Gary McDaniel's World Cup memories

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Ah the memories.......sadly they are only memories

By Gary McDaniel

Twelve years, twelve bl**dy years.  That's how long it's been since we appeared at a World Cup finals. Seems longer I have to be honest.

As the fans of 32 nations, well probably 31 as the North Korean public will only get to see it if they win it which is unlikely, Maybe Kim Jong-Ill will film his own version of events.  Anyway, those other supporters will be getting all excited like a child at Christmas.  We Scots though will have to settle once again for either cheering A.B.E ('Anyone But Endland', which I have to say is quite sad) or jealously enjoying the event and going to bed each night wishing we (Scots) were there.

There is nearly a whole generation of the Tartan Army who have not had the experience of a World Cup Finals, or any major tournament for that matter. Lucky devils, they have been saved from the initial optimism which always ends in disappointment.

My first World Cup memory is of Mexico '86. Games kicking off at weird times and a guy called Maradona, whatever happened to him???

I was about nine years old then so it wasn't until four years later in Italy that I really knew what it was all about.  I loved Italian football then, ok didn't get to see much of it but I used to run about then with an AS Roma shirt on my back.  My mum refused to buy me a Rangers' top (your mother has gone up in my estimation - ed), not that she was a Celtic fan, just she didnae want me battered by some loony, her prerogative!  I was desperate for a football top though and one which was quite unusual.  So one day at the legendary Govan market I had the choice between a Crystal Palace shirt or the Roma one, only ones in my size.  In the end it was an easy decision as back then Palace were sponsored by Virgin and as being a lad in my early teens with puberty in full flow, it is the last thing you wished to go around advertising on your chest!

So as per usual Scotland qualified for their fifth consecutive World Cup finals, no mean feat. Back then only 24 countries took part in the finals but you have to remember Europe was a smaller continent.  The Soviet Union was still in existence, just, and other nations such as Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia still remained.  It could be said it was easier to qualify.

So first up was Costa Rica, "where the hell are they from?" I promptly asked my Geography teacher, who quickly gave me a clip round the ear.  Central America he replied.  Uck they'll be nae bother! Aye right! 

Gubbed 1-nil, that's maybe a bit strong.... no it's not we did get humped. I'll never know why Andy Roxburgh played big Alan McInally and wee Maurice Johnston up front against our opening opponents.  That decision baffled me.  How he didn't go with Coisty and Mojo in that game, who had just had a great season at Rangers as well, was a mistake in my view. 

I remember in the build-up to Italia '90 some pundits in the media had commented on this being the weakest Scotland side ever to appear at a finals. It was maybe true but we would love to have just half the calibre of that squad nowadays.

The victory in the second match against Sweden in Genoa was just the type of thing Scotland do, raise your hopes for your final match against who else but Brazil. It wasn't the greatest Brazil side but it's still Brazil!  I remember being so nervous throughout the whole match apart from having a laugh at poor Murdo MacLeod after getting smacked in the coupon by a belting free-kick from Branco. 

Just as we thought we might just get the point we needed, Jim Leighton spills a weak Alemao effort which Careca pounces on and puts the Brazilian's 1-nil up. And there was our fans just commenting and congratulating our opponents on how gorgeous their burds were! A late Taffarel save from Mo Johnston was just part of the usual Scotland script.  We were out........  but no there was still a chance.  As I said 24 teams played in the finals then but 16 had to progress to the next phase, so there was places for some unlucky losers who finished 3rd in their group.  For this to happen we needed Uruguay and South Korea to play out a draw or the Koreans to win by a small margin.  I remember watching the game on my Gran's small black and white telly upstairs.  The score was 0-0 going into injury time, oh ya dancer we are going to qualify for the knock-out stages of a World Cup for the first time. That will also get those Uruguayans back for kicking lumps out of us 4 years previously in Mexico.  I'm not going to say what happens next as we all know we didn't qualify and all I can say is that I had to replace my Gran's bedside teas maid with my pocket money.

It wasn't until France '98 that we made a return to World Cup action.  Remember though between that gap of 8 years we had made 2 appearances in the European Championship finals.  You kind of took it for granted back then that we would qualify for major tournaments.  Now though we are just desperate to qualify.

In the summer of 1998 I was a daft young adult looking forward to a fortnight in Majorca, during the World Cup.  Sun, sea, sand, San Miguel and soccer, we'll not mention the other s, there's nothing to tell....

So the opening game and what a belter, Brazil the then World champions, they had Ronaldo up front we had Darren Jackson! 

I remember my work refused me the day off, wouldn't even give me the afternoon off, company was run by a rugby fan. They suggested watching it in the office with tea, coffee and light refreshments.......  No way I want a pint and many more after that.  Anyway I managed to sneak off at 4pm half an hour before kick-off.  I lived and worked in Glasgow's southside then and my work was 20 minutes away from my local pub by bus.  It was a cracking day, the sun was shining and there were saltires flying everywhere.  Bellahouston Park was screening the game live on big screens, the place was mobbed! 

My bus eventually arrived at my local at just leaving half past 4, so I sprinted the 200 metres or so from the bus stop to the pub so I wouldn't miss as much of the action as possible.  Low and behold I walk into the pub just as Brazil went 1-nil up, oh no this might turn out to be a hammering. 

I noticed my mum was in the pub, which was unusual but she said she didn't want to miss out.  Even though we were a goal down we began to warm to the task both on and off the field.  The atmosphere, in the pub, became buoyant and the banter flowed, as well as the drink.

Then came the moment..... Penalty.  "Cannie believe he's given that" was the cry from the Pollok version of a man dressed like Mel Gibson in Braveheart.  Who cares it was a soft decision but we'll take it.  My mind then drifted back to the moment we had THAT penalty against England in Euro '96.  I was in the same pub, in the same seat and in the same company.  Please John Collins don't miss......................... Of course he didn't cool as a cucumber as he slotted it past Taffarel.  I lost my voice at that moment due to screaming like a madman.  Those are the football moments that stick with you forever, not losing your voice but celebrating scoring against the mighty Brazil!

It was great while it lasted.  Just as we thought we might get the draw we deserved that old thing called Scottish misfortune intervened. This time in the guise of Tom Boyd who got the last touch in a bizarre goal which gave Brazil victory.  "Oh poor boy," my mum said in floods of tears. I was numb.  "That's football," someone said. Philosophical b*****ds, don't you just hate them?

I spent the remainder of our, once again brief flirtation with the World Cup, in Majorca. Celebrating our draw with Norway and then getting drunk in an English bar after losing to Morocco 3-nil, we did end up partying with some Norwegian girls though which wasn't bad until their Dolph Lundgren look-alike boyfriends arrived.

That's it since then it's all been disappointment followed by more disappointment.  The only glimpse of hope really came against Italy in that painful November night back in 2007, in our attempts to qualify for Euro 2008.  There was so much anticipation around the country that day, we really thought we could do it but sadly as we know it wasn't to be, typically.

I do hope it isn't too long though.  As I said a generation has nearly passed who haven't experienced the joys (and lows) of a major finals including Scotland.  I want my 4 year old nephew to be able to support his home country and not Chile just because he loves Sweet Chilli Sauce.

So fingers crossed for either Euro 2012 or the World Cup in Brazil in 2014.  We may though have to wait until 2016 and the European Championships in France.  Why?  Because UEFA are increasing the finals tournament to 24 teams.  24 teams....... brings back bad memories of Italia '90, but hey at least this time we will be just thankful of hopefully being there!
 

What are your World Cup memories? Let us know on The Away End forum