Chapter 4: The Battle Of Britain...In Switzerland
The 26th June would see two Quarter-finals with two sets of close boarder rivalry countries, the first being Switzerland vs. Austria and the other being Scotland vs. England, though the latter was the one many in Britain was wanting to watch. Not only would this be the first encounter between the two nations away from the British Isles, but also the first true competitive encounter between then that wasn't related to the British Home Championship and one that FIFA and UEFA recognised, the later part being something that annoyed both teams that after playing against each other so many times that only now they'd even notice.
That all said, the news of the encounter brought many folk to make the journey to Switzerland by either flying or driving the whole way and some even hitchhike their way across the continent to support their respected teams. However in the city of Basel, both sets of supporters have to quite literally support each other as they try to make their way through a strange land that is unknown to either supporter.
Nonetheless, a large crowd inside the St Jakob Stadium made up of mostly Swiss with motley groups of English and Scottish supporters scattered around the stadium which leads to a strange atmosphere that neither team are familiar with. Carl Erich Steiner, the Austrian referee for this game, blows his whistle and Scotland start the game with the first kick off and the two teams begin to battle over who not only gets bragging rights, but a place in the Semi-final.
The two teams have got about wearing their lightweight kits and comfy footwear which leads to a very exciting opening few minutes in the game with the action going from end to end. For the English, they know they have to be careful as the Scots will want to win this, especially as for the Scots, the memories of the 4-2 home defeat by England in the Home Championship is still fresh in their minds and they'll want revenge. After ten minutes, the game remains goalless and the British press sitting in the press box begin to wonder who will break the deadlock with many of them keeping one eye on the game and the other in their notebooks writing down moments in the game, though the latter part has very little to report on for a while until the sixteenth minute when Tommy Docherty brings down his Preston teammate Tom Finney and the referee calls for a free kick for England. The two men look at each other knowing that pride is at stake and that anything to do at Preston North End is out of the window for now. Jimmy Dickinson takes the free kick and despite Dennis Wilshaw's best efforts, the ball goes past the post and out for a goal kick.
The game carries on at a cautious pace with the Swiss crowd, after hearing from their British visitors of how special this game really is back home, are so far left unimpressed of how much of the game has started to lose it's spark from it's promising start. Both English and Scottish supporters start chanting to try and lift their players and get a goal
Both managers are seen with their arms crossed while both thinking of a plan to get something out of this game, it hasn't been a difficult start for both managers. The twenty first minute then see's Ernie Copland, the hero in Scotland's last game, attempts to back pass the ball to Allan Brown waiting to catch it, however Copland's pass is too slow and it is quickly caught by Roger Byrne and runs with it to get it out off the English half and attempts to take a long kick, however he is quickly caught by George Young who takes him out in a well timed tackle and kicks it back to Brown and volleys into the top right corner of the net out of Gil Merrick's clutches and putting the Scots up 1-0 and breaking the deadlock.
The small Scottish entourage in the crowd celebrate wildly at getting ahead of their English rivals. Walter Winterbottom yells at his players to get back into the game while Andy Beattie yells out to keep it together. Despite going a goal down, the English don't lose confidence and immediately start to fight back and the Scottish players still look like they are already thinking of the Semi-final much to Beattie's annoyance. "Focus!" He cries out to them hoping they snap out of their trance.
England start to torment the Scottish defensive and seven minutes after that first goal, Finney misses a great chance to get England level, but instead it is caught by the hands of Scottish Goalkeeper Fred Martin. After his goal kick the game becomes a Midfield battle with both teams trying to get a hold of the ball, Sammy Cox attempts to pass the ball to George Young to get it to safety but he miscalculates his kick and it flies off to his left and right into the path of Dickenson who goes on the run with it before taking a long kick with the ball and finding the feet of Finney and this time getting it right by scoring a screamer that makes the game 1-1 in the thirty second minute.
