FRANCE 98 – Match Summary n°1

Saint-Denis, 10 June, 17 h 30

It was heartbreak for a courageous Scottish defence when they were beaten 2-1 by Brazil in their World Cup opener here on Wednesday at the Stade de France.

Just when it looked as if the Scots might manage a draw with the defending world champions, theyt were hit by the cruellest of blows. Seventeen minutes from time Denlison, brought on only minutes earlier to replace Brazil’s 1994 World Cup hero Bebeto, tried to lob Scottish goalkeeper Jim Leighton.

The ball bounced off Leighton’s face but it went straight at Tommy Boyd who was running back into the six yard area. Unable to stop himself, he could only look on in horror as the ball deflected off his shoulder, past a helpless Leighton, and into the goal despite a desperate diving lunge from captain Colin Hendry. It was a killer blow for Scotland, and a bitter pill for Leighton who had kept the score level with several great saves. It had been a roller coaster match for the Scots and their Tartan Army. A Brazilian defensive blunder saw Scotland go in at half-time. With Brazil threatening to run amok, Scotland managed to level the score eight minutes before the break with a John Collins penalty.

It was just the boost they needed after it took the 1994 World Cup winners less than five minutes to open the scoring.A long-range Dunga shot was deflected for a corner. Bebeto curved the ball to the near post and with Scotland’s Craig Burley and John Collins rooted to the ground, Cesar Sampaio rose to make it 1-0.

But Scotland refused to let their heads drop at such an early blow.Speedy Gordon Durie was threatening to cause problems with the Brazilian defence with his flashing runs but the ball was not running for him. But after 13 minutes Brazil nearly went two ahead when a Dunga pass to Ronaldo had Scottish captain Colin Hendry struggling. The tall Hendry managed to get up to the ball but his header just shaved past the Scottish goalpost with Jim Leighton struggling to cover it. Three minutes later Leighton was forced to make a spectacular save from Roberto Carlos who was completely unmarked on the left of the penalty area. With the Scottish defence beginning to show huge cracks Brazil were threatening to run amok.

Ronaldo showed why he is considered the best player in the world today in the 20th minute when he turned Hendry, slipped into the area before gliding past Tommy Boyd, beat Hendry again and fired in a shot from an oblique angle that Leighton did well to get a hand to. Minutes later Leighton saved Scotland again when Bebeto sliced the Scottish defence wide open but before the sprinting Ronaldo could get his foot to the ball, Leighton drived to smother it. Darren Jackson got the first yellow card of the tournament when he took Dunga’s legs from under him in the 25th minute. Spanish referee Jose Garcia-Aranda had no hesitation in reaching into his pocket.

Scotland’s best chance of the half came in the 29th minute when Kevin Gallacher got free on the right. His centre was flighted perfectly to Durie but before the Scottish striker could get to it, it was heeled away by a spread-eagled Junior Baiano. Then came Scotland’s penalty. Cesar Sampaio pushed Kevin Gallacher as the Scotsman ran for a ball he was never going to get. As Gallacher went sprawling Garcia-Aranda pointed to the spot before booking the Brazilian. Collins cooly slotted the ball past a diving Taffarel. Scotland, who could have been three goals down, suddenly found themself turning round on level terms.

It was a transformed Scottish side that came out for the second half, which was delayed for five minutes while the pegs clamping the net to the turf had worked themselves lose. While Brazil continued to look dangerous, with Leonardo coming on for Giovanni, Scotland began to pressure the Brazilian defence, especially when they got the ball across the South American’s goalmouth.

Scotland could even have gone ahead in the 55th minute when a brilliant Craig Burley header set Durie free on the right. Durie fired in a low hard cross that beat Taffarel but somehow the Brazilians managed to hook it away for a corner. With Durie causing the Brazilian defence serious problems with his speed and Scottish confidence rising Brazil were starting to suffer. But Scotland could not find a goal and looked ready to settle for a draw and a point.

But then Denlison struck and Scotland’s luck had run out.