All To Play For: The Home Nations' Football Adventures

[Coulsdon Eagle]

How many did England put past Felix? The Guadalajara game was probably Moore's finest ever game, and it needed to be.

My other memory of the group was Romania, one of the dirtiest teams I've ever seen.

Brazil managed to score at least 3 against every other team in 1970. England's defence (or keeper) kept them to 1.

Felix was possibly the most inept keeper to play on the World Cup stage. Not sure where he disappeared to when Italy scored their equaliser in the Final.

 

[QTXAdsy]

Chapter 42: Playing For Pride

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With the glorious run that the United Kingdom's football teams were having both domestic and on the international stage, many believed that more good things were to come as the 1970's began with nothing more that total football domination. While club level it had gone well with Glasgow Rangers and Tottenham Hotspurs for example winning both the Cup Winners Cup and UEFA Cup respectably in 1972, things hadn't gone to plan for the Home Nations as qualification for Euro '72 had proven.

Wales failed to qualify for yet another tournament along with Scotland, the current holders, to everyone's surprise, however the biggest shock was in the Quarter-finals was with England being knocked out by West Germany. The sudden downturn for the British teams all had their own problems with Duncan Edwards making the unexpected choice to retire from international duty with England, which many claimed to have had a factor in failing to make Euro '72, Wales having bad luck and the feeling of not reaching a tournament since 1966 and Scotland, the now former European champions, undergoing a low period with Sir Matt Busby no longer their manager and failing to reach any dizzying heights.

However there was one team for the United Kingdom to rally behind which was Northern Ireland and one that everyone that country badly needed to bring a feel good factor to Northern Ireland. Following their brave run in the last World Cup, they had brought joy to a troubled country that had, briefly, caused tensions on both the Protestant and Catholic divide to be put to one side during that run in the World Cup. Even after when the team returned, the troubles seem to be mostly vanish and any troubles that there were very minor and it seems football had done it's part to help mend any divide there was...that was until 30th January on what had become know as Bloody Sunday in which Thirteen unarmed civilians were shot dead in Derry/Londonderry as British paratroopers open fire on a banned civil rights march and later a fourteenth victim would die a few months later having been shot by a paratrooper.

The next few months prove to be one of the violent years of the troubles and in the middle of this living hell, Northern Ireland had managed to make it to Euro '72 as the sole British (or Irish represented, depending what side you where on) and one who's timing to appear at yet another tournament was very much welcomed news to bring to the people of Northern Ireland.

When the Northern Irish players landed at Brussels Airport and were greeted by the local press and many excited locals who had been waiting to see the Third Best team in the world arriving in their country. However with all the troubles that had been going on back home, some UEFA higher ups feared that the Northern Irish team would bring along supporters who they thought might be bombers in disguise and could cause chaos across Belgium and even considered expelling the team from the tournament. This didn't go down well with the other British football associations who backed the Irish saying that their supporters, also known as the 'Green and White Army', had always shown a fantastic reputation and support for their team at home and abroad and the idea of banning the team was quickly forgotten about, though the supposed plan still irks Northern Ireland supporters to this day.

But in all fairness, it wasn't surprising given that bombings and killings were the only things that the world seemed to know when one mentioned Northern Ireland then that is what one would think about. Though their team had done some good, Bingham and his players knew that had a job to bring glory to their wee country and put all the hell and troubles to the dustbin to history, it was time for football.

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Northern Ireland's first game and Semi-final game on the 14th June would be played at the Emile Versé Stadium in Brussels where their opponents would be Hungary, West Germany and host Belgium would play in the other Semi at the same time. As the players walked out onto the pitch, there was below half full with only 16,590 spectators to watch the game and only about 5,000 in the ground where Northern Ireland supporters, the rest where mostly locals and the odd Hungary fan who could be seen waving a Hungarian flag. It wasn't a good atmosphere by any means and when they lined up for the anthems to be played, some of the Irish players looked noticeably quite uncomfortable as they knew 'God Save The Queen' would be played first before the Hungarian anthem, there was still that tension among some of the Catholic players in the team who didn't want to have that as anthem.

What they hadn't realised though that Bingham was aware of their problem and had privately made plans to use a different anthem that he got the idea from teh Welsh team who used 'Land Of My Fathers' as an anthem and one that he was sure would be suitable for the players who were uncomfortable. So when the band behind the players began to play the anthem, to their surprise, it wasn't 'God Save The Queen' that they heard, but none other than 'Danny Boy' (or 'Londonderry Air' as some would call it). Footage of the players can be seen with them all looking noticeably stunned and even some such as Martin O'Neil with his eyes filled with tears as it is a tune that means to the players and everyone back home to bring them all together as shown with the players all placing their arms on each other's shoulders as a mark of standing together. Best would recall the moment with emotion.

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Without question hearing 'Danny Boy' before the game with Hungary was probably the most emotional I have felt while playing for Northern Ireland. Just to hear that song being played totally caught us off guard and it really meant so much for us in that moment for all the shit that had been happening back home and if you were to ask any of us who played then would argue that moment was when we all unified like before, even for us who had played in the last World Cup. I looked over to Bingham on the touchline who had his arms crossed and nodded at us with a smile and a nod, I felt like shouting out 'You cheeky bastard! You caught me off guard there!' but me wiping away a tear was enough for him to show how I was feeling.

Our own fans were emotional too as I glanced up towards where they were and it just really fired us up to make us play well and get to the final. I just hope we hadn't been reduced to blubbering wrecks as we got ready for kick off.

Excerpt from 'Blessed', Ebury Press 2002

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He'd neither had worried as the team were totally up to play for Northern Ireland and when the game started, they began to push forward into the Hungarian defence and Best passes the ball towards Derek Dougan, who had made his move to AC Milan right after the World Cup, nearly fires Northern Ireland in front in the eighth minute but his shot is knocked upwards by Hungarian keeper, István Géczi, and the Irish forward is showing the football world that there is more to them than just George Best. The Hungarians aren't any pushovers however as they begin pushing forward into the Northern Irish half and this time the Hungarian captain Ferenc Bene nearly strikes home a goal in a the thirteenth minute but Pat Jennings makes sure that it won't go in.

Disappointedly, Northern Ireland's early attacks in the game fade to nothing as Hungary start to boss the game around and Bene nearly attempts another shot on goal in the nineteenth minute, but his attack is snuffed out by Sammy Nelson who makes a well timed tackle before taking the ball up the field and sending up towards Dave Clements. As the ball gets towards Clements, he does get a foot to it but he is barged into by Lajos Kű who quickly see's a yellow card and the Irish are awarded a free kick. A lot of pushing and puffing for both teams follows as both are playing unattractive workman like football and not stylish play like some would be hoping for as the East German ends up stopping and starting the game due to some dubious offside moments and fouls that makes it difficult for either team to find a rhythm to play to.

Nelson during the Semi-final with Hungary
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Then in the twenty seventh minute, Tommy Jackson runs with the ball on the flank and passes the ball towards O'Neil who sends the ball up towards Best who finds himself inside the penalty box and prepares the fire Northern Ireland in front. He shoots but to his disbelieve, Géczi somehow manages to keep the ball out thanks to his leg getting in the way after he dives the wrong way as the ball rockets upwards and Best, and perhaps any Northern Irish person watching, can only place his hands in shock at just how that ball didn't go in, either way it is the save of the tournament there.

Irish frustration starts to build up as despite having a number of good chances, Northern Ireland just can't quite seem to get the ball into the back of the net even with Best and Dougan trying everything to help. Then in the thirty third minute, István Szőke rushes into the Northern Ireland penalty box and Alan Hunter attempts to slide in and whip the ball off his feet, unfortunately he just times it badly as the tackle just so happens to be just into the box and as soon as Szőke falls, the referee books Hunter and points for a penalty to take place. It is then down for Jennings to try and stop it as Bene goes up to take it, Jennings goes the right way but sadly the ball is just out of his reach as it just slips past him and Hungary go 1-0 up.

Bingham yells at his players on the field to not lose heart and for them to get back into the game and the players make the most of trying to find the equaliser. Northern Ireland begin to fight back and in they begin to look more of the dangerous team in the game and in the thirty sixth minute, an error by Lajos Kocsis allows Hunter to thread the ball up to Best who takes the ball with him and run it down the field with a few of the Hungarian players trying to stop him, but yet while Best may not be in his prime anymore, he hasn't lost that touch and he makes great movements in trying to avoid the Hungarian players. Then he crosses the ball over towards Dougan who knows exactly what to do and with the Hungarian keeper caught off guard expecting Best to score, Dougan takes his chance and the ball rockets into the right hand corner of the net and Northern Ireland are back in the game.

The Northern Ireland fans in the stadium celebrate and yet the Belgium police are weary of them just in case someone in that mad joyful crowd is carrying a bomb, which given that there is strangely a more larger police presence around where the Irish fans are shows how much the Belgium police aren't taking any chances. The first half of the game carries on at a more tighter nature as neither side seem to want to lose a goal before the first half is over and thankfully for both sides, the first half ends at 1-1 and in all fairness, either side can win this game, question is will have to be settled in extra time or penalties?

