Golden Years – Scotland 1-0 Italy, November 1965

Scotland’s recent win in Croatia was as welcome as it was unexpected.

And, typically, it won’t help the Dark Blues qualify for next year’s World Cup Finals. There was a similar scenario back in November, 1965 when a team managed by Jock Stein recorded one of the most revered wins in the country’s history. But come the Finals on the other side of Hadrian’s Wall a few months later, Scotland were nowhere to be seen.

After beating Finland home and away, and drawing in Poland, qualification was on course until the Poles’ shock Hampden win. That meant full points at home against Italy were a must if Scotland were to have any chance of reaching the Finals.

John Greig’s 89th minute winner duly delivered that. But a 3-0 defeat in Naples the following month meant the Scots were yet again staying at home.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=K8_QNeE_zPY