Matches at Hampden Park

Waltzing with Archie: Scotland’s finest international goal

Was it a dance or slalom that carried Archie beyond the Dutch defence, leaving world class footballers on their backsides?

Archie Gemmel scores against Holland.

Then there was the finish, a delicate dink beyond the flailing keeper that sent a nation into raptures.

If ever a goal encapsulated the skill and tenacity of Scotland’s wee men, the hardy warriors who know no fear and can lead their opponents on a merry dance, this was it.

Gemmill’s goal at the 1978 World Cup Finals in Argentina is now a part of national consciousness. Whenever Scots are drawn with giants, it’s Archie we see as our vision of hope, as evidence that not only can we upset the odds, we can do it in a style that will never be forgotten.

Unfortunately, the goal also stands as one of the few bright spots in a World Cup competition that could be described as one of Scotland’s most dismal performances.

It seems remarkable to write this but Scotland travelled out to Argentina in the belief that they could actually win the competition.

A fine side, which included Graeme Souness and Kenny Dalglish, was waved out by 30,000 fans who gathered at Hampden for a big send off. There was the World Cup song, with Andy Cameron and Ally’s Army, and there was the Scotland boss himself, McLeod, who also believed that we could achieve the unthinkable.

My mindset every time was that I wanted to be the best player on the pitch. A helluva lot of times it never worked out for me that way, but a few times it did.

Archie Gemmill on the goal

All of those hopes and dreams were dashed in the very first match when Peru, the eventual group winners, beat the Scots 3-1. The next match, against Iran, was also a nightmare – with Scottish ambitions well and truly buried in a 1-1 draw.

The Netherlands lay in wait in the final group match and finally Scotland showed what they were capable of. The Dutch opened the scoring but Scotland recovered to make it 2-1. Scotland’s third, delivered at the end of Gemmill’s mazy run, was worthy of a Brazilian or Argentinian, a strike that showed nerve and flawless technique.

Speaking in an interview with the Sunday Times Gemmill would later comment: “People maybe remember me the wrong way because of the goal. I gave everything every time I played. Most people would say that I worked hard and covered every blade of grass. It was endeavour, I just liked to be involved. My mindset every time was that I wanted to be the best player on the pitch. A helluva lot of times it never worked out for me that way, but a few times it did."

The game would finish 3-2 and with Holland above the Scots in second place on goal difference.

As far as consolations go, Gemmill’s strike was poetic and, as the decades have passed and the pain has soothed, it is the sharpest memory from Argentina ’78 and one of the greatest Scotland strikes of all time.