The travelling English supporters are delighted with the response from their team and now the Swiss begin to see what their British visitors are on about with this certain game, though many Swiss are probably more interested in knowing what's going on in the other game with their team and Austria. The game has now started to light up and the travelling supporters feel grateful that the trip feels like it has been worth it and those listening back home on Radio will have to wonder what's happening.
The forty third minute approaches and England are awarded a corner kick which they quickly take, many of the players jump up trying to direct the ball in and one player does get it in the direction he wants, and it's Ivor Broadis who scored at Hampden Park not long ago headers in the ball to make the score 2-1 for England, a truly amazing comeback to say the least. After some more pressing from the English forward line, the Austrian referee blows his whistle to end the first half as the players head off to the dressing rooms. Andy Beattie looks up at where the SFA selectors are and gives them a glare, they are like vultures waiting for an chance to pounce on him. He has to somehow turn this game around.
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The two dressing rooms have two very different atmospheres, the English one is full of optimism and the Scottish one is filled with dread and frustration. The fact that England are now suddenly leading the game after being behind for most of the first half makes the sting extra painful. Andy Beattie looks at his players and shakes his head, he has an idea how they might've lost their way in this game.
"Look lads," Beattie explains. "Let's not get down on how we're in this position, however I must point out that after we scored, we were already thinking of winning the game and letting them score."
He pauses. "Get a goal back then who knows, we can win this, just don't let them score anymore goals."
"We will," Young replies. "We can't let them win or we'll never hear the end of it."
"What are we waiting for then?" Beattie asks. "Let's give it to them!"
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The second half kicks off and the crowd hope for another exciting half. The Scots surprise the English by taking the game to them and the English now look uncomfortable and the Scottish start to push the English back and suddenly they find themselves with their backs against the wall. Copland then attempts a dummy shot over the Brown which confuses the English defensive and volleys a shot into the top left corner and putting the Scots back into the game at 2-2 in the fifty ninth minute.
The Scots celebrate but this time they don't let it get to their heads as what Beattie wanted from his players. The game then takes on a frantic pace yet again as both teams seem to throw everything in order to find another and hopefully winning goal. Neither side seem to budge and the game seems like it'll end in a stalemate, then in the seventy six minute, Scotland are awarded a free kick just thirty yards outside the penalty box with Allan Brown taking it and sending it over to Cowie before he decides to take it himself and sends in a rather scrappy goal that makes it 3-2 to Scotland.
Quite a comeback in every sense of the word.
The English are stunned as Scotland try to look out for another goal but the English keep the Scots back to prevent them scoring. In the eighty fourth minute, Finney goes on the break and it seems like he can get England back on level terms, however he fires the ball past the goal and kicks himself knowing of what a good chance he had to save his side's chances.
After a few more minutes of heaving and huffing from both sides, the Austrian referee blows his whistle to end the game and Scotland have won 3-2 and are through to the Semi-final of the World Cup. Beattie let's the players celebrate their moment of glory and goes over to shake Winterbottom's hand to give his regards over an exciting game.
The celebrations also include a handful of delighted Scottish supporters running onto the pitch to congratulate their team, a photo that goes on the front page of many Newspapers back home, especially in Scotland shows George Young being crowded round by two of the supporters celebrating wildly and becomes an iconic photo for the album of Scottish football.
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The hotel bar in Basel is a hearty atmosphere with the Scottish players drinking to their victory and their thoughts on their Semi-final game with either Brazil or Hungary, many of the hotel staff celebrate the team's victory. It is noted that Beattie isn't here with the players but none of them take any notice of this as they know he is likely in his hotel room and plan the next game plan.
Just then Bobby Evans runs into the bar looking like he has just seen a ghost and his teammates take note that something is wrong.
"Hold on," Young calls out to the Celtic Defender. "You look like a bat out of hell."
"It's the manager!" Evans exclaims. "He's gone!"
The rest of the team now look both confused and concerned at what's happened to their manager.
"What'd you mean 'gone?'" Cowie asks.
"He's left! Gone back home, we have no manager!"
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Oh snap! Beattie leaves the role like in OTL, but later and probably at a far worse time. This might not end well for Scotland despite beating England...Stay tuned.