You know the story: Boy meets girl, boy watches girl down two drinks offered by a stranger, boy pursues girl with an attempt at witty repartee, boy stands dumbfounded as girl delivers an astounding put-down monologue, girl leaves cab door open for boy to follow, boy ends up enjoying himself so much during their encounter that night he utters the immortal line: “I haven’t felt that good since Archie Gemmill scored against Holland in 1978.”
Among all the various nods to the difficulties of life as a heroin addict in Scotland which appeared in Danny Boyle’s 1996 film Trainspotting, based on Irvine Welsh’s book of the same name, one reference that really did strike a chord with the worldwide audience the movie gained was the call-back to one of the Tartan Army’s greatest ever moments back in Argentina 45 years ago today.
For Scots of that vintage, Gemmill’s goal was evidence of what Scotland could be capable of. It was a strike which earned their side global acclaim. And yet, it was as futile as any other goal scored by their national team in World Cup history. In many ways, it encapsulated the hope-filled highs and all-too-familiar lows of the Scotland men’s team.
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It was a goal that made them believe. Ally MacLeod’s side had gone into their final Group 4 fixture at the 1978 World Cup needing to beat the Netherlands by three clear goals to progress. This was a Dutch team which had reached the final four years earlier and was one of the favourites to lift the trophy this time around. A side filled with talent like Johnny Rep, Rudi Krol, Johan Neeskens and the Van de Kerkhof twins. Even in the absence of Johan Cruyff, this was an opponent the Scots were never going to beat by three.
And yet by the 68th minute, they were working themselves into a position to do exactly that. A Scotland team which had been humiliated by Peru and held by Iran was in the lead against the almighty Holland having responded to Rob Resenbrink’s penalty with a Kenny Dalglish strike from Joe Jordan’s knock-down and a Gemmill penalty after Graeme Souness had been bundled over in the box.
This hadn’t happened by accident either. Even at 0-0, Scotland had made a handful of great chances, with Bruce Rioch seeing a header come back off the bar and Tom Forsyth having a goal ruled out for a non-existent offside. But at 2-1 up, there was belief that they could get the job done because no matter how formidable the Dutch might have looked prior to the game, Scotland were the better team.
Then it came. Picking the loose ball up after Dalglish had been foiled from entering the area, Gemmill nicked the ball past a diving Wim Jansen to open up space but then found the two defenders who had closed off Dalglish’s path to goal regaining their feet. The Nottingham Forest midfielder jinked the ball to the left of one of them, then nutmegged the second before steadying himself as goalkeeper Jan Jongbloed closed in.
The beautifully lofted finish over the advancing Jongbloed was his sixth touch, all of them with his left foot, in a piece of play that remains the highlight of Scottish international football history. They were now 3-1 up against the mighty Netherlands and needed just one more goal to reach the second group phase.
But one of the reasons it remains so heralded is the fact that they didn’t go on to complete the job. That 3-1 lead didn’t become 4-1, it became 3-2. Fearing for their place in the next round, the Dutch immediately went on the attack and within three minutes Rep drove in an unstoppable 30-year arrow which left Alan Rough helpless and the rest of the Scottish side crestfallen. All that hard work, and they were two goals from progress once more.
There would be no more highlight moments to compete with Gemmill’s wonder-strike in that 1978 campaign, just a journey home filled with pride at having beaten Holland but also regret at not having taken something more in their opening two games. It continues to be a familiar feeling among the nation’s football fans, with all 11 major tournament visits now having ended at the opening group stage.
Archie Gemmill’s goal left a mark though, even if it didn’t help them towards that ultimate target of qualification. It is the first moment most Scots think of when discussing their national team’s greatest feats. Every team should have a ‘great sex reminds you of brilliant goal’ moment, but few will ever be as famous as Scotland’s.
*18+ | BeGambleAware | Odds Subject to Change
Header image thanks to Miramax Films
