Despair to Elation in Seven Minutes

Watching the Socceroos (should that be the Footballroos) last night reminded of the many depressing 90 minutes watching the Scottish football team crash and burn, destroying a nations hopes in a series of increasingly unlikely disasters, leading to elimination in the World Cup Finals in the 70s and 80s. Only this time there was a most unlikely positive twist. My partner sat for the whole of the second half with her teeth pursing her lips, unable to come to terms with impending defeat. The hopes of the nation were lifted dramatically by the next 7 minutes of a fairy tale, that I doubt that Hollywood could have scripted better. There was an exultant scream all over Australia when Tim Cahill scored the first ever Australian goal in a World Cup Final game. An even bigger one a few minutes later and one of relief with the third and the impending final whistle. A nations hopes could live another day.

For Scotland it was always what coulda been. In 1974, in West Germany, the last time Australia were in the World Cup Finals, in a parallel with Australia's current group, Scotland were in a group with Brazil, Yugoslavia (Croatia was part of this Soviet era mega state) and Zaire. They managed to beat Zaire 2-0, drew with Brazil 0-0 and Yugoslavia 1-1. They still went out on goal difference to Brazil 3 scored 0 conceded) to Scotlands (3 scored to 1 conceded). Heartbreak for the nation.


It just got worse in 1978 with the trip to Argentina with Ally's Tartan Army and one of the worst football supporters theme tunes ever.

Ally's Tartan Army

We're on the march wi' Ally's Army,
We're going tae the Argentine,
And we'll really shake them up,
When we win the World Cup,
'Cos Scotland is the greatest football team,

We're representing Britain,
And we're gaunny do or die,
England cannae dae it,
'Cos they didnae qualify!

We're on the march wi' Ally's Army,
We're going tae the Argentine,
And we'll really shake them up,
When we win the World Cup,
'Cos Scotland is the greatest football team,

The hopes of the nation never really recovered from the confidence that they had in the team going to Argentina, enthusiastically talked up by Ally McLeod and the final result. Many Scots not only thought that the Scottish team would not only do well, but win the whole thing.
Eliminated on goal difference again. Not so close this time. The hopes of the nation crashed and burned.




The highlight was Archie Gemmill's wonder goal, one of the top ten World Cup Final Goals of all time. All in a losing cause as Scotland had to win by three clear goals to eliminate the Dutch, winning 3-2 in the end (and going home).











I read recently that this version of the Scotland strip was considered one of the top ten World Cup Strips of all times and a major fashion item in Germany. Out of bad things at least some rays of sunlight. The only good thing about Scotland not qualifying is that they would not be able to inflict the soul destroying loss of hope that would accompany another poor performance on the big stage.

Hopefully the current competition will not be so depressing for my adopted countrymen and women or "wogs sheilas and poofters" as Johnny Warren famously said. If you have to stay up overnight, winning makes it easier to go to work the next day.