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The second half get's off to a dramatic start and not for the more good reasons. In the forty eighth minute, O'Neil is brought down by István Juhász in quite a vicious tackle that makes the Irish players scream out for a foul and the referee goes out and Juhász see's a yellow card though some would argue that the tackle deserves a red card. Back and forward the game is so open that no one can honestly predict who might be the winners in this game could be. In the fifty third minute, Dougan tries to score another goal but his attempt is poor as the ball flies over the bar and just two minutes later, Sammy Mcllory goes on as a substitute for O'Neil who hasn't been the same since his tackle and the weakened O'Neil stumbles off and fears that perhaps his tournament could be over before it's even started depending on his injury.

To try and get their team to raise their spirits, the Northern Irish fans begin singing 'Danny Boy' and there is a likely chance that perhaps at least one place somewhere in Northern Ireland there is a person singing it too. Over ten minutes go by and nothing happens with both teams failing to get a shot on target and then, in rather perhaps unexplained reasons in the seventy second minute of all minutes giving the year 1972 has been for Northern Ireland, Danny Hegan crosses the ball towards Best who bounces the ball on his chest and with a little twist, he volleys the ball from outside the eighteen yard area and the ball rockets towards the goal where it hits the crossbar, bounces downward and goes up hitting the roof of the net and Best's outstanding goal helps put Northern Ireland 2-1 up in the game in which they were behind most of the time.

It is a goal that only someone like Best can score with the Northern Irish fans celebrating like wild and even the Belgians watching the game can't help but applaud for witnessing perhaps the greatest goals they've ever witnessed. None of the traveling fans in teh ground and those watching on television back home can hardly believe that now they are so close to the final and something that the great side of 1970 couldn't have done. However the Hungarians are not giving up as they begin to push back for an equaliser which they hope they can get before the game is over and they do manage to go on the break and attack the Northern Irish flanks where they do trouble the defence and there are three shots on target in the seventy eighth, ninth and eighty third minute on goal, all of which thankfully miss the goal but amusingly, miss by going past left and right of the post and over the crossbar.

Jennings and Best look at each other in the dying moments of the Semi-final​

The game is now in the ninetieth minute and there is three minutes of injury time and Hungary are now throwing everything forward to find that certain goal which in all fairness depending on how well they have been playing since Northern Ireland took the lead, they do deserve it. Then right in the last minute of injury time, Hungary are awarded a free kick right outside the box and Bingham throws his arms up in frustration that they have to call it this late in the game. Sándor Zámbó goes up to take it and there is no doubt many Northern Irish fans praying, both either Catholic and Protestant, hoping that the ball won't go in.

The ball is shot and everything seems to go in slow motion as the ball flies over the wall and Jennings dives to the right and soon see's that he's just going to miss grabbing the ball and fears the worse as the ball seems to be going in. The ball however just goes past the post and Jennings would later say the ball was so close to the post that it scraped the paint of the pole and after a few seconds of laying on the ground, it only just dawns on him that Zámbó has missed and that was the last chance Hungary had.

He quickly kicks the ball far up the pitch and before he knows it, the referee blows his whistle and in perhaps the most dramatic and greatest moment in Irish and British football history, Northern Ireland have beaten Hungary 2-1 and are in the final. Best falls to his knees and points to the heavens, no doubt thinking of those who have lost their lives to the troubles. Northern Irish fans are on cloud nine and some try to invade the pitch, but the Belgium police stop them and instead, their wild celebrations carry on in the stands and eventually spill onto the streets of Brussels where no fan will sleep tonight and will end up staying on the streets where they'll be there for the final.

They say a great tragedy can bring people together and achieve greatness, the Northern Ireland football team of 1972 has, against a background of the troubles, has booked their place for the final and now it can be said that all four Home Nation teams have gotten into a final. All that is standing in Northern Ireland's way of glory will be a strong West German side, all to play for in four days time.

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And so here we are for Euro '72 and Northern Ireland are the team here along with the terrible background of the troubles which had Northern Ireland been playing at this tournament in 1972 IOTL, which that year too was arguably the worst year of the troubles, it would've been interesting to see how the team could rise above that and try and bring a feel good factor to the country. Anyway, I'm actually conflicted on how Northern Ireland will do in the final, I know it could be easy to say West Germany, but remember ITTL, West Germany didn't make it to Mexico 70 so...

Anyway, hope you enjoyed this update and look forward for the final.

 

[MatthewFirth]

I thought Northern Ireland would not make it, considering they struggled in qualifying OTL.

 

[QTXAdsy]

I thought Northern Ireland would not make it, considering they struggled in qualifying OTL.

Very true, but considering ITTL that they gained experience of playing at the '66 and '70 World Cups, they are a different team but by no means perfect. I would suspect after the run they did after the last Word Cup ITTL there would be a feel good factor that would help the team.

That all said yes, OTL had them really struggle and the troubles going on in the background wouldn't have helped them but yet I find it interesting to see WI Northern Ireland played at a tournament during the worst of the troubles.

 

[QTXAdsy]

Chapter 43: Müller vs. Best​

The temperature surrounding the Heysel stadium on the 18th June was hot but thankfully not boiling that could affect the player's mind set, for today would be the European final and a new champion would emerge after this game was over. The stadium that could hold 60,000 spectators was only holding just over 43,000 with some thinking that the crowd could've been much bigger had the hosts Belgium made it to the final, however the two teams to compete would be West Germany and Northern Ireland and a lot of the supporters in the ground were German, having all making the short journey over the border. As the two teams walked out onto the field to the great reception that awaited them, the Northern Irish players felt like it was an away game in West Germany considering how many of their supporters were here. They glanced over to see where their fans where and there was indeed about 9,000 Northern Ireland fans in the ground who most had been at the Hungary match just four days ago and had stayed the extra few nights in the Belgium capital booking any hotel that could take them and some, without any money, camped in the streets like homeless people.

Though they were thankful for the fans who had made the journey out here, the gaps in the terraces were painfully evident. It wasn't like Windsor Park where there would be nothing but a field of expected faces but the Northern Ireland fans could hardly be blamed for the lack of fans that had turned up. Times were tough and the Troubles had made life hellish for the people back home with the Belgian authorities refusing the Irish FA to give out more tickets to their supporters due to the never ending fear of a sudden bombing. This wasn't even including the hyper inflation, high unemployment and never ending industrial disputes that were not exclusive for Northern Ireland but the UK as a whole, and that wasn't even including the amount of pundits and neutrals who didn't give the Northern Irish a chance against the much fancied West Germans and one BBC pundit that shall not be named even made the bold claim that it wasn't worth if for their fans to support their team knowing that defeat was the only outcome.

They were all saying that while the final was a mismatch of sorts that Northern Ireland were the clear underdogs and that the contest would be a contest between masters and pupils, they still admired how they had gotten this far and that everyone was licking their lips of the prospect of Gerd Müller taking on George Best, arguably the two best forwards in Europe. Bingham didn't care for everyone thought of his team and knew that they had character to take on anyone, however he did find it quite arrogant that the everyone seemed to think the West Germans were unstoppable. That might be, but they had failed to qualify for the last World Cup and although Northern Ireland had gotten there and had stunned the world just at what they could do, everyone seem to deliberately forget their heroics. It seemed that the only way to shut up this confident sorts was to beat the Germans and back home from Belfast to Belleek, there were many gathering in bars huddled around television sets drinking nervously into their beer as the game started, Brussels seemed like a world away.

Northern Ireland fans in Brussels for the Euro '72 final ​

The game began and despite the massive roar of the crowd that greeted the kick off, Bingham's voice could be heard shouting "Put it up to Dougan! Put it up to him!" Hamilton tries to hold the ball trying to find the good time to send it up the field, however his attempt is quickly snuffed out by Günter Netzer and takes it into the Irish half and it looks like an early goal within the first few seconds is about to happen, however Netzer's pass to Erwin Kremers is thankfully caught by Liam O'Kane before he passes it back towards his Nottingham Forrest teammate, Tommy Jackson.

However, after Northern Ireland began to get to grips with the Germans, the opening fifteen minutes of the game prove to be much more surprising than anyone had thought as neither side had scored and the ball had barely moved outside of a thirty yard stretch of grass in the middle of the pitch, with the ball being snatched of a player's foot almost as soon as he'd received it. It was a battle in the midfield with Dave Clements locking in a tussle with Uli Hoeneß trying to outdo each other. No punches were being thrown thankfully but the surface of the grass proved to be challenging for both teams as sliding tackles took place as the referee's whistle was barely out of his mouth as these tackles went on and it was quite strange that no card had been shown so far, maybe this Austrian referee was trying to not have a stop/start game like others would've done.

As the game then crept into the twenty minute mark, the West Germans were starting to show their strength and just a minute later, they were awarded a corner kick and pretty much everybody gathered round the penalty box as Kremers fired the kick and Müller almost fires West Germany in front had it not been for the ball hitting the crossbar and the German supporters behind the goal can only let out a groan as a chance goes begging. Best and Müller both stare at each other as they both run out of the area and Best has been aware of the build up of the meet between him and the stocky little centre-forward, nicknamed 'Der Bomber' by the Germans themselves which bemuses Best and many others knowing how much the Germans are trying to live down their wartime past.

