Scottish fans need not be so depressed. Whilst they did eventually lose to Holland last month, Scotland can claim to have come very close to becoming World Football Champions.

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While most Scotland fans knew qualification was on the line, not many, if any, realised they were also competing for a World Championship, which they first won in 1873.

Some of you will think I’ve lost my mind, but such is Scotland’s pedigree, they are the No.1 ranked national football side of all-time unofficially, and held the title of World Champions as recently as 2007.

Confused? Let me take you back to the beginning of international football.

The Unofficial Football World Championship, or UFWC as I will refer to it, goes right back to the very first international football match in 1872 between Scotland and England.

As Scotland and England were the only international teams in existence, the winner of this initial match could safely claim to be the best side in the world, and therefore the Unofficial Football World Champions.

Unfortunately, the game petered to a 0-0 draw, meaning the title was up for grabs in the second ever international football match.

Again between England and Scotland, and played in 1873, England won 4-2, and could claim to be UFWC kings.

Just like in boxing, the world title then passes to the team who can defeat the champions. England’s reign didn’t last, and the title passed back to Scotland in their next match.

The UFWC title then went back and forth between the two, until Ireland and Wales got involved.

The British home nations dominated the UFWC during international football’s formative years, until the instigation of international tours and tournaments meant sides from all around the globe began to play each other.

Having played so many of the early international games, it is easy to see why England and Scotland lead the ranking system, which is judged by the number of games played as champions.

In this, Scotland hold an outrageous lead, having played 103 matches as champions to England’s 88.

Moreover, if you take into account the number of days Scotland held the title (13,003), it’s equal to 35 of the 137 years international football has been played, and nearly double that of any other champions.

Since those formative years, the title has been played for nearly 800 times, in World Cups and other major tournaments as well as seemingly meaningless friendlies, in over 130 years of international football.

Scotland took what they can consider to be their title back in 2007, beating Georgia 2-1, but held it for just one match, losing 2-0 to Italy, ironically the Official World Champions.

However, the current champions are Holland having taken the title against Sweden a year ago. In their ninth title defence, they faced a Scotland side that proceeded to batter them for the vast majority of the game, hitting the woodwork twice.

They eventually succumbed to a late Eljero Elia goal, but had come might close to becoming World Champions once more.

So, for any depressed Scottish fans, who will cast envious eyes towards South Africa next summer, remember that you are the No.1 ranked national football team of all-time, and that ranking is not going anywhere fast.