Scotland face Brazil this evening in a Group C showdown at the Miami Stadium, kicking off at 11pm British time. Before the first whistle, the Tartan Army — Scotland's famously passionate fanbase — will belt out their beloved anthem, Flower of Scotland. But where did the song come from, and why do Scotland sing it?

Not the official anthem

Despite its deep association with Scottish national identity, Flower of Scotland is not Scotland's official national anthem. It functions as an unofficial anthem, used almost exclusively in sporting contexts because of its stirring patriotic themes.

Origins of the song

The song was composed in the 1960s by Roy Williamson, a member of the Scottish folk duo The Corries. Its public debut came through a BBC television broadcast in 1967, though that early version was incomplete — notably absent was the iconic third verse containing the celebrated line