Flashback - 1978 FIFA World Cup RETCON
It is a rather strange feeling when the England and Scotland teams arrive in Argentina for the 1978 World Cup finals as normally the English would be fancying their chances and the Scots would keep their heads down, however thanks to the actions of a certain Ally MacLeod, everything has turned on it's head. After Scotland's controversial win over Wales that helped them qualify thanks to a dodgy handball which only adds more hatred on the Scots from the Welsh. Not only that, the willy Scottish manager had been instrumental in leading the country into a state of euphoric joy in thinking that Scotland would be either World Champions or come home with at least a medal after this tournament.
In contrast, it had been fairly quiet from the England camp which most of the country was left in a state of disbelieve that despite of misfortunes such as England manager Don Revie leaving the previous year and leading to the FA to make the surprise appointment of Brian Clough to get the job as England manager, a move that went down very well with the public considering how much he was the favourite to get the job.
It was known that the FA were very reluctant to appoint him due to his outspoken comments of the English football authorities, however it was rumoured that after the antics of MacLeod which had made him somewhat of a celebrity and his own mind game comments that the FA hadn't the nerve to appoint a strong willed manager who would get them to Argentina and not purely because of Clough's skills as a manager. Despite all this, they would finish on level points with Italy, but thanks to England's 6-0 thrashing of Luxembourg, they just squeezed through on goal difference and Clough would get the last laugh on MacLeod simply saying in a memo to the Scotland manager saying, 'You said what now?'
Despite the transatlantic flight being more widely available for England and Scotland's working class supporters, it was still a hell of a lot of money to get out there and several newspapers would run competitions for fans to get tickets for the games and supporters would have to share hotel and transport throughout this World Cup in which many would later describe the tournament of them all hanging together.
England vs Argentina in their final group game in Buenos Aires
England would be placed in Group 1 along with hosts Argentina, France and Hungary and would prove to be something of a mixed bag for England as despite getting victories over the likes of France and Hungary, they would fall to the hosts in which England finished as runners up and it would be a rather infamous game for off the field antics in which the mostly Argentine crowd proved to be quite venomous to the English players with the display of Falkland Island protest banners and the chants of pirates and animals with the English defeat being seen a revenge for that infamous game in 1966.
Nonetheless despite the result, Clough would be rather confident in his chances that England could go all the way and would later say that the atmosphere in that stadium was by far perhaps the most vicious he's ever been involved with and did try to play down the politics angle saying that they were only here to play football, though sadly it seemed this futile even the fact that they were playing with a South American Junta watching over them.
For the Scots, things were quite interesting to say the least...
Final results of England's group at the 1978 World Cup
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Scotland's opening match with Peru at the 1978 World Cup
Away from the football field, some would argue that the 1978 World Cup for British audiences would always be best remembered for what could be described as the 'trash talk' between MacLeod and Clough over who would be the more successful, though it was mostly with the Scottish manager who seemed to act more like a showman rather than a manager and this would nearly go wrong for the Scotland manager as the opening match would see the teams tied at half time and might've led to a humiliating defeat some might say. However the Scotland manager would pull out a masterstroke when he would bring on Andy Gray to replace Joe Jordan. A player than despite proving himself to be worthy to play in the Scotland team with how well he had done as Aston Villa, nearly never made it into the team with Joe Harper, a player that MacLeod knew very well from his time at Aberdeen and was only replaced at the last minute when Clough made a comment saying that Scotland's World Cup fortunes rested on that lad and that if he never went, it would all over for Scotland.
It was mind games but in the end, the Scotland manager took the bait and brought Gray out to Argentina. It would proved to be worth it as in that game with Peru, Scotland were awarded a penalty and Don Masson would've taken the penalty but in the end, it was given to Andy Gray and he would prove his worth by scoring to help give Scotland the lead and not long after that, would get a second to put Scotland 3-1 in front and surely got their World Cup campaign up and running. However it nearly went off the rails in the 77th minute when Peru scored and Scotland then defended for their lives as Peru tried to break them down. In the end however, Scotland survived though they hadn't left many impressed by that performance. Worse was to follow after an embarrassing draw with Iran, not helped by trouble in the camp over the now infamous Willie Johnston drug affair.
Then came
that game with the Netherlands in which as they say, the rest is history...