Jennings during the final
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Then just seven minutes later, 'Der Bomber' himself manages to get past Pat Rice and Sammy Nelson with a well planned run which takes him right towards the edge of the penalty box before he curls in a wonderful shot that Jennings leaps forward to try and get a hold on it, but he can only watch in despair as the ball thunders past him and crash into the back of the net to send the West Germans 1-0 up. A great roar from the mostly German crowd follows as Jennings picks the ball up and kicks it out the centre of the field in frustration, it has not been the wonderful clean sheet record he had in the last World Cup.

The pundits who have all predicted an easy win for West Germany were probably feeling quite vindicated that their predictions seemed to become a reality. From then on the West Germans start turning the screw down as they try to look out for another goal while at the same time push and pull the Northern Irish players around like ragdolls which is so apparent that even those who expect a mauling by West Germany can't help but feel sorry for them as they struggle to keep out waves of German attacks, that is not including the fact that unlike Müller who has certainly shown in this game, Best has been rather absent as he has yet to make a shot on target.

That all said as the whistle for half time was blown, it hadn't been the mismatch final that everyone had thought it would be as the West Germans walked off leading 1-0. That all said, it was quite clear who would be lifting the trophy in an hours time. The watching Northern Ireland fans, both in Brussels and back home weren't feeling all that down as some had feared for a rout and in some ways had been proud that their team had gone toe to toe with one of the continent's great footballing nations and had come out mostly unscathed and while they hadn't had much of a shot on target, West Germany hadn't been much better having not made much clear up chances themselves.

All that was needed surely was for the team to get the ball up to the feet of Best and hope for a little bit of magic that could come out of it, after all, they were only just a goal down...

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While the supporters had reasons to be cautiously optimistic, the Northern Irish players themselves had felt rather despondent. They had gone into the game hoping to cause an upset earlier on, but now they could see why everyone was placing best on the West Germans to do well, they were good, bloody good in fact and there really shouldn't be any shame of losing to them considering their reputation. Yet Bingham reminded them they were only a goal down and that the pressure was all on the Germans as they had failed to qualify for the last World Cup and would be hosting the tournament within two years and also under pressure to win that one.

Quite a lot of mind soothing seemed to take place throughout the interval and by the time the Northern Ireland team returned to the filed, they had looks of confidence that weren't when they went off. Bingham sat on the bench along with several other players and members of staff as the second half began and all knowing that this was going to be the most important game in the history of Irish football. Despite him building up their confidence that they could do, privately, he actually had doubts that they could topple this West German side and he could only hope they'd make themselves not look foolish out there.

Those who had watched the players dressed in all green closely noticed that there was a slight spring in their step and zest that wasn't there before and much to everyone's amazement, Northern Ireland began to push forward with Best and Dougan leading the charge. But just as they had stunned the Germans in the early moments, they began to get back in the game and push back the underdogs and began laying siege to Northern Ireland suspicious yet solid defence. However with pretty much every West German player pushing forward into the Irish half, Bingham ordered Best to move up the field and away from the mass of players surrounding the Northern Irish penalty box. Then in the fifty fourth minute, Pat Rice get's his foot on the ball and before it can be snatched by a German player, he lobs it over to Best who takes the ball without up the field and is unmarked as he runs with the ball with pretty much no German player near him.

The German fans and their manager scream at their players to get back and stop Best, but the cunning Irishman knows what to do and for what is perhaps the first in the whole game, Best finally gets a shot on target and the ball goes right past the hands of the stunned West German keeper, Stepp Maier who tries to save it, but Best makes a cheeky chip over his head and from out of nowhere and the run of play, has shot Northern Ireland back into the game and belly flops in celebration on the field with pretty much all his teammates dogpiling on him. The Northern Irish fans in the crowd have something to cheer about and the West German supporters are stunned into silence at what has just happened. Bingham gives his players the thumbs up knowing that it's game on.

Pat Rice before lobbing the ball over to Best
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The West German players hadn't been expecting this and there were looks of shock that the players exchanged with each other, the game wasn't going to go the way they had expected. The next few minutes of the second half prove to be quite a scrappy affair with Jupp Heynckes trying to win the ball at every opportunity just as O'Neil and Jackson would be too. Those overconfident pundits who predicated a West German victory can only watch nervously as the players in green start playing a brilliant game of football which helps makes the final feel more open rather than one-sided as it had been for the whole game.

That all said, despite now getting a fair bit of possession of the ball, Northern Ireland struggled to find a shot on target and then in the sixty third minute, Northern Ireland are awarded a corner and Bingham knows that these are probably the only time in which Northern Ireland can score from right in front of the nervous looking Northern Ireland fans standing behind the goal. Mcllory takes the corner kick and Dougan tries to get his head on it but it is knocked out of the box by Hans-Georg Schwarzenbeck going near the centre line, however the ball is caught by O'Neil who witnesses several big German players coming towards him, so instead he does the only thing he can do and cross it over to Best who makes a quick check of the goal before firing it home and making Maier dive to the left to get it. The German keeper does it his hands to it but he can't get a good enough grip on it and the ball cascades up from his grasp and hits the roof of the net and sending any Irishman in the ground into utter raptures.

Against the odds, Northern Ireland have come back from 1-0 down to lead 2-1 thanks to two wonderful shots from that man, George Best. Even Bingham can contain himself as he and Terry Neil, also sitting on the bench, embrace each other and dance around like lunitics yet who can blame them? Northern Ireland is in dreamland! If the wildly celebrating Northern Ireland fans are anything to go by, lord knows just what is going on back home with celebrations like it's New Years Eve. Pretty much everyone cannot believe what they are seeing, it hadn't seem possible at half time and now they have the unbelievable chance of becoming European Champions!

Best after celebrating his second goal of the final​

Sadly any thoughts of unlikely glory only last for five minutes as Müller (who else?) strike back with a goal thanks to a great teamwork goal thanks to Netzer and Kremers to level the score at 2-2, the Irish payers were probably already dreaming of glory and have been caught off guard. From what many expected as a rout has now turned into a thrilling final with the two best players scoring two of the four goals each. One thing is certain that whoever scores next will surely be the winning goal for this game. As the match wore on, the Northern Irish players were starting to look tired and had done pretty everything they could to take the game to the Germans. Despite making two substitutes to try and freshen up the team, Bingham players look like they were being pushed to their absolute limit and in the seventy sixth minute, Müller goes on his own with the ball and despite the likes of Alan Hunter and Dave Craig trying to stop 'Der Bomber', the German centre forward takes the ball and for some reason decides to strike it forward from quite a distance from the eighteen yard line and everyone watches with held breathes as the ball goes flying and Jennings prepares to make a save for it.

Instead he only just misses out on grabbing it as the ball rockets past him and hits the top right hand corner that gives him his hattrick and puts West Germany 3-2 into the lead. The West German supporters find their voice again and start making all the noise knowing that they have surely got this game in the bag thanks to a wonder goal from that man and the Northern Irish players are absolutely exhausted, they just haven't got anything left in them. In the closing moments of the game, many West German supporters start appearing on the side lines waiting to begin a pitch invasion, it is only a matter of time. The only bit of amusing in the game is from the Irish fans chanting to the man who broke their hearts chant the following; "Gerd Müller, you're a wanker! You're a wanker!"

Wherever or not he knows what they are saying is unknown.

West German players celebrate the third goal being scored
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Finally after a bruising last few minutes of added time, the referee blows his whistle and West Germany are the new European champions with their supporters making a mad rush onto the pitch to celebrate putting all the ghosts they might've had to the past and now turn their sights on in the World Cup taking place in their home country in 1974. Bingham goes over to his distraught players who felt they could've done it, but the truth being was that they were up against it and the fact that they went toe to toe with West Germany and come out with their dignity intact was truly something special. Both players exchange handshakes and the number of Northern Irish fans in the stadium began applauding and chanting for them in which the players walk over to them and applaud back at them for supporting them all this way.

Best though is feeling upset, he probably can imagine he can help the team make it to the next World Cup in two years time but at the same time only dawns on him that this was perhaps his only chance of winning silverware for his country and now that chance has gone. The other question is will Northern Ireland make it to another final? In future, time will tell...

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So there we are, Northern Ireland lose and West Germany are victors. I suppose even ITTL, West Germany would perhaps be a step to far for Northern Ireland. That all said, who would've loved to have seen Best and Müller meet in a major tournament? Who knows what might've happened but for thing is for certain, it certainly would've have been a dull affair. Anyway, next up is West Germany '74 and will England qualify for it ITTL or will Wales do it? One for thing is for certain, Scotland are back. Stay tuned for the next World Cup!

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[MatthewFirth]

England will qualify, Northern Ireland maybe, Wales nah.....

 

[HesitatedEye]

I'm hoping and praying the 78 World Cup has Scotland but minus THAT song.

