Scotland’s World Cup memories

27:01They have four or five choices. I don't know who picked where we were staying in Alta Gracia. The hotel was a shambles. The rooms, there were two to a room. There was no windows in the room. There was a cupboard and a bathroom. We had a swimming pool for relaxation that had no water in it for the whole three weeks. It was just a shambles. And as you can imagine, way back then, no mobile phones, no internet, no connection with people back home. And as we're probably going to touch on, the results made things even worse. But the accommodation and the training ground was just a shambles. Alan, what did you do?

27:40As you said, it's not like you're taking over computer games. It's not like you're sitting there watching films streaming onto a tablet. What did you do with your time? Yeah, I think it was the boredom. Boredom more than anything else. We came up with some quiz nights. I think a couple of guys, I think we had a toga party one night. That was just sheets off your bed. It was just the build-up to the first game against Peru, which we were going on to. But, you know, I think if we'd won that, things might have been a lot easier. But that didn't go to plan. And I think, again, Roddy's touched on it.

28:15There wasn't a lot of in-depth tactical awareness of how good Peru were. And, I mean, I don't know if you know, but Peru actually won the section. Now, they won our group. They actually were ahead of Holland. They weren't a bad side, but we didn't go into it thoroughly enough. I mean, as I said to Roddy, I remember leaving the dressing room and asking Ali, is there anything special about any special players on the team that can do something a wee bit special? And he said, no, no, nothing special, big man, nothing at all. And then Kabir hits one with the outside of his foot around the wall. And I came in after the game and I says, Ali, I said, I thought you said there was nothing special about this team.

28:56And he goes, I've never seen them playing. It's worth underlining as well. I mean, I was saying we had a great team. Actually, we had some phenomenal players in that team. So Kenny was a world-class player, one of the best in the world. But Martin Buchan at the time, I mean, but he was player of the year in England. I mean, really top-class player, Ruffy, superb goalkeeper. Archie Gemmel, winning European Cups and things like that as well. I mean, we had a lot of good players in that team. The Archie Gemmel goal against the Netherlands is still in the top 10 World Cup goals, according to FIFA.

29:30so we did have people in there who could do things John Robertson you've got European Cup winners in there you've got incredible players in the squad but that Peru game was a real eye-opener Alan and then going into the game against Iran and you're thinking certainly if you're a Scotland fan at home I'd imagine you're thinking well that could be the one that could be the one yeah I think when you go to a World Cup the most important thing is winning your first game You win your first game, everybody gets behind you. Unfortunately for us, it was the very opposite. Everybody went against us. There was a lot of bad press going about, and quite rightly so.

30:10We let everybody down. The lead-up to the Iran game was probably the worst ever lead-up to a game for me. I think everybody just stayed in the room. I don't think they wanted to read what was happening back home. They just wanted to focus on the game when we got there. For me, the Iran game was just one of these nights, and we've seen them many, many times over the time that it just never happened for us. We got a goal, an own goal. We thought, oh, well, we'll get another one, but it never happened. And they got a goal and then obviously all the anxiety kicked in and we just let everybody down on that Aran game.

30:47You get the win against Holland and it's not quite enough, again, to get out of the group. Did it feel, though, as though you were ending on something of a positive? Yeah, I think footballers and team footballers in particular, when everything's against you, sometimes you have the ability to roll your sleeves up and go out and play to the standard that you need to. And I've watched that game tons of times. I think it was in the first half particular that I think we were winning 2-1, 3-1 going on. I think Kennedy O 'Gleish hit the bar. I think Bruce Rio hit the bar. It was one of these games that we thought everything was going right for us.

31:28And then, as Roddy said, wee Archie's goal lifted everybody. And then, unfortunately, Johnny Rep come up with a shot. To this day, I still cannot believe, as I turned around and it was in the back of the net, I thought I'd done enough to put it over the bar. And it wasn't until 40 years later, I don't know if the guys will remember, it was a shot that went up in the air, and it was one of the ones that sort of had dipped at the last minute. And about 40 years later, I was spoken to Archie Gemmel. and I says, what about that Johnny Rep goal? He said, yeah, he says, it hit my boot on the way up.