That victory over the Dutch caused a shock in which thanks to a 4-1 victory for Peru over Iran, the former runners up at the last World Cup would suffer a shock early exit on goal difference and would vindicate MacLeod's comments that his side would surely go all the way now as they won the group. Though some critics would say that Scotland were lucky and rather inconsistent, what matter was that Scotland were on their way to the second round and they didn't fear no one...
The next group for Scotland would feature Brazil, Poland and England...what a catch that was to capture the imagination of the UK.
Final results of Scotland's group at the 1978 World Cup
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Scotland vs Brazil at the 1978 World Cup
14th June would see both Scotland and England play Brazil and Poland respectably and it would quite a disappointing night for both. MacLeod would boast prior to the game with Brazil that they didn't fear them seeing as they had beaten them four years ago and expected they would win again. However Brazil were up for revenge and they most certainly did as they annihilate Scotland 5-1 in their worst World Cup result in history and MacLeod would never hear the end of it by those making him look like a fool and surely a result that saw Scotland's World Cup hopes crushed.
That said, things weren't going well for England either as they could only draw 0-0 with Poland and being a team that England had always trouble with from the past. Poland even had the chance to win the game in the dying moments had it not been for the crossbar stopping a late winner. Things though change in the second game for both teams as Scotland would suffer a late draw with Poland in a game they were 1-0 up for most part thanks to a Kenny Dalglish goal in the in the 8th minute and Poland's late goal would come in the 88th minute. If only they could've held on for in the other game, the group would be thrown in the air.
After such a lacklustre game with Poland. England had to do better and Clough's England would shock everyone by getting a 1-0 win over the favourites which meant now that if they were to avoid defeat in their final group match with Scotland, they would go through to the final and that would be scary thought for the Scots in which the thought of England getting to the final was bad enough, however getting there as a result of their actions...
Keegan would score the winner over Brazil
The final group with between England and Scotland was to be the game not to miss as the press built the game up as a winner takes all. Even if Scotland had chance to get to the final, they still could prevent England from getting that and Ally MacLeod would have to bring out the spirit of '77 to stop England getting to the final. Clough was feeling good about his chances saying that they could do it.
With it being such a big game being broadcast live in the UK, both ITV and the BBC would show the game live at the same time meaning that high viewing figures were to be expected for both channels. Incidentally, it would be the first time the two teams had faced off each other on the South American continent and the excitement of this encounter would not be lost on the 1,000 or so English and Scottish fans who had made the daunting journey out to Argentina to witness this big game. The many ways how the group could end up were quite crazy in some ways. England were pretty much certain to go through, even if Brazil won their game with Poland, as long as they avoided defeat. Scotland's chances to reach the final were doomed and thanks to that handicap of the goals they conceded against Brazil had seriously handicapped them with the best case for them was reaching the third place spot if they could score a barrel load of goals in this match. Then there was the dark horse, Poland who despite not being thought of much had the chance to leapfrog everyone if they beat Brazil and Scotland beats England in turn to reach the final. All in all, no one wanted to make a bet on how things could end up.
The following game would be a dramatic classic by all in which despite some thinking England would trample all over Scotland from the moment they got the opening goal in the 20th minute, the Scots would come out fighting and playing to the performance in the same manner of that of how they played the Dutch. News would filter through that Brazil had taken the lead against Poland however England, as things stood, would be in the final. The Scots try all they can to break down England who seemed more than able to hold off the Scottish wave of attacks. Then a commotion can be heard among the mass crowd there in Rosario as right on the end of half time, news comes through from the other game that Poland have drawn with Brazil which makes things all the more tense for as things stood, England were on the verge of the final...
Keegan scores the opening goal
As the second half begins, England look rather lazy and don't seem the need to get into this game, it's like they already feel like they are already in the final, don't they know that Scotland will punish them if they play like this? Clough notices this and gives his players an angry yell to concentrate as Scotland start to cause problems for England on their flanks.
Then in the 54th minute, Jordon, while running down the right, volleys a shot to Clemence who rather than save the ball, punches towards the left of the field and right in the ball's descending path, there is Dalglish right on a collision course. It is a classic 'Oh shit!' moment for the Liverpool keeper as he stumbles back to try and make the save, but the Scottish forward makes the advantage of this and fires home the ball past the England keeper and brings Scotland level in the game. The Liverpool star has scored against his Liverpool teammate, an irony not lost on the disappointed England fans watching from behind Rough's goalposts
Dalglish going in for the kill to level the game out
Clough groans in anger as he feared this would happen and he glances over to his Scottish counterparts who are celebrating the moment. More frustration news follows a few minutes later when it is heard in the other game that Brazil, thanks to Roberto Diamante, have scored to put Brazil back in the lead . Still, England were going through as things stood. In the 59th minute, England make a switch in which Greenhoff goes off for Emlyn Hughes in the hopes that Clough can freshen up the team.
