Brazil are back at the party

Brazil v Scotland, 18-Jun-82

Mike Aitken


Brazil 4 Zico, Oscar, Eder, Falcao
Scotland 1 Narey

Seville, Friday - Brazil manager Tele Santana thinks that Scotland are on the way out of the World Cup. Speaking after a breathtaking display by his side had destroyed Jock Stein's men, Santana said: "I feel that Scotland may have missed out as far as qualifying for the second round is concerned." Santana said that he based his judgment on having seen both Scotland and Russia in action.

Even if it was only in a supporting role, Scotland played their part for an hour in the most entertaining game seen during the opening week of the World Cup. If the stars here tonight were all Brazilians, the Scots did as well as could have been reasonably expected until their legs gave way in a punishing final 30 minutes.

The twist of the South American knife near the end added a cruel edge to a scoreline Scotland hardly deserved. In spite of playing as intelligently and effectively in the first half as a Scottish side could have hoped to do against Brazil - David Narey had given them the lead in the 32nd minute - sheer exhaustion plus the stunning quality of Brazil's play destroyed Scotland in the second half.

Zico, Oscar Eder and Falcao did the damage which means Scotland almost certainly will have to beat Russia in their final match next week to stand a chance of qualifying for the next round.

Scotland have scored 6 goals and lost six in their two matches to date. That means if Russia defeat New Zealand by more than two goals this weekend in Malaga then a draw would be no use to Jock Stein's men.

Apart from a nervous display by Alan Rough in goal - and when you are facing the shooting power of the Brazilians there are good reasons for anxiety - and an oddly insecure showing on Alan Hansen’s part at the back, Scotland did not have a failure.

From the lone raiding of Archibald up front to Willie Miller's impressive covering at the bark, Scotland made life as difficult as they could have done for Brazil who had to show off their full repertoire to seize a marvellous victory.

The outstanding Scot of the night was the captain, Graeme Souness. He ran midfield for long spells early on and enjoyed a thrilling duel with Socrates, the Brazilian captain, in which honours were pretty much even as both men exchanged shirts at the end.

David Narey couldn’t have done better considering he was not operating in his club role. He was a more than adequate right-back and his goal was every bit as terrific as the Brazilian efforts – which was saying something. While there was no shame in Scotland’s display – remember, this match was played at 90 degrees of punishing evening heat – the lasting memories would have to be of Brazil's excellence.

It is going to take something quite extraordinary to beat them. The samba drums hammered out the message that Brazil are back to their best, the return of Cerezo stiffened the midfield and allowed Socrates, Zico and Falcao to play with greater exuberance than they had been able to show against the Russians. Even goalkeeper Peres indicated he had got over the touch of the jitters which hampered Brazil on Monday.

Although Rough's positional play was perhaps partly to blame for a couple of the goals, when you can take advantage in the way Eder did in the 64th minute, then it wouldn't really matter if you had half a dozen goalkeepers on the line.

On the night the carnival met the ceilidh the most colourful supporters in world football provided the noisiest background imaginable for this enticing match.

A lone Scottish piper bravely competed with a thousand drummers who hammered out the incessant samba beat. As the Brazilian rhythm section had a couple of brass bands in tow, off-the-field skirmishes were heavily stacked in the favour of the South Americans.

One couldn't help thinking that the odds on the field were similarly weighted in favour of the World Cup favourites.

The Scots began with predicted cautious line-up; Narey was a right-back, Miller beside Hansen in the centre of the defence and the midfield was packed with five bodies. Archibald ploughed the lone furrow up front in a side captained by Souness.

Strachan’s first touch brought the expected roars from the Scots in the crowd but it was Sounness who produced the first genuine opening when he won a ball 30 yards out and smacked a left-foot drive just wide of the Brazilian right-hand post.
Brazil played the game at walking pace in midfield and the Scots followed suit. It was not surprising that the World Cup favourites enjoyed more possession but they did not pose any great danger inside the penalty area in the opening 15 minutes, preferring to smack shots once they were within sight of goal. Fortunately for Scotland, the Brazilians' accuracy left a little to be desired early on.

Incredibly, though, it was the Scots who went ahead in the 18th minute with a quite spectacular goal - Souness had collected the ball deep on the left side of midfield. The Scotland captain swung over a fine ball to the far side of the box where John Wark rose to nod the ball down into the path of David Narey.

In the kind of style normally associated with Junior, the Dundee United player bent a brilliant shot from the edge of the box which sped into the Brazilian top left hand corner for a stunning goal.

Narey's first goal for his country could not have come in more incredible circumstances. It had the effect of adding confidence to Scotland's possession game and the Brazilians struggled for a spell to grab a clear look at goal. Miller was always available with the last tackle and Rough was well protected in the opening phase.

Strachan had pushed up in support of Archibald who was doing a commendable amount of running. It was Narey, however, who continued to catch the eye with a series of splendid tackles. He certainly was relishing the night.

There was always danger, however, in the Scots conceding free kicks within Brazil's range. Unfortunately, in the 32nd minute, the referee adjudged, harshly in my view, that Hansen had fouled Falcao. Souness tried to indicate a dive to the referee but the Costa Rican was having none of it and Zico stepped up to take the kick.

The player, rated along with Maradona as the best in the world, waited, stepped forward and hacked a dipping, powerful shot round the wall into Alan Rough's top left hand corner with the goalkeeper able to do no more than spectate.

The Scots soon regained their composure, however, and it was noticeable that Socrates, the Brazilian captain, was concerned enough about the efforts of Jock Stein's men to indicate to his colleagues that they should cool it and not rashly give away possession.

Scotland produced a fine attacking move in the 41st minute when Robertson made his best run of the half on the left, before finding the head of Wark who again provided a splendid knock-back for Archibald to move in. However Peres made the bravest of saves to keep the scoreline level.

It was Socrates's invention which led to Brazil's second goal he left Narey completely flummoxed with the most marvellous chip and then sent a low cross which Hansen cleared for a corner. Corner kicks and freekicks are a bit like penalty kicks to Brazil and when Junior swept a ball to the near post Oscar rose under no pressure to head a fine goal.

Scotland lost a third goal in the 64th minute as the Brazilian pressure told. It was a piece of genuine artistry which caught the Scots out this time as Eder moved on to a through ball on the left, Rough came too far off his line. Having spotted the gap the Brazilian winger rustled up a super chip and Rough was again stranded as the Scots fell two goals behind.

Kenny Dalglish, who had been waiting to get on for at least five minutes, was then able to replace Gordon Strachan for the last 25 minutes.

Scotland made a second substitution in the 68th minute when Alex Mcleish replaced Asa Hartford. There was a positional switch as a result of this move. McLeish went in to the back four to play alongside Miller while Hansen who had not looked all that secure was pushed forward into midfield as the Scots attempted to exert some pressure while attempting not to lose another goal.

In the 72nd minute, Robertson made a useful break inside tend his powerful right foot shot was only a fraction too high.

The shattered Scots suffered the cruellest blow of the night four minutes from the end when Falcao ran on to a ball ran the right edge of the box and blasted another drive wide of Rough who might just have done better and pushed it past.

It was a fate they hardly deserved and was perhaps as much due to the sapping heat as the splendid play of the Brazilians.