The Home International Championship was dead. Scotland and England would now contest the Rous Cup, a new trophy (and soon to be new tournament), named after Sir Stanley Rous.
The game was supposed to have been a home fixture at Wembley but the match was moved to Hampden due to safety and political reasons.
On what was a dreich, rain-soaked afternoon, chances in the first half were few and far between. Trevor Francis worked a yard of space and flashed a left-foot shot across Jim Leighton’s goal, while Maurice Malpas and Jim Bett peppered Peter Shilton’s goal from distance.
In the second-half, a quick break from defence by Viv Anderson, racing up the middle, left England three on two and Roy Aitken in his wake. The Celtic man made a brave attempt to get the ball but failed. No, actually it was a cynical lunge, but the referee didn’t even book him.
John Barnes glanced a header wide while substitute Chris Waddle beat three defenders but his final pass was wayward. England were on top, but they were about to be floored by a sucker punch.
Scotland moved the ball from the right to left; from Gordon Strachan to Richard Gough, to Alex McLeish, and finally, McLeish to Bett, wide left. His centre picked out Gough, who had continued his forward run, and he planted a looping header well wide of Shilton, who had decided not to leave his line.
England tried to rally, but Scotland remained well-marshalled and resolute, allowing captain Graeme Souness to lift the gold trophy on the pitch at the end.
Scotland Leighton (Aberdeen), Gough (Dundee United), Malpas (Dundee United), Aitken (Celtic), McLeish (Aberdeen), Miller (Aberdeen), Strachan (Manchester United), Souness (Sampdoria), Archibald (Barcelona), Bett (Lokeren), Speedie (Chelsea)
Substitute MacLeod (Celtic) for Strachan
England Shilton (Southampton), Anderson (Arsenal), Sansom (Arsenal), Hoddle (Spurs), Fenwick (QPR), Butcher (Ipswich Town), Robson (Manchester United), Wilkins (AC Milan), Hateley (AC Milan), Francis (Sampdoria), Barnes (Watford)
Substitutes Lineker (Leicester City) for Hoddle; Waddle (Newcastle United) for Barnes
Stewart Weir’s reflections
Utterly soaked again at Hampden, but worth every minute. Not a memorable game, although there was a comedy moment when the presentation party came on to the field like delegates from an Inspector Clouseau convention, every one bedecked in raincoats.
Scotland won, despite being without Liverpool and Everton players for the game. However, there was a truly wonderful line in Ian Paul’s Herald match report on the Monday. “Considering the relatively makeshift composition of the Scotland side they are due praise for inflicting on England their first defeat of the season . . .” In 1985, players from Serie A and La Liga qualified as makeshift.
A pot for the trophy cabinet was nice but the win over England wasn’t the main event that week. A few days later, Scotland would take on and beat Iceland in Reykjavik in a World Cup tie. Leighton made his mark with a penalty save, Souness made a mark on Siggi Jonsson, and “Jazzer” Bett scored with four minutes to go.
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