The Scotland international football team never fails to disappoint.
Then, just as you are thinking of abandoning them completely, they come up with a classic result.
None more so, of course, than in the World Cup in Argentina in 1978.
We failed miserably against Peru and Iran, then took Holland to the cleaners.
A Holland side which then went all the way to the final.
I came across another startling example of this when perusing through files.
In 1963, Scotland, under manager Ian McColl, embarked on a mini close-season tour. On June 4, 1963, they travelled to Norway, a game which saw Denis Law hit a hat-trick in Bergen.
Unfortunately, the defence wasn’t in the same vein of form and, despite leading twice, we lost 4-3.
Scotland lined up — Adam Blacklaw; Alex Hamilton, Davie Holt; Dave Mackay (Frank McLintock), Ian Ure, Jim Baxter; Willie Henderson, Davie Gibson, Ian St John, Denis Law, Davie Wilson.
Five days later, McColl made four changes when the team lined up against the Republic of Ireland at Dalymount Park in Dublin.
The Irish were nowhere near the international force they are today — and had never beaten Scotland.
However, an early Noel Cantwell goal was enough to record a victory over the Scots.
Scotland — Tommy Lawrence; Alex Hamilton, Davie Holt; Frank McLintock, Billy McNeill, Jim Baxter; Willie Henderson, Davie Gibson, Jimmy Millar, Denis Law, Davie Wilson.
I’ll reveal the other great result next week!
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