 

[BenC]

I'm hoping and praying the 78 World Cup has Scotland but minus THAT song.

I'm hoping they qualify, the song is released, but they have to change

"We're representing Britain
And we're gaunny do or die
England cannae dae it
Cause they didnae qualify"

Because England do too.

 

[QTXAdsy]

Chapter 44: Money, Money, Money...​

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With the West Germans winning Euro '72, it gave them the feel good factor needed for them to host the 1974 World Cup and, as they were hoping, would win it in their own backyard. Strangely for this World cup, there wouldn't be a knockout stage but another group stage, two of them in fact, that would be the second round (or Semi-final depending on how one would look at it) and whoever would win either of those two group stages would qualify for the final. The game was also undergoing major changes off the field and that change would be commercialism, television would be the game's new paymaster and this also included major sponsors throwing money around. Looking back in hindsight, the 1974 World Cup could be best described as a 'get rich slow scheme' and when the Scotland, England and Northern Ireland teams arrived in West Germany, each of the players had mixed results on this new experience.

Players such as George Best, who had done a fair bit at his time at Manchester United, got to grips with the sponsor offers very well, some others didn't do too bad and the rest either didn't do well and others couldn't really care about it. The latter probably had a point as this was the World Cup and it was all about playing football. The three British teams that had made all had a tough time in qualification with England squeezing past Poland in the final group game at Wembley and Scotland getting the better of Czechoslovakia. Northern Ireland also somehow managed to getting the better of Bulgaria and Portugal, despite most of the players being past their prime, and were only allowed to play their games at Windsor Park at the last minute due to security fears, which prove to be unfounded as tensions between the two religious sides in the country had reduced and football had, in some ways, helped to make things better. In addition, their fans would join the hordes of Scots and English making the trip to West Germany.

For the group stage, Scotland were drawn in Group 2 with champions Brazil, Yugoslavia and Zaire, Northern Ireland were given a tough selection in Group 3 placed in with the Netherland, Sweden and Uruguay while in Group 4, England were given Argentina, Italy and Haiti. Nonetheless, three teams set of with the usual goodwill messages from all over. It was time for football.

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Despite making it to the World Cup and getting the tabloids behind him, Ramsay couldn't shake off just how vicious they could be, even though they had made it to two World Cup finals in a row, they just seemed like they didn't want to be satisfied unless they would win the damn trophy. So right after the Poland game, Ramsay made the shock announcement that he would leave the England job after this World Cup, even if they were to go on and win it. It was hardly the best preparation he'd admit but he had felt like he had overstayed his welcome in the job and now would be the time to step down.

It didn't make things easier as England's first game would be against Argentina and for the South Americans, memories of that Quarter-final in 1966 were still fresh in the minds of any Argentine and here was a chance to get revenge over them. All around Stuttgrad many England fans could be see around the area and there was a few unfortunate incidents with English supporters chanting 'Two World Wars and One World Cup' to the German public and even a scuffle or two between Argentina and England fans which many hoped wouldn't have happen. Thankfully as the large crowd filled up the Neckarstadion, there was a good atmosphere as the teams lined up for the anthems to be played.

Right from kick off England looked the more dangerous team as they held possession and their fans were enjoying the moment, yet Ramsay remained expressionless as Argentina showed that they weren't backing down so easily and Aldo Poy nearly scored for Argentina in the 8th minute only for Ray Clemence to make a great save by diving to the right. Ramsay yelled at his players on the touchline to get forward and not let them score early in the game, though the game was slowly turning into a bad tampered game with sliding tackles taking place and Clive Thomas, the Welsh referee, was trying all he could to make the game move along and not book anyone, though both sides would argue that perhaps there should've been a booking with how things were going.

England and Argentina making it tough for each other during the first group game at the 1974 World Cup
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Twenty five minutes had gone by and despite good chances for either side, no one had scored and the game was becoming more of a battle than anything and some were wondering if there would be a goal in this game. Then thankfully in the 27th minute, Kevin Keegan makes a brilliant move around Roberto Perfumo who passes the ball up towards Mick Channon who slips it under the grasp of Daniel Carnevali and fires England into the lead. Though England might have the opening goal, Argentina are far from out of this game and they keep pressing, however just three minutes later and after having the ball past to him, Enrique Wolff drops a clanger as he fails to get a grip on the ball before Martin Peters whips the ball of his feet before charging forward with the ball who rather then give it to one of the strikers up front, he decides to go it alone and fires home a long range shot that to the amazement of many, it goes in and in just a few minutes, England are leading 2-0.

The England fans start milking the moment throughout the first half and it doesn't help the Argentine players who are growing frustrated and Carlos Babington is given a booking right near the end of the first half and when the first half ends, few will doubt that England will throw this away.

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The second half see's then Argentina flying out of the traps and determined to get something out of this game and for about ten minutes, they look the more better team that should score and the loud England fans that were enjoying the game all suddenly go very quiet. Then after a brutal push forward, Ramón Heredia scores in, rather ironically, the 66th minute and Argentina surely have something to sing about then with the score now 2-1. Chants of 'Are-gen-tina!' start to be heard from their supporters as the players keep pressing forward and Ramsay is now fearing that all the team's hard work could be ruined.

But England hold on thanks to a few subs that help plug up the defensive wall that keep Argentina out for now. The game goes at quite a lightning pace when before anyone notices that soon it is the 87th minute of the game and England have to hold off one last push as Argentina come in again and Mario Kempes rushes in with the ball before crossing it over towards Agustín Balbuena who slides in in the box and he sends the ball hitting the crossbar and Clemence makes a mad save that keeps the ball directly on the line. The Argentine players protest that it's a goal, but Clemance, still lying forward on the ground holding the ball is damn well sure that the ball hasn't crossed the line as if many Englishman watching the game at home.

The referee isn't sure himself and instead heads over to the linesman to get his view of the situation. Many hearts are in the mouth of many and after what feels like ages, the referee points at the centre circle and the traveling Argentina supporters celebrate wildly. Ramsay himself is unhappy and yells out, 'You stupid Welsh bastard!'

Then after a few manic moments, the game ends 2-2 and it is the Argentines who are the more happier after the game, one would've thought they would've won the game. That being said, there is still two more games to go but Ramsay now fears the claws are out to get him.

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So now it's 1974 and we start of with a bad tempered and controversial England/Argentina game. ITTL, N. Ireland have qualified, but their results will remain the same as Bulgaria's as per OTL as by then, N. Ireland could've made it but by then, a lot of the players were past it, even George Best was past his prime. So thus, they finish third in the first round. Next up will be Scotland vs. Brazil, can the Scots do it? Find out soon...

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[QTXAdsy]

Chapter 45: Rock The World
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When Sir Matt Busby left the position of Scotland manager after the 1970 World Cup, it was always going to daunting for anyone to fill the his boots and the poor fellow in the role would be under great pressure. Tommy Docherty was given the role to replace Busby though he suffered a mix bag of results before being lured away to manage Manchester United, ironically taking over another position of Busby's.

So given the task of taking Scotland to the World Cup in 1974 fell to Willie Ormond, however, it started off on the wrong foot when when they lost to England 5-0 at Hampden Park which, to add further humiliation, the match in question was to celebrate the SFA's 100th anniversary. Not the result no Scot would've wanted.

However one year later, Ormond had redeemed himself as they made it to the World Cup finals and there was good confidence from the players that this team, which included pretty much all of Leeds United's Scottish bregade, had a good chance. Yet while they got off to a winning start against the group's whipping boys Zaire 2-0, there was an uncomfortable feeling that they should've scored more goals as Yugoslavia and Brazil would be certain to score more goals. To make matters even harder for the Scots, their next game would be the world champions, Brazil.

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It's unknown what most Brazilians were thinking of when they were to play the Scots on the 18th June, but one thing was for certain was that many Scot had been waiting for this game as the thought of playing the World Champions was an exciting one and with Pelé no longer playing for Brazil, there was a genuine feeling among the Scottish players as they lined up for the anthems in Frankfurt that they could make an upset in this game.

Some cynics thought the Brazilians would be all over the Scots, but as the game went by in it's opening few minutes, but it became clear that this so called unstoppable Brazil team weren't so big as everyone seemed to rave about. True they were threatening with a goal during the match but Scotland didn't seemed scared by them as they held their ground.

During the early moments of the game with Scotland and Brazil
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Ormond looked around the Waldstadion and only did notice the huge hordes of Scotland fans, now nicknamed the Tartan Army by folks in the media, pretty much everyone in the ground is cladded in tartan of some kind and no doubt cheering for Scotland, nice to know that they had support out here, though the German police were understandably on edge, would they be like the England fans that they could fight at any moment?

At times Scotland did the occasional shot on target but many of the attempts were coming from Brazil but David Harvey was doing his best to keep the ball out of his net. The Brazilian fans in the ground and watching it back in South America were more nervous than their Scottish counterparts, they had started poorly in a 0-0 draw with Yugoslavia and a sudden defeat here could end be damaging to their hopes of retaining the World Cup, even the Brazilian punters watching the game felt a cold feeling up their back that seem to tell them that something wasn't right here.

