Anniversary
Scotland 0-1 Denmark
FIFA World Cup Group E
Wednesday 4 June 1986, Estadio Neza 86, Nezahualcoyotl, Mexico
West Ham United striker Frank McAvennie appeared at the FIFA World Cup finals on this day in 1986, becoming the first and only Hammer to represent Scotland at the tournament.
McAvennie had enjoyed an outstanding 1985/86 campaign after joining the Hammers from Scottish side St Mirren in the summer of 1985, scoring 26 goals in 41 appearances as John Lyall's side finished a club record high of third in Division One.
The blond-haired attacker, who finished as runner-up to Tony Cottee in the Hammer of the Year voting that season, missed the 4-0 home Division One win over West Bromwich Albion to help Scotland to qualify.
The Scots finished as runners-up to Spain in UEFA qualifying Group 7 to set up a two-legged UEFA-OFC Intercontinental Play-Off with Australia. McAvennie scored Scotland's second goal as they won the first leg 2-0 at Hampden Park on 20 November 1985 before embarking on the 10,500-mile trip for the return leg on 4 December. Sir Alex Ferguson's side duly drew 0-0 at the Olympic Stadium in Melbourne to take their place in Mexico.
There, Scotland opened with a meeting with fellow Europeans Denmark in Nezahualcoyotl, but McAvennie was powerless to prevent his country from opening with a narrow 1-0 defeat. Prolific striker Preben Elkjaer Larsen had given Denmark the lead four minutes before the West Ham forward's introduction as a 61st-minute substitute.
Scotland would go on to take the lead in their second match against West Germany, only to fall 2-1 down before McAvennie's introduction as a substitute. The game finished 2-1. In their third and final match, McAvennie was not involved as the Scots drew 0-0 with Uruguay.