Top World Cup moments No20 – Archie Gemmill’s wonder goal (1978)

No20 – Archie Gemmill’s wonder goal

Scotland needed to beat the Netherlands by three goals to progress beyond the group phase and Gemmill gave them a chance with his jinking goal and polished finished that remains one of the great World Cups goals.

His goal gave the Scots a 3-1 lead and hope of a remarkable passage to the next round, but the Dutch pulled it back to 3-2 and Scotland were again bundled out in the group stage.

Nonetheless, every Scottish football fan recalls Gemmill’s wonder goal, and it’s immortalised in the film Trainspotting as Renton climaxes during sex: “I haven’t felt that good since Archie Gemmill scored against Holland in 1978.”