Try as Brazil liked, they just couldn't get the opening goal as the first half ended 0-0. Ormond must've been breathing a sigh of relief to survive this onslaught, they had nothing to fear and that title of World Champions was just a name that didn't make one invincible, after all, Scotland had shown that in a certain game in 1967...

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The Second proved to be more of an entertaining game with Scotland now starting to cause trouble for Brazil with Willie Morgan trying to nutmeg Marinho Peres in the 53rd minute of the game, he didn't succeed but his attempt no doubt made for great entertainment for the folks watching the game back home, after all, how many could say they attempted that move on Brazil? Ormond glanced over to his Brazilian counterpart and could see that Zagallo wasn't looking at all impressed by what his side were doing. The Tartan Army would've thought a draw with the champions would've been a good result, but there was some who thought that winning would be the greatest thing ever. Then in one heart stopping moment in the 67th minute, Joe Jordon fires home a header on the Brazilian goal but his attempt is saved by Emerson Leao.

However, he stumbles forward and the ball finds itself into the path of Bremner, who is not expecting it. "GET IT IN! Cry out his fellow teammates, Ormond and perhaps every Scot watching the game. His reflexes aren't that good and he has very little time to react, but thanks to his teammates, the best he can do is toe poke the ball in and everything seems to go in slow motion as it seems to aim past the goalpost. Bremner notices this and makes a further tap in before Leao can grab it and the stadium grows quiet like a vacuum as they await what might happen next.

Slowly, and not exactly the most exciting move seen in a World Cup, the ball casually rolls in past the goal line...GOOOOOOAAAAALLLLL!!!

The moment Leao drops the ball into the path of Bremner
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Bedlam, absolute sheer bedlam after the goal is scored and the Tartan Army are making an absolute racked with some of their delighted fans trying to make a beeline to the field to embrace Bremner, but those are caught by the police and are pushed back to the stands. The small number of Brazilian fans in the ground can only look at each other in shock at what is happening, are they, the World Champions, about to make an early exit from the tournament? The same is applied to the Brazilian players who now have to find a way back into this game, though in truth, Brazil only have themselves to blame for letting the game turn into Scotland's favour.

Some tackles start to take place thanks to Brazil as they fund themselves trying to fend of Scottish attacks down on their flanks. This goes on now for the rest of the game and in the 72nd minute, Scotland are awarded a corner kick and in yet another heart stopping moment, Jordon tries to header on goal again and it looks like Scotland will find themselves 2-0 up, though the Brazilian keeper prevents further embarrassment on Brazil. That all being said, Brazil should be back in this game, 1-0 leads are often dangerous to hold on to as the longer it goes on for, the more chance there is for the winning side to concede.

Jordon almost fires Scotland 2-0 into the lead
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No one can tell if the game is going quickly or slow if your a Scot or Brazilian, but one thing is certain that it's turning into a nail biter of a game. A series of attacks from both sides happen but neither keeper are troubled by them and this goes on right up until the last minute of the game with the Brazilian fans jeering their side's performance while some Scots start yelling out for the referee to blow his whistle. However, a large number of Scotland fans can be seen singing 'Flower of Scotland' in the dying moments of the game to express their pride. Incidentally, the lyrics 'To send them home to think again' become more fitting for this Brazil side that now see an early exit from the World Cup.

Then the final whistle is blown and the traveling Scotland fans rise as one to celebrate their famous victory over the World Champions. Indeed, the moment itself will go down in history as not only one of the greatest moments in Scottish football, but British football too. Once again the happy Scotland fans try to invade the field yet again but the police won't let celebrate their moment of glory with their heroes. It would be hard for supporters to decide if this result of becoming unofficial world champions yet again was more special than beating England at Wembley in 1967, but one thing was certain, Scotland were going into the second round and their traveling Tartan Army were preparing for a great tour of West Germany. World Cup champions anyone?

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And so the World Champions are beaten by Scotland! Infact, this almost happened IOTL if Bremner just had enough time to react then he would've slotted it home, alas he missed and it is for us Scotland fans as what Gazza's golden goal chance at Euro 96 means to England fans. Anyway, next update will be England vs Italy and one that England's chances are on a thread, what will happen? Find out soon...

 

[QTXAdsy]

Chapter 46: The Italian Job​

In Ramsay's opinion, this World Cup hadn't all been plain sailing for England. They threw away a 2-1 lead in their opening match with Argentina before they equalised with a hotly disputed goal that for man Englishman shouldn't have counted, it wasn't the start they wanted and Ramsay feared a inquisition from the English media. Mercifully and rarely, he and the team was let off the hook as the media focused their attack on the referee for the game. This helped a great deal for the team as in their next game with Haiti, they thumped them 7-0 in Munich and that result was surely enough to progress, alas, it wasn't quite so.

The England manager had been keeping a note on how the other British teams had been getting on with Scotland drawing their final group game with Yugoslavia to finish top of their group and very likely chance of meeting England in the next round while Northern Ireland had only gained two points from their two group games and had the unwanted task of playing a very fancy Netherlands side in their final group game today, which in some ways made their World Cup chances very slim.

As the table stood in Group 4 prior to the final group games to be played on the 23rd June, it was extremely tight with England and Italy both tied with three points and Argentina two points (Haiti having nothing) and there was great uncertainty which of those three big footballing nations would make an early exit. England's final group game would be with Italy and Ramsay was sure as hell going to make sure that England would progress, but he was notably cautious prior the teams coming out of the tunnel at the Neckarstadion in Stuttgart as Italy looked like a team with a point to prove.

As the teams emerged from the tunnel, they were greeted by thousands of their own supporters cheering and waving their flags and it was the atmosphere that Ramsay would've wanted as England fans hadn't exactly made the best first impression when they arrived despite warnings from the FA not to bring up any WWII related stuff. However things had gotten better with reports that Italian and English supporters mixed together around Stuttgart, though both sides had deep down worries that one of them would be going home and that was always a horrible feel to have.

England players line up before their final group game with Italy, 1974
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As the game started, Italy were the team that were making themselves known as the likes of Mazzola and Anastasi running down the England flanks and trying to find the opening goal early on in this game and Mazzola almost did find the opener in the 6th minute but the grateful hands of Clemence stopped it from going in. The England fans could only watch, sometimes behind gaps in their fingers as they watched the Italians utterly hammer England with the Azzurri having a point to prove to show their worth and get revenge on England for beating them in the Semi-final in the last World Cup.

The poor defensive line of England was right under the cosh trying so hard to keep out the Italians from scoring. After 20 minutes of what was quite honestly a one sided game, England finally started to push back and their own supporters cheered loudly for them that finally something good was happening for them. However in the 23rd minute, Norman Hunter would bring down Causio and would be given a booking from the ref. Ramsay rubbed his chin in thought of how to stop this Italian team, his team had been way too cautious and should've been more adventurous in moving up the field, so he get's on the touchline and begins barking orders for the players to do just that.

About six minutes later, England finally start making inroads in the Italian half and the first England chance comes to Keegan in the 29th minute when he tries an ambitious shot from 30 yards outside the box but Dino Zoff knocks it up over the bar and out for a corner kick. A sudden chill goes up the back of many Italian fans in the ground as they begin to fear that their lack of scoring a goal with all the domination that they've had will come back to haunt them, and it does. In the 38th minute, after England start to turn the game around, Martin Peters takes the ball past several of the Italian defence line before he crosses it up over to his fellow Leeds United player, Allan Clarke before he tucked it under the arm of Zoff who tries to make a mad attempt to save it, but he is unlucky as England go 1-0 up.

The Italian players all looked stunned, after all their possession, they only have themselves to blame for letting them go behind in the game that they should've been leading. Italy do try to stage a comeback, but they are too slow to make any steam as the first half soon ends and their supporters jeer them as they leave the field with the England fans applauding their team's efforts. Now they needed to extend their lead and see this game off.

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The Italian players are already on the field when the England players turn up and the men in blue are giving them glares that they want to beat them badly. Gone is some of the fancy football that the Italians are known for and the match descends into a scrappy affair with tensions getting to some of the players knowing how tight things are in the group with tackles flying in with some being obvious bookings, but strangely, the German referee wants to let the teams play on without any hold ups. "For goodness sake," Ramsay mutters as in the 49th minute, Morini brings down Keegan and the referee waves play on for what is surely a bookable offensive.

Ramsay is not alone in thinking that this referee is doing a poor job as the fans on both sides make their feelings know as they chant abusive words at the referee and showing him rude gestures. The England manager then wonders if perhaps the referee is only doing this as he has forgotten his cards, either way, it's not turning into a good game. Then in the 56th minute, England are awarded a corner kick and Peters takes it and Keegan leaps high enough over the other players for the ball to header it home into the back of the net and put England 2-0 in front.