2 minutes later, another change is made and this time it is for Scotland with Archie Gemmill going on for Don Masson in the hopes to find another goal and maybe attempt to replicate his wonder goal against the Netherlands. Although England do make a couple of good chances during the second half, the momentum is with the men in dark blue as they are fighting tooth and nail to get the winning goal, they are aware of what's going on in the Brazil game thanks to MacLeod yelling out the result stating that Brazil are now winning 3-1 and pretty much in a good position if England slip up now.
The next eight minutes of the game proves to be quick a tasty affair with tackles coming in from mostly Souness is playing for the shirt and leads the charge on England, yet Scotland just can't seem to break down Clemence and that back line. It is a good game, a
damn good game by all accounts, perhaps one of the best England/Scotland games to be seen and is indeed a much more exciting game than that dull affair at Hampden just the previous month and MacLeod yells out to his players to switch their formation slightly...or pretty much, throw the kitchen sink in, show no fear and total ruin England's World Cup hopes. Scotland have now switched to a 4-3-3 shape and make great assistance to each other, Clough looks quite nervously and fears the worse might be fold on his team. Then in the 83rd minute, Gemmill replicates his solo move that he did with the Dutch and both Dave Watson and Phil Neal can't seem to stop him, but rather shoot on target, he back passes towards Joe Jordon who only manages to keep the ball out of play and runs with the ball on the left towards the penalty area.
Jordon barely keeps out the ball
This time he aims up his shot and without any fear, he thumps home the ball into the back of the net and blasts Scotland into a 2-1 lead! At last, the Scots have gotten the goal they wanted and in all fairness, probably deserved and Ally MacLeod looks certain to have masterminded another victory over England and probably one even greater than their Wembley heroics last year. There are now looks of dismay among the England bench with the fact that now with scores being they are now, Brazil were going through to the final.
England now seem to wake up and now it's their turn to throw the kitchen sink at Scotland in order to find an equaliser late on into the game. However, in the 86th minute, Keegan looks certain to score when he get's through a gap in the Scottish defence that leaves the goal open with only Andy Rough there. In fact no, not only is it open, it's
gaping. However he panics in the heat of the moment and balloons his shot over the bar and into the dismayed England supporters sitting behind the goal.
With eyes on the game and ears to the radio, both dugouts are tense places with neither really knowing what might happen. To cause more pain for the English, the batteries in the radio for the English team runs out and neither of them have a clue what is happening in the other game with apparently the Poles trying to a goal to get back into the game.
After a mad rush on both sides for another goal, the game is eventually brought to an end and Scotland have signed off from this World Cup with a victory over England, but rather than celebrate, they await to hear the result in the other game which is now into it's last dying moments.
The news has come through, that game has ended 3-1 and with Brazil, England and Scotland all finsihing on 3 points but Brazil top the group thanks to goal difference. The Scots celebrate preventing the English from getting into the final with perhaps the most famous image of the Scotland team in 1978 being one of Ally Macleod doing a little jig of joy of masterminding this marvellous victory to prevent England reaching the final. Even the local Argentine crowd cheer at seeing England getting humbled.
Eventually the two managers go over to shake hands to congratulate each other on a great game. The first time two men finally come face to face during this World Cup. Despite Clough's disappointment of not leading England to the final, he can't help but feel happy for his Scottish counterpart who has gone through hell throughout this World Cup and possibly got something to silence the critics at home.
"Well done...big mouth," Clough speaks to Macleod.
"And well done too...big head," Macleod replies with a grin and the two men have a chuckle to themselves over the joke. Now Clough has to put his disappointment to one side and focus on England's third place group game in three days time agasint Austria. A game in which England beat them 3-0, however that result itself is not what would be remembered as rather what Clough would say after the game...
Final results of the second round matches of the 1978 World Cup
In a post match interview, Clough found himself facing the press again for the post match interview, however the mostly Argentina press packet are all wanting to hear his views on the mouth watering final between the hosts and Brazil and seem to ask very few questions about the England game. He is being broadcast lived to the nation in which he knows millions of hyped up Argentina football lovers are listening to his interview either on radio or on TV. It is during this time when asked who he thinks might be the better team by one of the press guys, he replies.
