Scotland heroes believe we can finally beat the five decade-long Brazil curse tonight after a history of crushing disappointments taking on the famous Samba boys.
Our national team has never beaten Brazil, losing three games and drawing one in four World Cup meetings dating back to 1974 – each one leaving fans on the edge of their seats. It’s been a tumultuous journey of own goals, knock-outs and, in typical Scotland style, last-minute disappointments.
So as the squads gear up to clash at a World Cup for a fifth time in Miami tonight, Scotland legends who took on the South Americans on the world stage are urging Andy Robertson and the lads to create history.
Murdo MacLeod was famously knocked unconscious by a ferocious 90mph free-kick taken by Brazilian defender Branco during a group stage match at the 1990 World Cup in Italy. But he has faith that Steve Clarke’s men can finally do what others before them could not.
He said: “This is the game that they want to win. No matter how good they are, they’ve just got to go and win against Brazil and it will be so great for the whole country.
“Every kid at my level when we were at school wanted to beat Brazil. We’ve played against Brazil so many times and not beaten them, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed we can win it this time.”
Murdo MacLeod is knocked out during World Cup Italia 90
Just like tonight’s game, Scotland played Brazil in the last group game in 1990 with almost the exact same scenario – they needed a point to qualify for the knockout stages.
The impact of the infamous free-kick stunned MacLeod so badly he didn’t know which way Scotland were shooting when the game resumed after he had received treatment. The match finished 1-0 after a low key contest in Turin was settled on 81 minutes when Muller forced the ball in from a tight angle past goalkeeper Jim Leighton.
View 8 ImagesMurdo MacLeod thinks Scotland can break the Brazil curse(Image: Tony Nicoletti Daily Record)
Scotland nearly got the point needed to progress in the closing stages but Claudio Taffarel produced a brilliant point-blank stop from Maurice Johnston. It was MacLeod’s lifetime ambition to play against Brazil – but 36 years later he can’t recall a single thing about it.
He said: “I remember nothing. It’s amazing the amount of people that still talk about it. Even now the Brazilians talk about it. All my pals all talk about it as well. We’ve got to be strong and go out and do it. It will be great for all the Scots in America if we can win.”
Scotland again played Brazil at France 98 in the opening game of the tournament. John Collins scored a penalty to make it 1-1 but Craig Brown’s side were doomed when Cafu’s shot was saved by Jim Leighton, only for the ball to strike the chest of Tom Boyd and creep over the line in an own goal. The final score was 2-1 to Brazil.
Former Scotland midfielder Paul Lambert, who played in the game and earned 40 caps for his country, said: “I think we played a great game against a brilliant Brazilian team.
View 8 ImagesPaul Lambert and Dunga of Brazil challenge during the World Cup Finals in 1998 (Image: Getty Images)
“If it never hit Boydy’s shoulder blade and his chest I think Jim Leighton would have picked that ball up dead easy and it would have been 1-1. We had some great chances to equalise it 2-2. I think we should have had a penalty at the end of the game when Brazilian captain Dunga jumped up and the ball hit their hand, so I think it’s really unfortunate.
“Our time was a brilliant time but we just came up against a Brazilian team of incredible footballers.”
Tonight in Miami, Scotland know a draw is enough to reach the knockout stage. But even a narrow loss may well see them through to the last 32 as one of eight best third-place sides.
Lambert said: “This Brazilian team they’re up against just now are a great side. Are they as good as years gone by? No, I think everyone would say that. Can you get chances against them? Yeah you can.
“We’re going to have to be really careful against their front line and that we keep the back door shut. But we’ve got a chance going into it, like we did in 98. If we can get a result, do well, or even not get a heavy defeat, then we can qualify.
View 8 ImagesBrazil v Scotland in 1998(Image: Marcus Brandt/Bongarts/Getty Images)
“I always enjoy watching them because we’ve got a good team and the country gets behind them. As a country I think we needed it and the national team to do well. For years gone by, people were getting caps that should never have got them but now we’ve got a proper team.”
At the 1982 world cup in Spain, Scotland lost 4-1 to Brazil after Dave Narey’s stunning strike from the edge of the penalty area gave Scotland a shock lead after 18 minutes.
Zico equalised from a fantastic free-kick before a front-post header from Oscar made it 2-1. A sublime chip for Eder got past Scotland goalkeeping legend Alan Rough before Falcao completed the scoring from 25 yards.
Last night, Roughie told the Record: “Everybody knew that year that Brazil were probably the best team in the world and were potentially going to win the cup.
View 8 ImagesAlan Rough challenges Serginito at the 1982 World Cup(Image: SNS Group)
“The experience of playing against Brazil was fantastic – they were in a different league completely so we just decided to go out and sample the experience with the supporters and just enjoy the moment. The 4-1 wasn’t really a disappointment. We knew we couldn’t beat them as they were a world class team at that time.
“But I don’t think this Brazil team are the quality that we played against. They don’t have the same squad and depth. That doesn’t mean they’re not going to be a hard team to beat. But I think Stevie Clarke has got the team organised and if we score first we’re a very, very hard team to beat.”
Our solitary point against Brazil in the World Cup came in 1974 in Germany. But that too was tinged by cosmic bad luck. Managed by Willie Ormond, Scotland went toe-to-toe with a Brazilian side that featured iconic names like Rivellino and Jairzinho.
Scotland gave the reigning world champions a massive fright in the second half. But the game is famously remembered for an agonising near-miss by Scottish captain Billy Bremner. After a powerful header from Joe Jordan was saved by Brazilian goalkeeper Emerson Leão, the rebound fell to Bremner just inches from the goal line, but he poked his shot agonisingly wide of the post.
Legendary former player David Hay was on the pitch and reckons Scotland could have won. He said: “Brazil approached that World Cup in a different way, they were more physical and that was a reflection on what happened in 1996 when they, Pele in particular, was kicked off the park.
View 8 ImagesDavid Hay (left) takes on Brazil at the 1974 World Cup(Image: Monty Fresco/ANL/Shutterstock)
“They came with a physical approach. We won comfortably against Zaire, not knowing off course we needed more goals against them as we took our foot off the gas a wee bit in the second half because it was a very humid night in Dortmund.
“I think subconsciously we saved ourselves for the Brazil game, knowing at half-time we’d won it. Against Brazil we played a 4-2-4 with myself and Billy Bremner in central midfield and after 15 minutes we pulled Kenny Dalglish back a wee bit and we came more into it.
“On reflection we could have won. There’s one chance people talk about but it wasn’t really a chance as it pinballed off Billy’s leg after their goalie palmed it out and it just hit Billy rather than him hit the ball. Then we drew with Yugoslavia and unfortunately didn’t qualify, although we didn’t lose a game and only lost one goal.”
View 8 ImagesScotland’s skipper Billy Bremner during the 1974 clash(Image: SNS)
The game was the start of a five decade run of bad luck that the whole Tartan Army hopes will come to an end tonight. Hay said: “We would snap your hand off for a 0-0 against Brazil this time, although ironically three points might be enough to get us through depending on how it finishes up. Here’s hoping they can get a draw.
“I wouldn’t say this Brazil team compares with previous Brazilian ones but they’ve got Vinicius Junior, who is a top player. And they are still Brazil with that famous jersey and there’s always something magical about Brazil at the World Cup.
“You never fear the jersey, you respect the jersey and Brazil are just a magical team at the World Cup. Here’s hoping Scotland qualify, I hope we can stop Brazil but the big factor is being as creative as we can when we get the ball and when an opportunity comes we need to take it.”
Article continues below
Get more Daily Record exclusives by signing up for free to Google’s preferred sources. Click HERE.