Not only that, near neighbour and arch footballing enemy England had failed to qualify…even more reason for Scotland to fly the flag loud and proud. This was the film, The World at their Feet, that STV made at the time which captured the euphoria of that moment - now available online for the first time since 1978.
Once qualification had been assured, Scotland’s tourism industry boomed as football shirts and memorabilia flew off the shelves. Stall keepers had to limit sales to one shirt per buyer.
People were forking out their entire life savings to travel to Argentina and support their team. One fan even sold his butcher's shop to raise funds of around £2000 and secure himself a return ticket.
In the 1978 STV documentary The World at their Feet, former Scotland player Bill Shankly attempted to translate the passion many Scottish fans were feeling.
He said: “You would die for them like when Wallace went to Stirling Bridge and fought the English and Bruce went to Bannockburn, that’s how you feel.”
The squad, led by Ally MacLeod and consisting of Kenny Dalglish, Archie Gemmil, to name but a few, were dubbed as the “best team we are ever going to get” as the country crowned 1978 as “our time to win.”
The press, including Scottish journalist Jimmy Reid, weren’t even contemplating a loss: “I not only want to win but I want to win in a certain way, with panache, with skill. It is how you win that matters.”
Speaking at the time, the 1978 World Cup manager Ally MacLeod added: “I have been saying ‘if we win it’ and the fans are saying ‘forget if, it is when’.”
As the song went, they were the golden boys in blue of the World Cup and were determined to win…with a bit of Scottish luck.
Unfortunately, that luck never materialised. Scotland never got the chance to play in the final and certainly never got the chance to show off that panache…they never made it past the first round.
They faced a shock 3-1 defeat by Peru and a humiliating 1-1 draw with Iran, leaving them in a position where they needed to beat one of the best teams Holland has ever produced by three goals to qualify.
Astonishingly, with 20 minutes to go, they were within touching distance oif achieving this when the famous Archie Gewmmill goal put put the Scots 3-1 up. But sadly, Johny Rep scored a goal for Holland shortly afterwards putting Scotland out on goal difference.
The optimism faded, the pre-tournament victory Glasgow parade had all been in vain…Scotland left Argentina empty-handed, their tails between their legs. Many have argued that the result of devolution referendum a year, where the necessary majority for devolution was not secured, derived from the disaster in Argentina.", Unquote.
I was only a 15 year old scot then, but, i still remember all the hype and the hurt that followed.
But it was fun being taken back in time, remembering / seeing the decade that fashion forgot, never mind the hairstyles, the players being interviewed with a glass of the hard stuff in hand, the clips of the ordinary guys in the streets and the amazing lengths they went too, to get to Argentina.
I found this a fascinating watch. Many thanks STV.
I thought maybe some of you guys might be interested in seeing this, with the 2010 world cup being all the rage at the moment.
Feel free to comment, only, if your English, please, be gentle.
Here's the link http://sport.stv.tv/fifa-world-cup/181057-...nds-1978-dream/
Apologies if i have posted this in the wrong place.