Former Everton midfielder Stuart McCall has described the 'Braveheart on steroids' spirit that propelled Scotland to a crucial 2-1 win over Sweden at the 1990 World Cup, where he scored his only international goal. The Leeds-born midfielder, whose parents are Scottish, joined Everton from Bradford City in 1988 but only broke into the Scotland side shortly before the tournament in Italy.
A Whirlwind Call-Up
McCall, now assistant manager at Preston North End, recalled his surprise call-up in a 2022 interview with the ECHO. 'My name had been mentioned but usually you're in or around it,' he said. 'Come the end of March though, I made my international debut against Argentina at Hampden Park and played five warm-up games before the tournament. In a short period of time, things changed quickly.'
He roomed with Gary McAllister, who didn't even play a game at the World Cup. 'I remember the excitement around the draw,' McCall added. 'There was Brazil – no chance there; Sweden, a British-style game; and Costa Rica, who everyone thought we'd beat.'
Opening Disaster Against Costa Rica
Scotland's opening fixture in Genoa ended in a shock 1-0 defeat to World Cup debutants Costa Rica. McCall rued the lack of scouting information available at the time. 'We'd been given a tip that their weakness was the goalkeeper because he was quite small and would get done on crosses,' he explained. 'We went with Mo Johnston and Alan McInally up front because of Big Mac's aerial ability, leaving Ally McCoist on the bench. But when we walked out, there was this towering 6ft 3in keeper who plucked everything out of the air.'
The defeat left the team devastated. 'Fans threw their scarves at us and told us we were a disgrace,' McCall recalled. 'I rang my mum and dad, feeling hugely embarrassed and disappointed.'
Redemption Against Sweden
Just four days later, Scotland had a chance to bounce back against Sweden. McCall described the atmosphere in the tunnel as 'like Braveheart on steroids.' He said, 'Roy Aitken was roaring. We had big Alex McLeish with his shock of ginger hair, Jim Leighton without his teeth, and little Robert Fleck. The Swedes were bronzed adonises, immaculate, while we looked like lads pulled off a local estate. It was all or nothing.'
McCall scored his one and only goal for Scotland in 40 internationals. 'I was supposed to be on the edge of the 18-yard box but ended up on the six-yard line – not doing as I was told,' he joked. 'We'd worked on corner routines, Davy McPherson nicked it on, and I arrived late. I was always deadly from a yard.' Mo Johnston added a penalty, and despite a late Swedish goal, Scotland won 2-1, keeping their qualification hopes alive.
Heartbreak Against Brazil
A draw against Brazil would have secured Scotland's place in the knockout stages, but they lost 1-0 to a late goal from Muller. McCall headed a ball down to Mo Johnston, whose volley was saved by Taffarel. 'It was typical Scotland – we found a way to go out,' McCall said. 'Even the next day we were in contention as one of the best third-placed sides, but results went against us.'
Today's World Cup matches include Group B: Qatar v Switzerland (8pm, San Francisco); Group C: Haiti v Scotland (2am Sunday, Boston), Brazil v Morocco (11pm, New York/New Jersey); Group D: Australia v Turkey (5am Sunday, Vancouver).
