What’s it like to… play in the opening game of the World Cup?

Colin lined up alongside Colin Hendry in central defence as Scotland took on Brazil in the opening match of the 1998 World Cup in France. Opposite, in the yellow corner, a quite fearsome front four of Giovanni, Bebeto, Rivaldo and, of course, spearheaded by R9, Ronaldo – not forgetting the likes of Roberto Carlos, Cafu and Dunga!

Scotland were also packed with talent – Burley, Lambert, Collins, Durie, Gallacher – and weren’t there to make up the numbers.

Fast-forward 28 years and the greatest football show on earth is all set to kick off again this evening as co-hosts Mexico take on South Africa in the opening game of the 2026 World Cup.

It’s one of the showpiece matches in football – and Colin was part of it at the Stade de France in 1998, an experience he was happy to share with us again this week.

So Colin, what’s it like to… play in the opening game of the World Cup?

Colin: “It’s a game that’s certainly put on a pedestal. It’s either the hosts country of the previous winners and in this case, it was the previous winners in Brazil. Initially, following the draw, it took a little while to realise that that was going to be the opening game! It just adds another level to that game - playing Brazil, playing the winners, opening the World Cup, and the first time we'd been there for a number of years as well. There is a big build-up. I must admit, once you get into March or April time, as soon as the draw's made, you're thinking, ‘I've got to make sure I keep my form and stay in the squad’.

“It was pretty nerve-wracking, I must say. The only slight advantage was we had something similar in Euro 96, when our first game was against Holland, who were big, big favourites, yet we got Gary McAllister and John Collins on the ball and that gave us all self-belief and confidence to settle down. That experience definitely helped, because now we’re going into this game against Brazil and you’ve got Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Bebato, it was a multi-talented team and we had the worst possible start. It was all about settling into the game, first passes, stay solid, get through the first 10 minutes – and they scored after five minutes (Cesar Sampaio) from a corner. You’re thinking all about their Samba football, and they beat us from a corner and an own goal!

“It was a pity, because through qualifying, we were excellent defensively, minimal goals against us in the qualifying campaign, which takes a bit of doing. But then we’re undone early from a corner. That Brazil team had speed, and they attacked down the outside, but they were big, physical, fast, technical players as well. They scored from corner kick and they took goal-kicks long. They mixed it up.

“As an experience, it was very emotional, especially when the national anthem was played. My thoughts at that moment were on my family and friends in the crowd and a lot of people back home in Stranraer, a small town back in Scotland and the people watching the game there on TV. I’d come from there and with 21 other players, was on the pitch ready for the opening game of the World Cup. I remembered a couple of moments playing school football as a kid and there I was. You could easily lose yourself in the fantasy of that moment.”