PANEL 150    Scotland’s World Cup in Argentina

Dashed hopes and overblown optimism characterise one of the most calamitous episodes in Scotland’s sporting history. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Scotland’s football team had occasionally been inspired and, when they left for the 1978 World Cup in Argentina, crowds filled Hampden Park and lined the route to Prestwick Airport. They believed they could win the trophy. An opening defeat by Peru made that seem unlikely and a dismal draw against Iran meant that they had to defeat a brilliant Dutch team by three clear goals to avoid going out of the competition. Finally, playing the football of which they were capable, they beat Holland 3–2, with Archie Gemmill scoring one of the greatest goals of all time. From the ridiculous to the sublime, as so often with Scottish sport. At the time of writing, national football languishes in mediocrity, with Scotland ranked 50th in the world, one place below the Cape Verde Islands but above Panama. Fans must sometimes pine for the crazy, heady days of 1978 and marching with Ally’s Army.

 

Panel stitched by:

Allanwater Stitchers

Ann Gambles

Libby Hughes

Frances Rankin

Catriona Whitton

Stitched in:

Dunblane