The game is surely now England's to lose now but the Italians are starting to get bad tempered as then just a minute later, the Italian captain Facchetti makes a right brutal tackle on Paul Madeley and with the referee showing no cards, surely this'll be nothing, how very wrong is here. The referee finally shows a card and it's red. A ruckus follows on the field as the Italians protest his actions and even some England players get in on the act too with them protesting to the referee of how bad he has been all game. After two minutes of finger pointing and God knows what else, Facchetti finally walks off disgraced and some England fans sitting behind the Italian bench or nearby take great delight in his misfortunate by singing 'Cheerio, Cheerio, Cheerio!'

Sometime during the first half in which both sides try to find the opening goal
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Italy now seem to lose the plot as they let their frustrations know throughout the remainder of the match but England seem to have everything under control and don't bother scoring a third not because they want to see this game off, but they are fearful that it would only set the Italians off more to tackle and injury their players which they'll need for the second round as it now seems certain they are heading there. Thankfully no more sending offs happen and only in the 73rd minute is when Boninsegna is given a yellow card. After then a fairly uneventful period, the game is over and England have not only won the game 2-0 but have won the group too, albeit on goal difference with Argentina finishing in a close second and dumping the Italians out of the World Cup.

When the team got back to their hotel, they soon found out that they would be in Group B along with the hosts West Germany, Sweden and Scotland. It was to be a group of death, not what anyone wanted.

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And so England and Scotland are through and they have a difficult group with the schedule list as follows:

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GROUP B​

Game One​

Scotland vs. West Germany

Sweden vs. England​

Game Two​

England vs. Scotland​

West Germany vs. Sweden

Game Three​

England vs. West Germany

Sweden vs. Scotland
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Group A is pretty much the same as OTL except Yugoslavia replaces Brazil, so, what are your predictions for the scores and the group? Will either England and Scotland make it to the final or is it a step too far? Find out...

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[QTXAdsy]

Chapter 47: Bonuses?​

While Northern Ireland had made an early exit home after a 4-1 thrashing at the hands of a much fancied Netherlands side, England and Scotland were the only British teams left in the World Cup and the 26th June would see the UK watch their two games with Scotland playing West Germany first then England vs. Sweden would follow after that game. ITV Would cover both games live and many there was great excitement for Scotland fans as they had played the Germans in a friendly the preceding year and drawn with them 1-1, indeed there was good reason to think they could defeat Brazil then surely the same could happen for the Germans.

The Rheinstadion in Düsseldorf is filled with 67,385 spectators, 385 or them being Scots with the rest being overwhelmingly German. As the teams walked out, Bremner looked around seeing the German flags flying around and part of him had to feel a little bit sorry for the country as since the second World War, the citizens really didn't want to celebrate patriotism due them trying to live down their war time past and that the World Cup was probably the only time the citizens could have the chance to celebrate. It only seem to come to him to think just how lucky he and his fellow countrymen really were to show off their Scottish freely. As they lined up for the anthems, he could see the odd Scotland flag waving a Lion Rampart flag or wearing the usual bit of tartan clothing that made them easy to point out in the vast crowd here.

Scotland start trying to make it difficult for the Germans from the start as they begin to keep the ball away from the West Germans and this causes the home fans to boo the Scots and their own team for not rolling over the Scots like they expect them to do. It makes for a very strange atmosphere where it seems neither team has the backing of the support here and for the next ten minutes of the game, the Scots prevent West Germany from scoring and the longer it goes on, the jeers and whistles in the ground start to become more frequent with the small Scottish support in the ground trying their best to cheer on their players (there were many more outside left outside that didn't have a ticket.)

Finally in the 15th minute, Müller finally makes a shot on target but the ball but David Harvey saves it to keep the score at 0-0. Ormond knows that if they come away with a point from this game, it would set them up nicely for the next game with England, one that many have focused their attention too and one that the Scotland manager hopes that his players haven't been caught up in the hype of it all.

Scotland and West Germany lock horns in their first group game of the second round
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As the game goes on, it seems like it'll be a repeat of the of the Brazil game in which the Brazilians underestimated the Scots and the underdog nation put them to shame, the West Germans don't look all that comfortable and their fans are giving them plenty of stick on the terraces for good reason. They were beaten by East Germany in their last group match to come in second place which did not gone down well for the locals. Then in the 21st minute, Jordan has a golden chance to take the lead but his shot is knocked over the bar by Maier and a nervous sigh of relief is felt around the stadium.

The chances of getting a shot on target are pretty poor in the first half with West Germany only getting seven shots and Scotland three, the main field of interest is in the midfield in which Bremner and his fellow Leeds United teammates preventing the Germans from getting something from this game. There is really nothing to talk about in this first half other than Sandy Jardine getting a yellow card in the 43rd minute which afterwards, the first half ends 0-0 and the halftime whistle is greeted by jeers from the crowd as the teams walk off.

As the West Germans walk off, those fans situated around to the mouth of the players' tunnel rub fingers and thumbs together, a reference to the much-publicized dispute over bonuses that has soured the players' relations with the German public since the start of this World Cup and it would seem that that this distance between the fans and team can only be fixed if they not only show their worth in this game, but win the tournament itself. There has even been rumoured stories from the West German camp that some players have threatened to not play unless their bonuses were to increase which has, wherever it's true or not, not gone well with the fans and has only added fire to the now damaged relationship.

"Are you still on strike?!" one angry middle aged fan yells at his team as they head down the tunnel; doing so, bizarrely, in English, for the benefit of the Scots. Ormond smiles knowing that perhaps they can make things worse for the Germans in the second half.

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The Second half see's the Germans now playing to their worth and they do start to create chances and the hostile crowd do seem a bit supportive to them...just a bit remember. The Duel threat of Willie Morgan and Tommy Hutchinson, on the left and right flanks respectively, also prove their own worth as they fire in crosses for Jordan to open the scoring and their is a glorious moment in the 57th minute in which the ball is passed to him by Hutchinson in which not only is the goal open, it's gaping for him to score. All that happens next for every Scotsman watching that game is an almighty cry of disbelieve as Jordon slid in to tap it in, but for crazy reason, the ball somehow misses his foot by what seems like a quarter of an inch. Jorden lies face down on the field with him absolutely sickened that he couldn't get that ball in and his teammates all have their hands on this heads in shock that the best chance for Scotland has gone.

West Germany known they have been let off the hook and they begin to make amends for themselves as the Scots now look weary from that chance. As the game rolls on, it looks set to be a goalless draw that will not go down well of the hosts, the Scots seem to enjoy the moment of playing the villains in this game. A couple of substitutions are made on both sides but neither really make much of an impact. The crowd is now becoming more restless as the game is now in the last ten minutes as fear is starting to grip them as the prospect of a second, possibly crippling defeat, is on the cards as they had already suffered a major setback by East Germany last week. This could be fatal for the hosts.

Then just two minutes later, the West Germans, now being willed on by the desperate crowd, get a chance when Bremner makes a poor touch on the ball which the ball finds it's way to the feet of Müller who then slides his way into the six yard box and prods the goal in and Harvey goes close to try and save it, but the ball just get's under him and West Germany lead the game 1-0. There is an outpouring of relief from the supporters as flags are risen up and are waved around knowing that victory has been snatched from the jaws of defeat.

The moment West Germany score their winning goal against Scotland​

The Scotland players can only look at each other with heartbroken looks after all their effort of getting something from this game has all been for nothing. The game then finishes 1-0 to West Germany and that is all that is needed to help them get on their way for reaching the final and the pressure is now more intense as they have to win their next game and the one after that to have any chance of getting to the final, and it's against England of all teams they have to face...no pressure then.

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Alrighty then, it's not going well for the Scots, but can England do the business against Sweden or will they be in for troubled times? Have your predictions at the next games and who will win the big game between Scotland and England...?

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[QTXAdsy]

Chapter 48: This Isn't Pretty...​

After hearing of Scotland's loss to West Germany, Ramsay knew that England had to simply beat the Swedes in order to have any chance of making it to the final. That all being said, his players and staff all noticed that he looked rather uncomfortable at the start of the day and had only looked more and more just half an hour before kick off. He was in fear, though his fears were understandable. Back in 1958, England had thumped Sweden in the Quarter finals and knocked them out of their World Cup, breaking their hearts and the Scandinavians had been hoping for a shot at revenge and all this wasn't including the fact that the Swedes were a damn good team.

There is a great sea of people in the stadium at Stuttgart and the England fans are making themselves know by flying a sea of Union and St George Crosses flags in their end of the ground, yet Ramsay is possibly the only Englishmen watching that game knowing that it won't be all plain sailing for them. When the game does start, neither side really show their worth early on in the game despite the knowledge that whoever won this game had a damn good chance of going through. To most of the England fans watching the game, there is a sense of frustration that their side is wasting chances and passes in which the Swedes have no trouble in stopping the English from getting anywhere.

England players line up for their game with Sweden
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However in the 27th minute in the game with the game still at 0-0, Norman Hunter is given a yellow card from the referee after getting into an argument over a shot in which he felt he was wrongly ruled offside. It is stupid booking to get with Ramsay shaking his head in disbelieve, his mood not improving in the slightest. Then in the 31st minute, some hope for England does arrive when Mick Channon attempts a shot at the goal, but Swedish keeper Hellstrom makes a brilliant save to deny England the chance of breaking the deadlock.

