Scotland's fateful 1978 campaign still resonates

A significant story is unfolding on the international scene. Scotland's fateful 1978 World Cup campaign still resonates Figure caption, Scotland's Most Iconic Goals - Watch Archie Gemmell's v NetherlandsByTom English Scotland's chief sports writerPublished8 hours agoArgentina '78 - the story of Scotland daring to dream and waking up in a nightmare never gets old. It's a footballing farce, a sporting tragicomedy. Some of the gold is provided by the Tartan Army and the extraordinary lengths some of them went to in order to be part of history.

Not the kind of history they were getting, but history all the same. How many books, or chapters of books, have been written about 1978? How many newspaper and magazine articles?

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How many documentaries? And yet there's still a buzz about a telling of what went on in Argentina. Ally MacLeod's bravado was of Muhammad Ali proportions.

Had the manager been canny and well prepared then Lord knows what this excellent squad might have achieved and what impact on Scottish political history it might have had. His confidence in his team led him to say that he'd cleared a place in his wardrobe for his World Cup winner's medal. He spoke at times about how the World Cup final date would come to be known as National Ally Day.

World Cup fixtures and group standings How to watch the World Cup on the Published2 days agoEverything you need to know about the World Cup Published1 AprilImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Ally MacLeod managed Scotland from 1977-78It was pantomime stuff and it was infectious. AC/DC played a gig wearing Scotland jerseys. Blue Peter presented the somewhat perplexed squad with a special good luck badge.

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Scottish nationalism was on the march with the SNP making record gains. A pro-union newspaper in England wrote that Scotland winning the World Cup would be like "distilled firewater. Hooched up on that, the nationalists could rampage to victory".

In 1978, Scots roamed across the British football landscape like gods. In the August of 1977, Kenny Dalglish, whose famous goal against Wales helped secure the finals place, had become Britain's most expensive footballer when arriving at Liverpool. Five months later, Gordon McQueen would set a new transfer record when joining Manchester United.

Liverpool had just won the European Cup with Alan Hansen, Graeme Souness and Dalglish the spine of the team. Ipswich had just won the FA Cup with John Wark and George Burley. Nottingham Forest had won the First Division title and the League Cup with Kenny Burns, Archie Gemmill, John McGovern and John Robertson.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.