"If I'm being honest with myself," Clough begins and takes time for the translator replay his message to the audience. "I'm going to say it's going to be a tight one but I'm sure that Argentina have it to win this World Cup."
The press gang are stunned and then one member of the press then asks him why he thinks of this and if he is being disrespectful to the hosts. Clough thinks carefully what to say knowing he has to be careful with his words, time to work that silver tongue of his.
"Let me start then with saying how fantastic our hospitality has been since we've got here." There is not the slight bit of irony considering they have received grieve from a number of folks any of their games regarding those islands in the South Atlantic. There is recognition among the local press that the England manager has wisely opted to stay clear of any potential controversy.
"They have," continues Clough, "been friendly and have done so much for much of the team to enjoy their stay here and we will be there for the game tomorrow to watch the game in person." He pauses briefly to allow the translator to relay his words to the press.
"But anyway, about your question regarding thinking I'm not giving the host nation a chance at the World Cup. I know Brazil and Argentina are heated rivals like us with the Scots, but think about this...would a victory for Brazil tomorrow be a victory for Argentina too? Less of an insult than a blessing? I have no doubt that we'll see Argentina win more World Cups soon. They have a damn good team after all."
There are looks of confusion from the Argentine press packet as Clough pauses before carrying on. "I do have the best interest of the Argentine people in my heart and let's be honest here, some
certain individuals would use an Argentina victory for their own ends, wouldn't they? I think you know whom I'm meaning. Losing this World Cup might be actually good for Argentina as a whole."
He now goes in for the kill. "I am only lucky to say this as a foreigner being able to speak like this...a time when the average Argentine cannot speak freely. I have seen mothers and fathers in the Plaza de Mayo lamenting the loss of their children, the disappeared ones, and it did strike a chord with me, the coaching staff and the players. I do remember someone saying say football is worth life and death, but honestly...there are more important issues out there than football, and this is coming from a football man like myself for heavens sake. So in conclusion, a victory for Brazil will be a victory for Argentina, as much as that might be hard to stomach."
After a dumbfounded translator finishes translating his words, the Argentina journalists are in utter astonishment by his words, mostly that this thrilling speech is being heard live to millions of Argentinians who are all in state of frenzy the day before the final. Towards the end of that speech, the transmission was cut off quickly but it's too late, Clough's words have already been heard by many across the country. The tension following that would play a part in the final in which what would follow as one of the most dramatic World Cup finals ever...
Final results of the third place and final match of the 1978 World Cup
On the day of the final, there is a growing sense of anticipation and most local newspapers in Buenos Aires and across the country are all speaking nothing but the final and have, not surprisingly, not included Clough's words. Yet despite this, there is a lingering suspicion in the papers noting why millions was spent on to stage the tournament yet the country suffers from 186% inflation. Indeed, the jumpy junta has been unnerved by the England manager's words and all around the Estadio Monumental that afternoon, there is a surprisingly large military present around the area and this isn't including the fact that it is a high tension final with their arch rivals Brazil. At one point as many of expected Argentine fans enter the ground, many of them are turned back in grave disappointment when it's found out that their tickets for the final have proven to be fake.
The hugely disappointed, angry and frustrated supporters mill around the outside of the stadium just minutes from kick off. When Colonel Rozas' men attempt to move them away from the stadium - the only place where these supporters want to be of all days, the fans with a volatile combination of pent up excitement and anger is let out and they resist the troops and several unfortunate Brazilian fans get caught up in the wrong place at the wrong time. Tear gas is fired into the crowd by the nervy military, placed on high alert by a junta now facing dissent in the wake of Brian Clough's politically inflammatory radio broadcast. When the crowd are attacked with the tear gas, it only adds fuel to the fire as the crowd have no intention of leaving and protest loudly to this. Then in a shocking turn of events, some of the troops open fire and three supporters, a family of three being a mother, father and their 14 year old son, topple to the ground and, though their lifeless bodies are shovelled swiftly away by the military forces. Fury sweeps through the thousands of fans making their way through the turnstiles, supporters whose emotions are now shredded by the anticipation of a great showpiece event and has been replace by the horror they have just witnessed.
