All Time World Cup!
Zico 37, Jairzinho 82
PARIS – Stade de France
The opening matches of World Cups tend to fall into two categories –Dull games where a minnow keeps ten men behind the ball against one of the tournament favourites, or upsets where the underdog manages a break-away goal. Either way, they have rarely been flowing spectacles.
Happily, this game bucked the trend. Two of the most colourful, animated sets of supporters in the world created an outstanding atmosphere, and the two teams set out to live up to it.
Almost straight from kick-off, Wembley Wizard Alan Morton side-stepped Dunga and hit a long, looping cross which Denis Law nodded down to Dalglish, whose toe poke clipped the outside of the post. The Tartan Army were louder than ever.
Sadly for them, the early scare served only to sharpen Brazil’s focus, and for the rest of the first half the Scots were chasing shadows. Wave after wave of yellow shirts poured forward. Quick feet and off-the-ball running meant the Scots always seemed to be on the verge of conceding.
Eventually, Graeme Souness clattered Pele just outside the box. Zico stepped up and swerved the free kick over the wall and into the extreme top corner of the goal, just as he had in the 1982 World Cup. Keeper Andy Goram got closer to it than Allan Rough had in 1982, but no keeper would have saved this one. A worthy first goal of the tournament.
The Scots somehow clung on until half time without conceding again, following numerous interventions from McGrain, Caldow and the classy Hansen. For the second half Stein brought on Billy Bremner to work alongside Souness in the engine room.
Between them they stifled opposite numbers Gerson and Dunga, and cut off the supply line to the forwards. As the Brazilians started to get frustrated , the Scots grew in confidence and began to push steadily forward. With quarter of an hour to go, they forced a series of corners, from which centre backs Young and Gough were both unlucky not to score with headers, as was Law with a volley.
In the 82nd minute however, a slick move involving Gerson and Zico ended with Pele sending substitute Jairzinho clear, and he made no mistake. The game was over and both managers knew it. Stein brought off Souness before he got booked, and gave Dalglish a few minutes rest, in favour of Hughie Gallagher.
Brazil had looked like magicians for almost an hour, but might be concerned at only scoring one goal in that spell. For Scotland, it could have been worse. They had something to build on...
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