Scots Rule the British Scene

England v Scotland, 15-Apr-67

Stewart Brown

England 2 J Charlton, Hurst
Scotland 3 Law, Lennox, McCalliog

England enjoyed the greatest period in their history last year in winning the World Cup, but how swiftly the scene has changed. Scotland rule Britain in a footballing sense now, not only because of a magnificent and memorable 3-2 victory at Wembley but thanks to Celtic and Rangers, both potential finalists in European competitions. At club and country level England are lagging behind, and no one can argue that they were flattered by Saturday's narrow defeat. Scotland were three goals a better team, and were so much on top in the second half that they became a little careless.

I said before the match that a draw would be a good achievement, underestimating the ability, running power, and determination which the Scots packed into the 90 minutes. They had an extra incentive to smash the world's best and there were the stinging comments of the English critics who reduced Britain's number one fixture to a mere practice run for their invincibles.

Really, Scotland were quite entitled to fancy themselves for, in the past six years, England have beaten the Dark Blues once and that was last season when they were struggling to hold a goal lead. Maybe it's as well for them that they didn't have Scotland to meet during the World Cup or some other country might be occupying the throne.

England played the same stodgy style as they had done before the World Cup, and this time the strings on the Soccer puppets must have become all tangled.

TEASED AND TORMENTED

It is reported that Sir Alf Ramsey intends to introduce a slow tempo rhythm to combat the conditions in Mexico in 1970. Well, here Scotland turned on an exhibition of that nature in the second half.

The ball was stroked back and forward from man to man with the Englishmen chasing around in circles. They didn't like the cat-and-mouse stuff and hot?tempered Alan Ball was twice spoken to in a short space of time. You couldn't pretend it was attractive to watch, yet the 30,000 tartan tammied supporters were over the moon as the champions were teased and tormented. The fans' non-stop roar was undoubtedly a tremendous encouragement for the players who might have felt they were the hosts and not the visitors.

So a sequence of 19 games without defeat ended for England, beaten for the first time since they won the Cup. They may point to Jackie Charlton's early injury and claim the defence was upset but let's not forget that he was their most dangerous forward even when crocked.


DAY IN A THOUSAND

Scotland had their share of the knocks, too, and Gemmell was off the pitch receiving attention when Law scored the first goal.

Yes, it was a day in a thousand for Scotland and they should go on to topple England out of the Nations Cup. The Scots lead by a point with two of next season's three games at home.

There wasn't one Scot more outstanding than the others. All were terrific and, with the exception of Simpson, Greig, and McKinnon, everyone had the freedom to attack. In the first half Simpson's job was just as easy as it often is with Celtic, for he stopped only two efforts. He was needed more late on and fully earned his cap, while Greig had one superb goal-line save.

But Banks was much busier than Simpson, and he had one fantastic save from Law when Denis tried to lob the ball over his head and under the bar. Banks twisted himself in mid-air to prevent what would have been a mastermind's goal. Gemmell and McCreadie were adventurous defenders, though never forgetting their defensive duties and the midfield area was controlled by Baxter, Bremner and the new cap McCalliog, who looked as though he played at Wembley every week.

He never stops moving into position; his passing is crisp and accurate; and he can finish all right. There are a lot more caps around the corner for the Gorbals boy.

Wallace and Lennox always troubled the English defence and Law was simply the great player we know him to be.

ALONG COME RUSSIA

Manager Bobby Brown considered it was a wonderful result and his idea to keep possession and make England run was a winner. With the world champions having been dealt with, Cup semi-finalists Russia come along on May 10 and that would be another notable scalp.

Meanwhile, I feel England erred by keeping this side together. The time has come to look ahead and players like Cohen, Moore, Wilson, and Greaves may have to make way for others. Greaves, the man who was going to blast Scotland to defeat, was never in the game.

Law gave the Scots a half-time lead, and success was assured when Lennox made it 2-0. A Jackie Charlton header sparked off a three goals-in-the-last-five-minutes splash and McCalliog scored before Hurst.

• From the Evening News of 16/04/67