The game is difficult to make who will come out of top as it is a very open game with both sides very evenly matched. Those at home watching on TV while sitting on their chairs must've been wondering when the goals would come from. Slowly and surely as the game enters the final ten minutes of the first half, England begin to dominate and the travelling support are greatly excited by what they are seeing as it hopefully gives them an idea of who might be the better team in this game. Despite a couple of chances coming for Sweden, England are clearly the better team here...yet the fail to score.

Then in the 43rd minute, a goal is scored by a bad error from the keeper which sends one of the stadium in raptures, but it's not England.

Ralf Edstrom celebrates wildly with teammates and supporters while the English part of the ground are silent, the Swedes have scored against the run of play and Ramsay's fears seem to be about to come true. His moment of shock is quickly replaced by anger in which he yells at the players to get back into the game, but with just two minutes left, they fail to find a quick fire equaliser and they walked off at the break 1-0 down with their own supporters booing them as they head down the tunnel.

Sweden celebrate their goal against England​

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To England's credit, they do start bossing the Swedes around at the start of the second half and it would seem that they are very likely going to score, yet the cunning Swedes 'park the bus' on England and for the rest of the game keep them out from scoring. After 83 minutes, England still haven't scored and the this World Cup looks like it might be slipping away from England and the Swedes are the ones making all the noise in the ground. However in that minute, Keegan is brought down right on the edge the box by one of the Swedish defenders and every English cries out for a penalty, but for some bizarre reason, the referee only books the defender but then points for a goal kick.

Cries of 'Cheat! Cheat! Cheat!' can be heard from the England end of the ground who feel that the referee has made a foolish mistake of not giving England the penalty, not to mention that they perhaps deserve it after the way England have dominated the game. However the game eventually ends 1-0 to Sweden and the English walk off feeling dejected knowing that things now seem impossible for making the final. To make matters worse for them, Scotland lie in wait who in turn are needing a win to do anything in this World Cup. A bad tempered game awaits...

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Oh dear, England have been defeated by a Swedish side who got their revenge. Now we look forward for the England/Scotland game in the next update, any ideas how it might go? I will say though that it won't be pretty....

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[QTXAdsy]

Chapter 49: The Battle Of Frankfurt​

Back home in the UK, there was a great deal of anticipation and tension on the 30th June as later on that day England and Scotland would play each other in a game that both sides badly needed a win in order to keep their World Cup hopes alive, anything other than that would be the end of the road for them in the tournament. The build up to the game was extreme with many pundits calling the game hard to call by and many rushed home from work to watch the game and viewing figures in Britain alone were expected to range to 20 to 30 million watching the game live, so much was a stake than just the usual bragging rights that came whoever would win these games and many in pubs and living rooms around the country could feel tension grip them as it got closer to kick off.

They weren't the only ones though feeling the pressure, over in Frankfurt where the game was to be played, the traveling support for both sides felt even worse for tension and throughout the day, German police had to step in to break out various skirmishes that were taking place between English and Scottish supporters and many of the huge crowd didn't even had a ticket for the game and just seem there to purely cause trouble. It only seemed to get worse as the large crowd packed into the Waldstadion as the local police didn't think of segregating the supports and this only made the situation very likely to be a powder keg. At one point with just 10 minutes until kick off, a scuffle broke out between rival supporters and although the police quickly stopped it, it did very little to ease the tension and vile chanting that was felt around the stadium and several German neutrals in the crowd felt trapped.

England and Scotland fans clash just before their vital World Cup game.
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When the players entered the pitch they were greeted the with sight of Union and Lion rampart flags that waved across the ground and the chanting that went on. They were also shocked to see the huge police presence that were lined up around the ground that were facing the supporters, clearly they weren't taking any chances. The game finally started and one German police officer would describe the roar that greeted the first kick of the ball as one of the loudest he'd ever heard in a football ground. Just like the fans, the players all had a point to prove with it most likely with England due to their last game with Scotland at Hampden Park in May in which they lost 2-0. Now was the great chance to not only get revenge on the Scots, but knock them out of the World Cup.

The game itself wasn't graceful or scrappy as both sides seemed to take great care with the ball and the game hadn't really been the exciting game it had been built up for with the commentators wondering when things would kick off and the only thing to note was the Scotland and England supporters trying to out chant each other which made for quite a deafening experience. In the 13th minute, England took an advantage on with Martin Peters almost scoring for England but his attempt is saved by David Harvey who knocks it up over the bar.

The game itself is noticeable for having many of the players for both sides playing for Leeds United with half of the Scottish team alone having Leeds connections and it had been joked that a Leeds civil war was on the cards. Then in the 23rd minute, Scotland are awarded a corner kick and Jimmy Johnstone takes it, it flies over a sea of heads in the box before connecting with that of Joe Jordon and it thunders downward past the hands of Ray Clemence and send Scotland into the lead and their fans in raptures.

Jordon celebrates his opening goal
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The German police look on at the Tartan Army not knowing what was more dangerous, a drunken Scot celebrating or a drunken Englishman wanting to fight. Afterwards the game is quite a brutal affair with both sides tackling and fouling each other with perhaps little consequence that they would be booked or sent off, the latter of which has, amazingly, never happened in the amount of games the two sides have played in. In the 27th minute, there has been already been three yellow cards for John Blackly, Terry Cooper and Jim Holton respectively and the fourth comes about when Norman Hunter brings down Scotland captain and his fellow Leeds United teammate Bremner and although Hunter is booked, Bremner gets up and starts ranting 'Dirty English bastard!' despite being his teammate. The situation of quite amusing in the middle of a powder keg of a game.

The two managers on the touchline glance at each other with Ramsay being the more nervous of the two, he had faced a vile reception by the English media following their defeat to Sweden and many were now calling for his head should they lose to Scotland. To be an England manager and lose your last game in charge would be a terrible thing, but even worse if it was to Scotland and at a World Cup. England do try to push forward but Scotland seem more than happy to hang onto their 1-0 lead and play defensive football. As the first half winds down, the Tartan Army are making most of the noise in the ground with them chanting 'If you hate the fucking English clap your hands'.

The first half ends right after Keegan almost scores a great chance that just goes wide of the post and as the players walk of, yet another scuffle breaks out in the stands with terrible scenes of two bloody faced Scotland and England fans who whack a glass beer bottle at each other causing the blood the drip down their clothes. It is not the atmosphere nobody wanted and it is just another example of how huge this game really is.

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Throughout the interval, the security try all they can to calm down the two sets of supporters as several fights take place among the huge 58,000 crowd packed in the ground. Indeed years later, the head of the German police there had even considered stopping the game should things get more violent. Finally the second half does begin and it seems after quite a big team talk with his players, England start to play much better and the Scots' original idea of holding back is seemly ruined as the England forwards start to bring more chance of a goal for the team and Peters nearly scores in the 47th minute, only for Harvey to make a vital save in the bottom left corner.

By now the England find their voice after seeing the good play that their team is showing. Ormond then makes a substitution in the 49th minute in which Gordon McQueen goes on for Jim Holton after Ormond fears that the tension is starting to get to him after it looks like the tackles he's been performing could see him being sent off.

In the heart of the action as England try to find the equaliser
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Despite England having the better half in terms of possession, they just can't seem to find the goal and it looks like it could be a repeat of the Sweden game. Then in the 56th minute, Alan Ball attempts to cross the ball over to Allan Clarke just on the very edge of the box, however Sandy Jardine lunges in to get the ball and causes the Arsenal play to come crashing down. The referee then blows his whistle and points for a penalty and the Scottish players protest to the East German referee that they weren't in the box. However despite the fierce protests, it is still going to be a penalty and Keegan will take it.

With little error, he slots it past Harvey and England are back in the game, but time is now running out for one team to find a winner. The supporters are giving it their all which rubs off the players as in the 61st minute, Bremner and Trevor Brooking come together as they try to get the ball of the feet, but they end up being rather tangled and the fiery Scot loses his cool and elbows the England player in the face and sends him crashing to the ground with him covering his face. The England players, bench and supporters both in the ground and watching the game back home all cry out for the referee to get involved and sure another, he does. But to the horror of the Scots, the referee brings out a red card for Bremner. The Scottish players protest angrily as they surround the referee and their up close nature is so that Joe Jordon finds himself booked just getting right up into the face of the East German ref.

Despite them trying all they can to reverse the choice, Bremner has to do the walk of shame and the Scotland captain gains the unwanted reputation of being the very first player to be sent of in a England/Scotland match. Things aren't any better with the Tartan Army, now feeling great frustration, try to pick a fight with their English counterparts on the terraces and the police try their best to stop the game turning into a bloodbath, it has become something like that of a bad tempered rock concert that has ended with a riot. With the Scots now down to ten men, the English seen a good chance to try and use this to their advantage.

