LOS ANGELES
From David Narey’s toepoke to the opening game of France 98, World Cup clashes between Brazil and Scotland became a staple at the tournament towards the end of the last century and the teams renew acquaintances in a decisive final group game on Wednesday.
The Group C encounter in Miami will be the fifth meeting of the nations on the biggest stage, making it one of the most played fixtures in tournament history.
Not the most played outright, because Brazil have faced Sweden seven times including in the 1958 final and in the 1994 semi-finals.
There have also been seven meetings of Argentina and Germany or West Germany, three of which have come in finals.
But the Selecao and the Scots faced off four times at World Cups between 1974 and 1998, all in the group stage — after all, Scotland have never gone beyond the first round.
Narey’s strike in Seville in 1982 remains an iconic World Cup moment, but it did not really have the desired effect as it simply stirred the Brazil of Socrates and Zico to life — they came back to win 4-1.
In 1974 in West Germany, Kenny Dalglish’s Scotland held the Brazil of Jairzinho and Rivellino to a goalless draw, and were ultimately eliminated on goal difference.
A late Mueller goal gave the Brazilians a 1-0 victory in Turin at Italia 90, and in 1998 Scotland prevented Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Bebeto from scoring only for Tom Boyd’s own goal to decide the contest 2-1 in favour of the World Cup holders.
