Sports
World Cup 1974: Scotland’s undefeated campaign in West Germany
22 June, Frankfurt. Scotland 1-1 Yugoslavia
Victory would take Scotland into the last eight. Even a draw would have been good enough if Brazil failed to beat Zaire by three clear goals. But they did, winning 3-0.
The Scots fell a goal behind with fewer than 10 minutes left, with Jordan’s late equaliser not enough.
Yugoslavia, Brazil and Scotland finished level on points, with the team who scored fewest against Zaire eliminated.
“Over the three games, we only conceded one goal,” Jordan says. “You go back to the Zaire game, there’s a lot of disappointment – we should have done a lot more damage.
“The only thing Ormond could have done differently was maybe bring Johnstone on against Brazil and Yugoslavia. He didn’t play in a single game.
“I don’t know if that was for disciplinary reasons. On reflection, he probably would have made a difference.”
Brazil and Yugoslavia progressed to the last eight only to both go out in the second group stage.
West Germany beat Netherlands 2-1 in the final, but lost to East Germany earlier in the tournament, leaving Scotland as the only unbeaten team in the finals.
That’s got to count for something, right?