Both nations failed to get their campaign off to a winning start in August, Estonia losing 1–0 away to Belarus and Scotland drawing 0–0 away to Austria.

The Estonian Football Association were unhappy with the logistical consequences of the switch, such as the potential loss of television revenue:[1] BBC Scotland had acquired the rights to show the game in Scotland, but the earlier kickoff conflicted with a live broadcast of the memorial service for the Dunblane massacre that afternoon.

[5][2] This decision was criticised by Scottish observers who believed that Johansson wanted to give Sweden, his native country, the best possible chance of qualification.

[2] He later credited the match as an important point in his career, as scouts from Derby County were watching and he signed for the English club the following month.

[2] Scotland players and supporters were frustrated at failing to score, with midfielder Ian Ferguson caught on a microphone swearing at the Tartan Army as he walked off the field.

[6] It was also the final international appearance for striker Duncan Ferguson (no relation to Ian), whose relationship with the Scottish Football Association was already damaged after he felt he had been treated unfairly following an incident in a match which saw him jailed for assault.

[10][11] As part of The Terrace Scottish Football Podcast's run down of the 50 most memorable Scotland matches, ″One Team In Tallinn″ was voted to be number 11 on this list, despite host Craig Fowler describing it as ″technically not a match″.