All Time World Cup!
Law 11; Brolin 66
LONDON - Wembley
Having blown their lead against Denmark earlier in the tournament, Sweden were under pressure, needing a win to qualify. Scotland faced a different kind of pressure though. Almost every time they have reached a World Cup or European Championship, Scotland have entered their third game with their fate in their own hands.
Every time, they had contrived to blow their chance, usually in tragic-comic fashion. Could they keep it together this time?
A big game demands big performances from big players, and Denis Law rose to the occasion. In the 11th minute, the 1964 European Footballer of the year leapt to a prodigious height in the box to take a Jimmy Johnstone cross on his chest, scissor-kicking the ball home as it dropped. His trademark one raised fist celebration seemed to be a statement: “Yes, we can do this.”
For the best part of an hour, that belief swelled throughout the team and the fans. Every singe Scot looked World class, and the flicks of Baxter and Dalglish, the dribbling of Morton and Johnstone, and the defending of Hansen and MacKay left the Swedes bewildered and the crowd purring. Gren and Liedholm were not really midfielders, and were overrun by the dark blues.
But this was Scotland, and in the 66th minute it all became a struggle again. Following a corner, the ball broke loose on the edge of the box. Jesus look-a-like Glenn Stromberg mis-hit a shot from 18 yards, which deflected off Hamrin and fell at the feet of Thomas Brolin with Goram sent the wrong way.
25 minutes to go and all to play for. Suddenly the swagger was gone from the men in dark blue and it was the Swedes who were pressing. Hansen remained imperious, nipping the ball from the toes of Brolin, Gren, Hamrin and Nordahl in successive attacks. Despite the nerves, it looked as if Scotland to hang on to make history. Then in the 82nd minute, it all came crashing down. Following a one-two with substitute Henrik Larsson, Naka Skoglund smashed a shot which deflected up off the foot of George Young and hit the arm of Danny McGrain.
The Scots crowd fell in to stunned silence as they realised that the referee had given the penalty. It looked harsh, as McGrain had very little time to get out of the way, but such foot-notes have so often been the gripes Scots have had to deal with after early exits. Was it all to end in heroic, agonising failure once again?
Larsson took the responsibility of facing Goram from the spot -an Old Firm clash in the midst of an international. Looking cool and composed, Larsson stepped up and smashed the ball to Goram’s right. The keeper wasn’t tall for a goalie but was one of Europe’s best shot stoppers of the 1990s and dove full stretch.
The ball clipped his elbow, ricocheted down into the ground and up against the underside of the bar. As Goram turned back towards his goal, the ball dropped sweetly into his welcoming arms.
The crowd, the bench and his team-mates all went wild, but the gum-chewing goalie was already shouting at his defenders to push out and pick up their men.
He punted the ball up field, where Law flicked on to sub McCoist, whose flicked shot struck the bar.
It had been a thrilling finish, but Scotland had done enough, and were now in uncharted territory. Hansen, McGrain, Souness and Law had all looked great. Dalglish, Baxter, Morton and Johnstone had shown flashes but hadn’t quite caught fire.
Sweden would have to hope results went their way in the other groups if they were to clinch a ‘best third place’ qualification. They had been organised and skillful but had lacked bite in midfield.
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