Goram was popular with Scotland fans during his career

Goram quit the international training camp in the USA just three weeks before the tournament started, but insists was he was just protecting his livelihood.

"I was told that I wasn't going to be playing in France," said Goram.

"But if I went to the World Cup and broke a leg or got injured, I wouldn't have had a club the next season."

Interview: former Scotland keeper Andy Goram

In an hour-long interview with former Celtic midfielder Murdo McLeod and former Rangers forward Gordon Smith on BBC Radio Scotland, Goram said the media unfairly portrayed his retirement as a betrayal.

Goram also spoke candidly about his early career, his time at Rangers, and his experience at Manchester United, where Irish international Roy Keane refused to speak to him when he arrived at Old Trafford.

However, his retirement from the international game remains a contentious issue for him, and he regrets not being able to line up against Brazil in the opening match at France '98.

"The press had it as 'Goram walks out on Scotland' three weeks before the World Cup started," he said.

Jim Leighton did the same thing ahead of a double-header, two days before a qualifying game. And, yet, he retired in the press's eyes. Andy Goram

"I gave them my letter, there was no nastiness about it, it was a nice letter.

"I'd just left Rangers, so I was clubless.

"It's your livelihood. I was earning decent money at Rangers, it's your mortgage.

"But I was told by two different coaches that I wasn't going be playing in France.

"There's no point in me sitting on the bench, nearly a 40-year-old. I would rather a young kid came in, like I did in Mexico as a young lad, and go and learn your trade that way.

"I took the decision and retired. I spoke to Craig, and to be fair he didn't put up too much of a fight.

"I thought I was good enough to play in France. I had never played in a World Cup, but I thought I was good enough.

"To get told you're not playing is fine, you've got to accept that, but I didn't want to risk getting injured just by training when I had no club, as that would have been my livelihood.

"Jim Leighton did the same thing ahead of a double-header, two days before a qualifying game. And, yet, he retired in the press's eyes.

"Even now, Andy Goram walked out on Scotland, but Jim Leighton retired.

"At least I gave them three weeks to bring reinforcements in, but did it two days before, and he retired gracefully.

"But the two of us were tarred with two different brushes."