Yet the Scots, with their plans more or less ruined, can only try and play deep trying to hold of a rampant English onslaught on the goal with the game now turning something like that of the Alamo with the Scots only very occasionally making some chances to get forward, but most the chances are English. With just ten minutes to go, the score remains 1-1 and as it would stand, England and Scotland would both find themselves crashing out of this World Cup with their last group games being nothing more than glorified friendlies unless one of them can find a winner, also there now has been a total of eight bookings altogether and pretty much shows just what a violent game it has been that hasn't been a good advert for British football in contrast to the breathless 4-3 both sides played in the last World Cup.

The Scots have done themselves good by holding off the English assault but it can't last forever as then in the 88th minute, Allan Clarke finally breaks through the Scottish defence and puts the ball into the back of the net, however his celebrations are short lived when for some reason, the East German referee chalks of the goal and there seemly isn't any sign of offside flag being shown. The England players now angrily protest not being given the goal and the English supporters cry out 'Dirty German bastard!' at the referee. However the Scots have been let off the hook, a rather big hook.

Despite the yelling and chanting become more intense as the game enters it's final few moments, both sides throw out any plans they might've had before and Scotland start pushing forward to strike home the final blow. However in the end, neither side can score and the whistle is blown to end the game at 1-1 and for both sides hopes in this World Cup. A huge sound of booing roars around the ground as both sides walk off dejected with their World Cup now at an end, but the game sadly become more infamous note as supporters for both sides, feeling angry and upset at what has happened, meet outside the ground and engage into a huge street fight brawl in which over 600 people are arrested with some deported back to the UK and many more are injured in what can be described as one of the worst scenes of football hooligan violence ever seen. The day itself becomes known as the battle of Frankfurt both the FA and SFA are forced to pay fines in damages and FIFA warns both organisations bans from any future World Cup should anything like this happy again.

The anti-climax was made more apparent on 3rd July when both teams played their final group games with England losing 1-0 to the host and eventually winners West Germany and Scotland losing 2-1 to Sweden who would make it to the third place game where they'd lose to Yugoslavia. Thankfully there wasn't anymore hooligan action and one German journalist who had been at the Frankfurt game would later write down on the front page saying 'No football please, we're British' as it showed a picture of the fans fighting each other on the streets.

Now all hopes turned towards the 1978 World Cup in Argentina and a chance of perhaps fixing some pride then.

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So there we are, both sides are out and we off to Argentina 1978. Euro '76 will not be done as that will remain the same as OTL with Wales nearly making it there. But anyway, I must say if a game like the above had happened, God knows who would like to think who did better then. Anyway, Scotland and England will be going off to South America in our next update and this will be the World Cup that will be the first to see a huge butterfly effects in politics and in what way may you ask? Either way, things might get quite interesting, find out next time...

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[MatthewFirth]

Nevermind....

 

[BenC]

Enjoyed that, I'm sure the pubs would be rowdy at the end of that night.

 

[Ruperto Pesto]

QTXAdsy, your story is fantastic!, I love iT!...waiting for more!...the only thing, due this time (1974) was still an anarchy time in Argentinian football organisation (for instance, Argentina had a much better team in names in 1974 than in 1978, and much better names in 1973-74 and manager than in 1974)....I hoped that, despite that, Argentina could reach the 3rd place match in this 1974WC :-( althought a 4-0 against Netherlands in second round was something unavoidable (Argentina lost 4-1 against Netherlands in May 1974...so) nevertheless, and i repeat, I love this story!.

 

[mudhead]

Argentina had a much better team in names in 1974 than in 1978, and much better names in 1973-74 and manager than in 1974)....I hoped that, despite that, Argentina could reach the 3rd place match in this 1974

Argentina had a good side in 1974 - they'd missed 1970, and so everyone was surprised by their attractive attacking football. I particularly remember the 1-1 against Italy as an entertaining game. Ayala was a stand out player for them.

 

[Ruperto Pesto]

Argentina had a good side in 1974 - they'd missed 1970, and so everyone was surprised by their attractive attacking football. I particularly remember the 1-1 against Italy as an entertaining game. Ayala was a stand out player for them.

Indeed Mudhead, internal turmoils and the inhability of argentinian players to play properly at the Bolivian altitude, made the 1970 disaster of not qualy...for 1974 they were really good players, the pity was that Manager Enrique Sivori went away in march 1974, tired of fight with clubs that didnt release the players for training....and some kind of triunvirate of managers, led by Vladislao Cap, was appointed. Many players were called but there were little time for them to "meet" each other, specially defense, and the price was paid. Argentina played only four matches before the competition defeating Romania and France and a draw England (two goals of a "rookie" Kempes) and a defeat against Netherlands 4–1....if you watch 1974 WC match Poland 3 - Argentina 2, the 3 goals Argentina received were all terrible defensive mistake, a sympthom that they didn't meet each other well. The funny thing was that players like Daniel Bertoni, Ricardo Bochini from independiente and leaders of the Continental Champion (they defeated 1-0 to Juventus in 1973 as well for intercontinental) were dismissed, as well as Alberto Tarantini, Marcelo Trobbiani and Norberto Alonso...all of them would be World Champions (trobbiani and Bochini in '86, the others I quoted, in 1978) in the years to come. the organisation came after that in 1974-75 when Cesar Luis Menotti came.

Years ago I saw Brian Clough in an old panel for WC1974 (ITV) talking about how good Ayala was (among others players)...

At minute 35:05

 

[QTXAdsy]

Chapter 50: Hanging Together

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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 thanks to a dodgy handball which only adds more hatred on the Scots from the Welsh, 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 would be placed in Group 1 along with hosts Argentina, France and Hungary while Scotland would go in Group 4 would Peru, the Netherlands and Iran. So on the 2nd June, England would be the first British team to play their opening game with the French at the Estadio José María Minella in Mar del Plata. For Clough, it will be a good test to show that me meant business in this World Cup.

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With a good atmosphere in the ground with over 42,000 souls in the ground, the game begins with the French flying out of the traps from the moment the referee blows his whistle and England nearly suffer the worst possible start when Lacombe nearly strikes home the ball in just 31 seconds of the game and only for Clemence to make a save and spare England an early embarrassment. Same time however, Brian Clough is not amused by this bad lapse of play is shown to be very animated on the touchline and clearly mouthing at his players to 'wake the fuck up!' and with his assistant coach, Peter Taylor, trying to restrain him for fear of him getting a touchline ban.

Indeed, France seem more keen in this game early on as they push England back with them getting more of the chances early on and some of the British press pack out watching the game are starting to wonder if this hype of Clough as manager for England could perhaps be a mistake. Gradually, England do start to push back and the players start to play some fancy footwork that is vastly different to the style of play that Ramsay ever could've done with his tactics and it all helps to create exciting football for the punters watching intently.

Then in the 21st minute, England deliver the goods with an assist being worked by Brooking and Keegan before the latter crosses it over into the box for Trevor Francis to thump it home past the hands of Dominique Baratelli and send England in front. It is a little moment of vindication for Clough as he simply smiles and gives the players a thumbs up for getting the goal.

England players celebrate after getting the opening goal in the game with France
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The French though are not licking their wounds so easily and they try to get back in this game and yet another lapse of defensive error from England nearly allows for Olivier Rouyer to respond quickly after just two minutes from England's goal, but his attempt sends the ball going over the bar. Clearly England are needing work on their defensive line-up and Clough gets back on the bench and begins writing notes down on his notebook which no doubt will be about what to do in order for the backline to be better. Despite good chances by both sides, neither really add more goals to this game and the first half ends 1-0 for England.

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The large number of 3000 England fans in ground begin making a lot of the noise in the ground yet the Argentine police are noticeable more present surrounding the England end of the ground thinking that riot could be on the cards, though truth being that the fans only care for their team to do well. The second half as England this time flying out of the traps and the team is playing with a renewed focus that is really clinical and is putting on a great show for the spectators in the ground. Keegan fires home the ball in the 47th minute, but his goal is ruled offside.

Despite that, England now switch up a gear to really put the pressure on the French and then in the 54th minute, after a lot of heaving and pushing, England break forward with another goal from Keegan that this time is counted with England leading 2-0 and with the game being theirs to lose now. Clough remains expressionless as he stands on the touchline with his arms crossed but deep down his is delighted with how well the players have gotten better after his big team talk during the interval. That all said, the game does become one-sided in England's favour and despite having better chances to make the score read something like 5-0, the England team don't decide to heap more humiliation on the French and instead begin performing little tricks on the field to entertain the crowd, except the French that is.

There was nothing else to really add to the game as it goes along quite fast like that of the 1970 Brazil team and before anyone knows it, England win the game 2-0 and in the driving seat for getting into the next round. Now all eyes would be focused then on the Scots...

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And so here we are in Argentina and yes, England are here and so is Brian Clough as England manager! Could you imagine Macleod and Clough at a World Cup together, so much entertainment you'd get from that alone. Shorter update than normal as the first group games aren't that important as such until we get into the second round. I also want to add that ITTL, Brian Clough led Derby County the European cup final in 1973 against Ajax, but still left in a sorry state of affairs like in OTL. Anyway, next update will be Scotland vs. Peru and I will include a list of European, UEFA and Winners cup finals and any differences there. So until then, we're on the march with Ally's army...

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