Darren Fletcher made the mistake of going on a shopping trip to the Trafford Centre as a form of escapism during the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

The Scotland captain has vivid recollections of all the major championship finals that have taken place in his lifetime, but memories of Scotland’s involvement in them have become ominously sketchy.

He was a 14-year-old schoolboy in Dalkeith when Craig Brown’s kilted Caledonians opened up France 98 against the holders, Brazil, and 12 when Gazza hoisted the ball over Colin Hendry, hammered the ball past Andy Goram and strapped himself into the invisible dentist chair behind the goal at Wembley.

More recently, he was one half of Berti Vogts’ cheeky boys, a blossoming partnership with James McFadden that acted as a convenient diversion from the manager’s miserable tenure. Fletcher was also a cornerstone of Walter Smith’s recovery programme and a pillar of Alex McLeish’s pugnacious attempt to take Scotland to Euro 2008 at the expense of France.

Fletcher craves the opportunity to be the face in the World Cup sticker album, the awkward mime artist in the foreground of the World Cup song and, more importantly, the man to follow in the footsteps of Scotland’s most intrepid leaders.

“When I was younger, I did think Scotland were always at World Cups and European Championships,” he said, his nostalgia illuminating the room amid the gloom of a downpour at Dumbarton. “I grew up watching them at Euro 96 and World Cup 98. We missed USA 94, but I remember Italia 90 as well.”

It has been so long since Scotland last performed on the grandest stage of all that the replica jerseys are now considered retro fashion. “I love watching the World Cup,” said Fletcher, giving the distinct impression he would much rather play in one. “Watching all of the top sides playing each other, the atmosphere and the excitement of things, like getting out of the groups.

“It is special because it only comes around every four years and is something you grow up watching as a kid. It is something the whole country gets behind.”

His most recent experiences have been as an outsider gatecrashing the neighbour’s party. “Living down in England while they have been there, I have seen that,” he said. “Everyone has England flags on their cars, the football is on the back and front pages of the newspapers, the whole country gets behind the team.

“I remember being in the Trafford Centre, because I was not watching it, and there was thousands of people watching the game on a big screen. It is something I would love to experience. The fans deserve to go to a World Cup finals, because the Tartan Army would definitely add something to a tournament.”

The Republic of Ireland’s infamous participation in Japan and Korea in 2002 is a source of inspiration. Just as Scotland have had to fend without the expertise of their deposed captain, Barry Ferguson, so Mick McCarthy’s side thrived despite the chaotic departure of Roy Keane. “With a bit of luck they could have been in the quarter-finals or semi-finals,” he said. “That’s not a joke, because they got knocked out on penalties by Spain.”

Fletcher, at 24, has not given up hope just yet, but he can empathise with the plight of his Manchester United team-mate, Ryan Giggs, arguably the most gifted player of the last 15 years never to have gotten close to a major championships.

“I do not know if Ryan would swop his titles to play in one, but I am sure it is something he will look back on and be disappointed he has not played in one,” he said. “In football you say you should have no regrets but I am sure if you asked him that would be the one. You want to play in a major competition for your country and pit your wits against the best players in the world.”

An unjust suspension deprived Fletcher of the chance to play in last season’s Champions League final against Barcelona in Rome, while Sir Alex Ferguson’s bloody-mindedness left him on the bench in their triumphant campaign of 2008. Beating Holland will never compensate for such unimaginable disappointment but it will aid the healing process.

“I have got to use that disappointment as motivation to get back to that level,” he said. “I do want to miss out on these things again.”

Fletcher claimed an assist in his first start for Scotland when the other cheeky boy scored to beat Holland in the first leg of the Euro 2004 play-off against the Netherlands at Hampden. The joy was shortlived as Dick Advocaat’s side duly plopped six past the Scots in Amsterdam.

“It was all new to me and it was very exciting,” he recalled. “I remember we started very well, we put some good moves together and we scored. The second half was a bit backs to the wall, but that is what happens against top class sides. It is going to take that sort of effort again.”

Fletcher is older and wiser but no less determined to address Scotland’s long-standing hiatus. It beats shopping when Engerlund are playing.