Scotland are on the ‘brink of history’ ahead of the World Cup in Brazil

While fans have been in party mode for the past few days and weeks, it is felt that some are now starting to crunch the numbers.

“I pull out my spreadsheets every day. We’re not counting our chickens yet, but I feel like we should be fine,” said Brian Guthrie of Iverness.

“I called in sick to be here. I’d be hard pressed not to continue. I’d love to go to Mexico City and the spreadsheet says it could happen.”

For Ewen Macdonald, from Macrihanish in Argyll and Bute, the match is also a chance to make history.

The 44-year-old celebrated his 16th birthday on Tuesday, 28 years after watching Scotland lose 3-0 to Morocco – a result that ended his country’s World Cup hopes in France 1998.