News of the attack quickly spreads around the stadium and although the Argentinian population have gotten use to hearing of these outrages, this moment of causal brutality is one step too far. Pretty soon, the stadium is soon filled with fanatical chants of '
Ar-gen-ti-na! Ar-gen-ti-na!' being repeated prior to kick off in support of the team in matches before hand, is now being directed at the VIP box. But it's not a cry of support, but a violent one which makes Videla and his cronies look even more uncomfortable. The chant remains an expression of nationalism but it is being used to tell Videla that the nation is now united against him and the junta. Videla has never needed an Argentinian victory more than they do now.
The Stadium before the final with Argentina and Brazil
Before leaving the country, the teams of England and Scotland are also there to watch the final, after all, it isn't everyday the two giants of South American football come together to play in a final. Brian Clough sits there looking around at the chanting going on and nearby him, some young Argentinian notice Brian Clough and call out for him; it seems clear that Clough has awakened something in the hearts of the Argentinian population and he does wonder what he has done and what could happen next after this final is over.
When the players do appear onto the pitch, there is a huge amount of ticker tape raining down onto the field and although there is about 2,000 Brazilian fans who have made the daunting journey to Argentina, they are vastly overwhelmed by their Argentine counterparts. Despite this, the Brazil do have an advantage of surprise right from the very start of the match. The normal thing for all footballers the world over to do when kicking off from the centre circle is for one of the two players standing over the ball to play it backward to a midfield player and play the game from then.
However, the cunning Brazilians buck the trend and instead of doing this, Rivellino taps the ball to Reinaldo and instead of knocking the ball backwards, he takes it forward, surprising the two Argentina strikers, whom he duly passes them with ease. After then twisting the ball around Osvaldo Ardiles and then Daniel Passarella before threading the ball forward towards the supporting Rivellino as Daniel Bertoni closes in with a killer tackle. Rivellino moves it wide to Zico who gives it back to Dirceu. The midfield player, on the right side of the field, just outside the Argentinian penalty area, notes the Argentines flooding back toward their own goal and then he dinks a beautiful pass over their heads where Reinaldo sprints forward to meet the ball and headers it in past the hands of Fillol, the Argentinian goalkeeper. With just less than a minute played, Brazil are 1-0 up in the final.
It is only the help of Fillol that keeps the score the way it as Brazil prove to be utter ruthless trying to add to their lead, Argentina are utterly rattle and so are members of the junta watching from the VIP box. The first half is nothing sort of painful for the hosts as they struggle to find a way back into the game but to their credit as the first half goes along, the hosts get into the game and do get a couple of chances to find the equaliser. Then with just exactly 10 minutes of the first half still remaining, Kempes takes matters into his own hands as he rushes with the ball past many Brazilian defenders and reaches into the penalty area and many spectators rise to their feet expecting the goal. Then it does arrive. From 10 yards outside the box he lobs it over the Brazilian keeper and the ball neatly falls into the back of the net. The Buenos Aires, who have been growing restless at this point, leap up in celebration and ticker tape rains down onto the pitch from the higher tier of the stadium.
It comes at the right time to end the first half 1-1 and everything still has to be played for. However what would follow next in the second half would be a feeling of how Brazil felt many years ago when the World Cup was in their country...
With each passing minute of the second half with the hosts wasting many chances due to what seems like pressure, the home crowd grows more nervous with each passing minute and in the 68th minute after Brazil and forced off the field in order for an Argentine throw in, Menotti gets to his feet and runs over to the touchline and, in an effort to get his team back on the rails, he yells out to them crying, "There are only 11 of them and 70,000 of us, we can't lose this!"
Try as he might, it now becomes clear that Argentina have, ever since that very early goal by Brazil, they are looking weak and it does become more clear that they are slowly cracking under the weight of pressure that has been placed on the shoulders of the unfortunate players. With the game getting into the 87th minute, it looks like that despite Brazilian pushing and pressing, the final will go into extra time. However the Brazilians have one more trick up their sleeve as they are awarded a corner and there is a mass of bodies in the Argentine box all scrambling to get into the right position for the kick. The corner kick is taking and the ball doesn't get to the head of any player and instead it becomes a mad scramble to get the ball somewhere. Then from in the middle of this madness, Rivellino finds the ball rolling to his feet and with one slightly over powered shot, he fires it upwards into the roof of the net and puts Brazil 2-1 up in the final. Cue many Argentinians covering their eyes in horror at the nightmare about to unfold.
