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| March 15th 2005 |
Berne, Wankdorf Stadion
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| SCOTLAND - CZECHOSLOVAKIA |
2-1 (1-0)
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GOALS 10' 1-0 Denis Law
54' 1-1 Antonin Panenka (penalty)
81' 2-1 Gordon McQueen
REFEREE Ivan Eklind (Sweden)
ATTENDANCE 62,000
YELLOW CARDS Bremner, Souness (SCO)
Nedved, Dobias, Pluskal (CZE)
SCOTLAND (Coach: Jock Stein, system 4-3-3)
1 John Thompson
2 Danny McGrain
5 Gordon McQueen
6 George Young (captain)
3 Eric Caldow
4 Billy Bremner
16 Greame Souness
15 Alex James (-85)
9 Denis Law
8 Hugh Gallacher (-62)
11 Alan Morton (-87)
Substitutes:
13 Alec Jackson (+62)
18 Alan Hansen (+85)
10 Jim Baxter (+87)
CZECHOSLOVAKIA (Coach: Rudolf Vytlacil, system 4-4-2)
12 Ivo Viktor
2 Karol Dobias
19 Svatopluk Pluskal
4 Anton Ondrus
3 Ladislav Novak
7 Antonin Panenka (-78)
6 Karel Pesek-Kada (captain)
10 Josef Masopust
8 Pavel Nedved (-65)
9 Zdenek Nehoda (-83)
11 Antonin Puc
Substitutes:
14 Andrej Kvasnak (+65)
5 Jan Popluhar (+78)
20 Oldrich Nejedly (+83)
MATCHREPORT
For the all important match against Czechoslovakia, Scottish coach Jock
Stein kept faith in his defence but changed a lot in midfield and attack.
Paul McStay and Jim Baxter lost their places to Greame Souness and Alex
James. In attack Kenny Dalglish hadn't convinced in the match against
Yugoslavia and "Wembley Wizard" Hugh Gallacher came into the team, sending
Denis Law to the right. Scotland knew they had a tough game ahead and they
needed men they could rely on: firm in the tackle, able to hold on for more
than 90 minutes and with the ability to play attacking football.
For the Czechs coach Vytlacil simply changed nothing. Of course goalkeeper
Plackicka wasn't available after breaking his arm, but Ivo Viktor had shown
to be a worthy replacement. Czechoslovakia beat Bulgaria in the first match
from a corner kick, minutes from time. It had not been a perfect
performance, but the team had been steady and their midfield seemed
frightning. Scotland needed the win, Czechoslovakia could play for a draw.
And it showed from the very first minute. Scotland trying to attack whenever
possible, Czechoslovakia hoping for the quick counterattack.
That positive attitude paid off immediately for the Scots. Alex James,
brought in at left midfield and from the start one of the outstanding
performers, outplayed Panenka and sent a neat pass to Denis Law. The outside
right went into the box, held off Pluskal's challenge and beat Viktor with a
low drive into the far corner: 1-0 for Scotland after only 10 minutes. And
the second goal for the dangerous Law in the competition. It put the match
in a totally different light. Suddenly taking it easy and slow wasn't enough
for the Czechs, they had to attack too and they did so. Otherwise than
against Yugoslavia however, Scotland were fully aware of the importance of
the match and they fought for every square metre. Of course the Czechs tried
to use their strongest line, their midfield, to build up their attack and
try to find the two strikers. But Nehoda and Puc couldn't get rid of their
markers and only Nedved every now and then could reach one of them. But it
didn't cause too many troubles for John Thompson in the Scottish goal.
George Young was terrific and so was Gordon McQueen, both masters in the air
and fierceless on the ground.
Scotland chose the direct approach. They played fast, without hesitation and
Law was a constant threat. Much the better of Novak, he offered his fellow
strikers a few chances. First from the outline he played it back to the edge
of the box where Souness arrived. He midfielder missed the goal by inches.
Soon after another escape by Law, this time sending his pass to Gallacher.
