A Scottish World Cup Success Story

Tuesday, 29 June 2010 15:22

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Dreamland: Book Review

By Andrew Southwick

What if Scotland had won the World Cup? Would we be forever contented with having topped the World, or would we be like England - forever entering tournaments with the feeling that unless we win it again we're a letdown?

Graham McColl sets out to write an alternative Scottish football history, and answer a few questions.

What if Scotland had gone to Brazil in 1950, rather than the self imposed ban we put on ourselves?

What if Scotland had been at the 1966 World Cup, there to stop England winning it?

What if 1978, you know, what if?

The book is of course mostly fiction, but picks up from the truth and changes a few things.

First off is 1950, where history is changed from Scotland refusing to accept their invite to Brazil on account they hadn't won the home internationals, to Dreamland's account, where this time SFA secretary George Graham is convinced otherwise.

Two World Cups that really rankle with the Tartan Army are 1966 and 1978, so it is no surprise these two appear the basis for Dreamland's whole idea of alternative endings.

We will forever wonder what may have happened had Scotland qualified in 1966. If the following year's 3-2 triumph at Wembley doesn't make you wonder what that side could have done, then perhaps McColl's fictionous story will make you give it some thought.

And 1978? What if Scotland could have lived up to our own pre-tournament predictions?

On balance, the book is a fun read, nothing to get serious or upset about, and McColl does not attempt to write anything that would have your average Scottish football fan wishing to start an argument over.

The book does confuse itself at times though. When expecting each World Cup to be different, it therefore puzzles the mind when France 98 remains exactly the same. Knowing what happened at that tournment already, you feel like you've wasted your time reading that chapter. Perhaps that is the plan though - to constantly keep you guessing throughout the book.

However, the story is clearly one man's opinion, and it neither attempts or promotes itself as an Alan Hansen style doctrine on what Scotland should have achieved every four years.

As long as you put take the book in the fun tone it is intended, it makes for a light, refreshing read at a time when Scotland appearing at major tournaments is becoming a distance memory.

From the publishers....

The Ultimate Fantasy Football Book...

From Gretna Green to John O'Groats, wild celebrations ensue for the following week. Rubbish is not collected; post isn't delivered; trains and buses don't run; grass remains uncut at the height of summer; fish are not landed at the harbours. Nobody cares. It is as if everyone's birthdays have all come at once; as if two-dozen New Year's had been rolled into one; as if Scotland had beaten England 6-2 in the final of the World Cup at Wembley Stadium.

The natural home for the World Cup trophy is in Scotland. Every Scotland supporter would agree that this is where, in a fair and equal world, the great prize truly belongs. International football was born in Glasgow and Scotland has produced more talented players per head of population than any other small country - think of Denis Law, Kenny Dalglish, Jim Baxter, Jimmy Johnstone, James McFadden - while Scottish supporters have shown in huge numbers how much they enjoy being at the World Cup finals.

The deserved rewards for such a blend of talent and devotion are to be found in this tale of Scotland achieving World Cup success, putting them on the same level as the great footballing nations - Brazil, Italy and Germany.

This alternative version of Scotland's World Cup history is truly the stuff of which dreams are made.

About the author

Graham McColl is a freelance writer, and long time follower of Scotland. McColl contributes regularly to The Times, Four Four Two, and When Saturday Comes. His many books include '78: How a nation lost the World Cup, The Official Biography of Celtic, and United We Stand.' He also worked with Tommy Gemmell on his biography.