They led twice, competed well against more fancied opposition, and did the 20,000-strong Tartan Army proud.
But when the final whistle sounded at Wembley tonight, the reality was that Scotland had lost to England after the first meeting of the Auld Enemy in 14 years.
Scotland, who won 1-0 the last time they came to Wembley, welcomed back Kenny Miller and Scott Brown, who missed their last game - an impressive victory in Croatia two months ago.
Celtic midfielder James Forrest also came in to Gordon Strachan's starting XI for Aston Villa midfielder Barry Bannan.
Footage on the big screens of previous internationals between the two nations whipped up the atmosphere inside Wembley before kick-off and both sets of fans then proceeded to boo each others' national anthems.
Despite the booming noise from both ends, the game started slowly.
The only man who seemed intent on taking the game by the scruff of the neck was Wayne Rooney, deemed fit enough for a place in Roy Hodgson's starting XI, who hunted Grant Hanley down from the kick-off and continued to harry the Scottish defence.
Scotland did not seem fazed by the occasion and they started positively, with Forrest finding space down the right before Phil Jagielka cleared the winger's cross.
With six minutes gone, Leighton Baines pocked up the ball following a crunching tackle by Wilshere. He then whipped in a low curling cross, but Rooney mis-judged his shot on goal and the ball sailed through the box.
Then, in the 11th minute, the Scottish supporters erupted with joy as their team took a shock lead through James Morrison.
Theo Walcott nudged Danny Welbeck's clearance from a Scotland corner in to the path of Morrison, who unleashed a 25-yard shot towards goal. Joe Hart should have saved comfortably, but the England number one, unsighted by a gaggle of defenders, spilled the ball in to his own net.
Walcott spurned the first opportunity to equalise as he skied a long-range shot high and wide.
He soon made amends, though, as he equalised just before the half hour.
He was helped by a beautiful 30-yard pass from Tom Cleverley, who split open the Scotland defence to set the winger free - the Arsenal man then turned Steven Whittaker before slotting the ball past a sprawling Allan McGregor.
Welbeck backheeled a clever pass into Rooney's path on the edge of the area, but the Chelsea target dragged his shot wide.
Scotland came back in to the came briefly, taking advantage of a stretched England defence on the counter, but Robert Snodgrass' ball across the box was turned behind by Phil Jagielka.
Rooney latched on to Steven Gerrard's chip and put the ball in the net on the brink of half-time, but the strike was ruled out for offside.
Early in the second half, Scotland took the lead once again, but they were given a huge helping hand by Gary Cahill.
Kenny Miller sold Cahill a dummy and the Chelsea defender was slow to react, allowing the Vancouver Whitecaps striker to drive the ball into the corner past Hart.
Much to the relief of the home fans, the lead lasted less than three minutes. Steven Gerrard whipped a cross into the centre of the box following a foul on Frank Lampard, who had come on for Wilshere at half-time, and Welbeck headed past McGregor.
The match then turned ugly as Kyle Walker was rightly booked for hacking down Forrest.
Walcott and Snodgrass then squared up to each other after the England player appeared to kick out at the Norwich man. Players from both sides pushed each other and Rooney played peacemaker, restraining Hanley.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain replaced Gerrard on the hour and the armband went to Lampard, who then scythed down Russell Martin with a late challenge that earned him a booking.
The game had a feisty touch to it by now as the tackles continued to fly in.
Welbeck almost scored with a devilish scissors-kick. Rooney's night came to an end in the 67th minute when he was replaced by debutant Rickie Lambert. James Milner also came on for the Three Lions while Strachan brought on Craig Conway and Charlie Mulgrew.
Lambert had been on the pitch for less than four minutes when he popped up in the box to send a header past McGregor from Baines' corner to make it 3-2 to England.
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