Viktor blocked the effort. Gallacher was the only player in the Scottish
team to disappoint. He had a difficult time against Pluskal and Ondrus and
would be substituted after an hour. But the Scots were strong in midfield,
winning most of the ball and combining well. Apart from Law, also Morton was
dangerous and Dobias could do nothing but foul him. Ivan Eklind, the Swedish
referee, showed a yellow card. Pavel Nedved had received one just minutes
earlier after clashing with James. Czechoslovakia persisted in a careful
build-up but saw the game slipping through their hands. It could have been
2-0 when Morton shot just wide, but a second goal wouldn't come before the
break.
No third striker for Czechoslovakia during half-time, Vytlacil still hoping
for the outburst of Nehoda and Puc who hadn't shown the football world yet
why they were preferred to Nejedly and Silny. Nejedly, topscorer of the 1934
tournament, was still waiting for his first playing minutes. But the coach
seemed to have told his men that a lot had to change in the second half, if
they wanted to survive this match without big damage. And this happened.
Czechoslovakia now played much quicker, the Scots no had longer had a kind
of free play. James had to go back against Panenka, who took the game in
hand now, and also Masopust and Pesek-Kada were much more dominant. Young
and McQueen, under pressure now, came to know that the Czech strikers were
no minnows at all. Nehoda released a shot that Thompson couldn't hold,
McGrain was present to slide it away before Puc could convert. But the
result from the Czech revival was soon to come. Puc took on Caldow, who
couldnīt hold him and pushed the striker in the back: penalty, decided
Eklind. Panenka came over and he never missed, neither this time. Thompson
to the right, the ball to the left and it was all even.
In the Scottish team Gallacher had to make place for Alec Jackson, Vytlacil
replaced tired Nedved with Andrej Kvasnak. The match was on fire now, both
teams going for the win. It was hard to predict the outcome. Law, again Law,
had a beautiful chance but Viktor turned his shot away with an even better
reflex. On the other side Nehoda had a free opportunity and headed the ball
towards the far corner. Thompson found an arm to keep it out with. When the
match neared the end, Czechoslovakia tried to secure the point they had in
hand. Panenka left the pitch, Jan Popluhar came in and that was a sign. A
point would be enough for them.
But that point didn't come. Nine minutes from time Scotland decided the
match, and at that moment that was a surprise. First there was a blasting
effort from distance by Alex James that needed a brilliant Ivo Viktor to tip
it to corner. But from that corner, Scotland struck as yet. Jackson sent it
into the box and McQueen lept above Pluskal to head it in. It was
unstoppable for the brave Viktor who again had done so well. Although the
Czechs tried to equalize once more, Scotland with Hansen and Baxter in place
of James and Morton, held on. Even Nejedly, who had replaced Nehoda,
couldn't find the gap. Scotland carried the 2-1 over the finish.
It made this group B even closer. Scotland now were on 3 points, just like
Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia, who had a game in hand against Bulgaria. In
their last match against Stoichkov and his men, Scotland could secure a
place in the second round for the first time in World Cup history. For
Czechoslovakia the result of this match was a huge setback. They had hoped
for at least a draw but were left in the cold by the heading abilities of
Gordon McQueen, the rising stopper. Still they had everything in their own
hands, though it certainly wouldn't be easy against Yugoslavia that seemed
to be in topform.
Next Friday Italy will try to book their place in the next round as they
meet the other winners of the first matches in group D, Romania. Both teams
are even on top of the group with 2 goals scored and 1 against. Italy had a
very difficult match against a strong Hungary that deserved more than
defeat. But the Squadra Azzurri still managed to take all three points after
going behind. A sign of mental strength, certainly. Romania, the underdogs
this time, must hope for a given day on which Italy will not be at their
best and Romania themselves will rise above their potential. Coach Jenei
considers taking one striker off for an extra defender. He expects Gheorghe
Hagi to rise to the occasion now and hurt Italy. Will it be cat and mouse,
or is there a surprise in the air? Come back later this week and find out
when the All Time World Cup continues.
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