Ferguson took charge for the World Cup campaign. To complete their qualification, they had to beat Australia in a play-off; Strachan played in the first leg at Hampden Park, but did not travel to Melbourne for the second leg. The Scots faced a tough draw in Mexico, and lost their opening match at Estadio Neza 86 1–0 to the unseeded – but highly fancied – Denmark. Strachan then scored in a 2–1 defeat to West Germany at the Estadio Corregidora; his goal celebration was memorable, as he tried to climb the advertising hoardings, but was thwarted by his short stature and so merely rested his leg on the hoarding before he was joined by his teammates. In the third and final group game back in Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl, Scotland drew 0–0 with Uruguay despite their opponents going down to ten men almost from the first whistle after José Batista attempted to take Strachan out of the game. He fell out of the first team picture under Andy Roxburgh, and was left out of the squad for the 1990 FIFA World Cup. Nevertheless he enjoyed a national team revival between 1990 and 1992, and captained his country in qualification for UEFA Euro 1992. However he did not travel to Sweden as a member of the squad as he announced his retirement due to long-term back troubles. He won 50 full caps, and scored five international goals.