One brave Brazilian fan at the final
The crowd grow more restless again and despite Argentina throwing everything to bring the game into extra time, it is too late, the referee has blown his whistle and in the end, Brazil are world champions for a fourth time, but their victory is greeted with near silence from the stunned crowd who can't make any amount of noise. The Argentinian players on the pitch are still as statues, they are in a state of shock for what has happened while the Brazilian bench gets up and runs onto the field to celebrate their historic victory.
Videla waits to carry out his duty of presenting the World Cup, a matter now uncomfortable for him as he can't use the moment for propaganda purposes. Finally, the large crowd finds it's voice and a great roar of furious, bottled up hatred engulfs the stadium. It is as if, in the vacuum left by defeat, they recognise how empty a regime-backed victory for Argentina would have been. The stadium has become a tinderbox and this is no longer about football, but a turning of the tables on the men who have tried to use the Argentinian's love of football for their own means. One young man, with a blue and white hat, leaps over the wall separating Videla and his men from the crowd and a solider steps in to stop the man.
But rather than shoot him in plain sight, he smashes the butt of his rifle down on the man's face, bloodying the national colours on the man's head. The solder's violence only makes the crowd worse as Videla stands frozen as a dozen more people from the crowd leap forward and, undaunted by a similar fate, rush forward to the VIP box. More and more angry fans descend like a swam of wasps onto the box and Videla and his men have no choice but make a hasty retreat down the corridor behind them. But it is unlikely he'll get far at all.
On the pitch, thousands of supporters invade the field and security probably wisely withhold their batons and the Brazilian players have retreated to the tunnel fearing what might unfold for them. Nearby where the the visiting teams are sitting, they and perhaps everyone all over the world watching live on TV are witnessing the madness in action, and nearby Clough, the supporters who noticed the England manager earlier motion him to come with him. Clough stands up by his number two, Peter Taylor holds him back but he assures him saying, "Don't worry, I've got this."
Before anyone knows it, Clough is carried onto the shoulders of several Argentina supporters and is giving a lap of honour round the stadium and receives a standing ovation from the many thousands still up on the terraces as a thank you to him. After this unexpected honour, Clough makes a beeline over towards Menotti, who has the look of a man who resignation on his face. Clough then raises the Argentina manager's arm into the air and he himself is carried onto the shoulders of his players and the crowd give him an equally warm reception. Not bad for a man from Middlesbrough.
To the credit of the Brazilians, they haven't rubbed their rivals noises in and instead have taken a spectators view of the events taking place. However there is still the duty of awarded the winners the World Cup and with Videla being, for lack of a better pharse, somewhat out of action, Clough races down the players' tunnel and returns with the World Cup in his hands, indeed it's probably the only time he'll ever get his hands on the famous cup. Then in one of the great iconic images of the World Cup shows Brian Clough presenting the Brazil captain, Rivellino, with the World Cup. Clough would be later known as the man from Teesside who help overthrow a South American dictatorship.
The two colourful managers of England and Scotland who made 1978 quite a eventful time in British football
On the return back from Argentina, Brian Clough and Ally MacLeod would suffer mixed fates with Clough ending his time with the England team in 1980 after helping them win Euro 1980 after finding his relationship with the FA more stressful. MacLeod would have quite the unfortunate ending with the National Side in which despite signing on to guide Scotland to Euro 1980, who would end up spending more time on television basking in the moment of his great run at the World Cup rather than train with the players. His media events, showmanship qualities and meeting many famous people would come to bite him hard and following a disastrous qualification experience for Euro 1980, he would be sacked. Such a hopeful career ending on such a sour note.
For the people of Argentina, the demons of 1978 would though be vanquished as that defeat would spur Argentina to dominate the next two World Cups winning in 1982 and '86 and would get the ultimate revenge in 2014 when they would win their third title in Rio in their arch rivals backyard and from then on, the team of 1978 would be vindicated. Maybe things happen for a reason?
For England and Scotland...we all know what happens next...
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Here we are, slight tweaks to WC '78 with the results here and there but mostly the same. Anyway, as I wrote this, I did hear of quite a crazy story about Brian Clough in which when he didn't get the England job, he apparently tried to get the Scotland job in 1977! Yeah, sounds crazy but did make me think of a TL I could explore separate to this and would anyone be interested in seeing that? Brian's Tartan Army doesn't feel quite right...
Anyway next update...don't know, until then, catch you later!
