1957switz

On this day in 1957, Scotland qualified for the 1958 World Cup. They had begun their campaign with a fine 4-2 win over Spain which included a Jackie Mudie hat-trick with John Hewie scoring the other from the penalty spot. This was followed up with a crucial 2-1 win over Switzerland in Basle where goals from Mudie again and Bobby Collins saw Scotland victorious.
A no doubt vengeful 4-1 defeat to Spain in May ’57 followed, however it was 2-2 draw between the Swiss and Spain in Madrid before Scotland had even kicked a ball in the qualifiers that would prove decisive. Scotland would have to beat Switzerland at home to qualify for the World Cup; as usual the Scots the crowd of only 58,811 a few scares along the way.
It would be Scotland who would open the scoring through Archie Robertson of Clyde in the 29th minute but the Swiss would equalise in the 35th minute to send the sides in at 1-1.
Jackie Mudie would score once more in the 52nd minute to put Scotland ahead and then in the 70th minute Rangers winger Alex Scott scored a third to give Scotland a commanding lead.
But with this being Scotland a second Swiss goal was scored in the 80th minute to give the crowd a nervous ten minutes or so before the final whistle went and qualification was assured.
Blackpool’s Jackie Mudie scored 5 goals in the qualifying rounds in total but also scored in the 3-2 defeat to Paraguay at the Finals. His tally for Scotland was 9 goals in 17 caps; if only we had someone like that around today.
The Scotland line up was as follows: Tommy Younger (Liverpool), Alex Parker (Falkirk), Eric Caldow (Rangers), Willie Fernie and Bobby Evans (both Celtic), Tommy Docherty (Preston North End Captain), Alex Scott (Rangers), Bobby Collins (Celtic), Jackie Mudie (Blackpool), Archie Robertson and Tommy Ring (both Clyde).


The programme cover comes as usual form our website.

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A few years on from 1957 and Scotland also played a World Cup game in 1968 on this day. This was the opening match in our 1970 World Cup campaign. Scotland would begin with a 2-1 win over Austria. Manager Bobby brown sent out a side packed with Scotland legends lining up as follows: Ronnie Simpson(Celtic), Tommy Gemmell (Celtic), Eddie McCreadie (Chelsea), Billy Bremner (Leeds United), Ronnie McKinnon and John Greig (both Rangers), Jimmy Johnstone (Celtic), Charlie Cooke (Chelsea), John Hughes (Celtic), Denis Law (Manchester United) and Bobby Lennox (Celtic).
With that mouthwatering line up, is it any surprise Scotland went 1-0 down after two minutes. However Denis Law would soon restore parity in the 7th minute but it would take until the 75th minute for Scotland to grab the winner with Captain Billy Bremner scoring. Denis Law would make way for Alan Gilzean of Spurs just after the goal. A crowd of 80,856 watched this game, that would be a last Scotland outing for Ronnie Simpson with Jim Herriot of Birmingham City playing the majority of otehr games in the group. West Germany would of course qualify for the Finals from the group.

David Stuart