What is it like to play for Scotland at a World Cup?

Darren Jackson, bottom left, and Paul Lambert, bottom right, were in Scotland's squad at France 98

Surreal. Special. The stuff of dreams.

Some of the replies from those lucky enough to know what it's like to play at a World Cup for Scotland when asked the question we all fantasise about.

This is uncharted territory for every one of the 26-man squad who will end Scotland's 28-year absence from the men's tournament this weekend.

A large proportion of Steve Clarke's players do have European Championship experience,. don't know what it's like to play on the biggest stage of them all. To have the eyes of the world on the boys in dark blue.

This is also a new thing for a whole generation of Scots - players. fans alike - who have grown up meticulously making their case for their tournament team in the absence of their home nation. No need for a second team this time.

So for those of us experiencing all this for the first time, what can we expect to see? What is it like to play at the World Cup with Scotland?

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BBC Sport Scotland called on the knowledge of 1998 World Cup squad members Darren Jackson. Paul Lambert, as well as the last player to captain Scotland at the women's finals in 2019, Rachel Corsie, to enlighten and excite us.

All three said it was "surreal".

Lambert. Corsie explained the build-up - the bit where the fans are frantically booking planes, trains and automobiles - as perhaps being the most "stressful" part of the process from qualifying.

"You're like. I want to be in the best condition of my life," said Corsie, who skippered Scotland in France seven years ago said.

"I don't want to get hurt, I want to get selected, I want to be playing for my club, there's so many things that you're thinking. you just think, I just want us to get there."

"It feels like endless build-up," Lambert added.

"Then. when you're selected, that's when it really sinks in that you know the summer could be the greatest tournament for the national team. It's the best tournament."

For Jackson. who didn't make his international debut until he was 28, said it wasn't until he lined up in the Stade de France for the tournament opener against Brazil that things started to feel real.

"When you're standing in the tunnel and the guy standing next to you is Ronaldo, reality kicks in," he explained.

Add Rivaldo, Dunga, Roberto Carlos, Cafu and the rest and you've got a point, Darren. Gulp.

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No disrespect to Haiti,. it's not quite the same opening glamour game 28 years on for Scotland, although the occasion is just as outrageously cool.

"It's what you dream of when you're playing in the streets with your mates," Champions League winner Lambert said.

"There's no fatigue. You don't have time for fatigue. you don't think about the season that's going to come up on you in a few months' time.

"All you do is think about the games and the occasion you're going to play."

It can be a bit of a balancing act, though, as Corsie experienced.

"I probably leaned too heavily into trying to not let the occasion be something that threw me off," she said.

"I probably felt I probably didn't let myself enjoy it enough,. that would be the one thing I would say, that I hope the players do manage to enjoy it.

"Because this is going to be a moment in your career you're going to cherish for the rest of your life. Your family and friends will be so proud.

"Everyone wants to make sure the players who are there performing actually go. enjoy the moment, because what a special thing to go and do."

The word 'go' there is a big one. It's a long time to be away from family and spend with a squad and staff.

The good thing is, this crop can't wait to do it. They never tire of telling us that.

The class of 1998 had the same togetherness - Lambert cited the "club atmosphere" Craig Brown built - which made the long hours. downtime much easier.

"We were like clubmates," Jackson said. "We didn't all just sit in the same seats in the meetings or at dinner, you just came in. sat with anybody and everyone got along. It was brilliant.

"Much like the squad now. They enjoy meeting up, seeing each other and playing alongside each other."

Nowadays, they don't only do that, they have a round of golf when they can and play the PlayStation together. Didn't have that in the 90s.

For Corsie in France, where a lot of travelling was also involved, there were "a lot of card games. lots of coffee trips".

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The world has changed a fair bitsince the Scots last graced the big stage in the men's game so it's safe to say almost everything is going to be different this time - including the goodies.

We've heard from the squad this week that a picture of their younger selves in a Scotland shirt greeted them in their room at their base camp in Charlotte, while captain Andy Robertson delivered a gift box. hand-written message to each team-mate.

Jackson and Lambert didn't get the same from their skipper, Colin Hendry. But Jackson did confirm he still has the kilt he famously walked out in in Paris.

"It's hanging in the wardrobe," he said. "We also got a wee keyring and a pennant from Brazil."

Corsie kept ticket stubs. stickers from various coffee shops - and she insists the most important thing to have at the World Cup was a good coffee station.

Remembering your boots was the message she. Jackson passed on - thankfully kitman Jim McAlister is on the ball - while the former forward had some final words of wisdom.

"The most important thing is you've got to embrace it," he added.

"You've got to enjoy it because it's the pinnacle you've got there. From a wee boy, you'd put a Scotland strip on. you'd never think you're going to stand in a World Cup game representing your country.

"So you've got to enjoy it."

It's over to you, lads..

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