Scotland qualified for the 1958 FIFA World Cup , finishing ahead of Spain . Manchester United manager Matt Busby had been due to manage the Scotland team at the World Cup , but the severe injuries he suffered in the Munich air disaster in February meant that trainer Dawson Walker took charge of the team instead . In their first match at the finals Scotland achieved a creditable draw against Yugoslavia . Players Archie Robertson and Tommy Docherty were sent to watch next opponents Paraguay and they reported back that Paraguay was a " rough , fit and good " team . Walker chose to ignore this advice and left out some of his combative players , including Docherty , and Scotland lost 3 – 2 . They exited the competition after also losing to France
Munich air disaster
Munich air disaster
Scotland at the FIFA World Cup