32:02I went, thanks very much. I've been to blame for that for 40 years. Alan, do you remember the U-boat story? Vaguely, vaguely. It was a famous one where the Tartan Army found it difficult to get to Argentina and it was rumoured that they were going to buy a German U-boat, a World War II U-boat, and sail across the Atlantic. But that was a live story for quite a while. kept us going. I mean, it's a long way to get to Argentina. Alan, it's been great talking to you. Really appreciate you coming on. Not at all. Thank you very much for that. Thanks so much. That was Alan Ruff giving us that insight into that, especially that 1978 World Cup, because the way that was built up and the way that it ended with angry fans on the tarmac was quite a drop off.

32:51And a real sadness, though, because that was a great Scotland side. and the possibility and the capabilities of getting through were definitely there. Now, we say in passing, oh, we beat Holland and the Netherlands 3-2 in passing. This was the great side. You know, this was the side that, you know, in 74 had got to the final with the best side there. The build of the Dutch football that then became Barcelona, et cetera, all that sort of stuff. This was that team. And Scotland were there, and by a long way the better team that day. It could have been, you know, 4-1 up was one, point where I thought we were going to go 4-1 up, which would have been enough for us to get through.

33:29Again, more sob stories for us but don't forget that in the midst of that and really just, I believed at that point. Do you know what the first time I believed in the whole time? When Kenny scored that one, it bounced down and he smashed it into the top corner. That was the most spine-tingling, browing moment of, yeah, we're going to do it! And then we didn't. I know, but last time Scotland were in a World Cup 98 in France 28 years between then and now is the longest Scotland have been absent from a Men's World Cup. Someone who played in every match that year and did walk on in the kilt for the Brazil game.

34:05Former Scotland striker, Premier League winner Kevin Gallagher joins us now. Evening, Kevin. Good evening, Kelly. Good evening, Pat. Good evening, Roddy. How are you all doing? Good evening. Kevin, really good. Listen, before we get into talking about any of the football, talk me through the decision to wear the kilts on the way into the stadium. to be fair it goes back to when we knew about the World Cup and the squad was getting announced obviously you're looking for sponsors to take you on and we got this sponsorship from I think it's Kinloch Anderson from Inverness who came up and said what about a kilt so we kind of threw that to Craig so all the lads this was the idea of everybody doing it and most of the lads were up for it I think it was a couple of the coaching staff didn't really think they'd look nice in a kilt.

34:55So they decided against it. But the majority said yes, we're all up for wearing the kilt. We'd be the first national team to wear our own regalia, shall we say. And we all went for it. How did the Brazil players react to it? Oh, it was weird. You go and it was roasting in Paris that day as well. and it was kind of weird because you've got air conditioning in your room when you're trying to fit this kilt on and make sure the socks are at the right height at your kneecap and things like that. You get to the stadium and you're sweating, and I mean sweating. You're trying to drink water. You're trying to keep hydrated.

35:35And then you kind of walk down the tunnel thinking we're going early. We're out there early just to get a feel of the turf because we knew we weren't going to be doing a warm-up on the grass. So we had to go and get a feel of the turf right away and maybe see family and friends who had arrived early. And we all walked out and the Brazilians were already out there. And to say there was a shocked look on their face was an element of surprise. They knew, they'd obviously seen Braveheart. Everybody's seen it. So at the end of the day, they knew they were in for a big battle. Can I ask you a question, Kevin?

36:09I remember thinking about it on the day I was doing the commentary with Alan Green that day and Mike England, I think, were there as well. And as you walked out, I thought, if I've ever put a kilt on, I felt a foot taller. I felt brilliant. Did you get that feeling that day or are you just too busy sweating? I was too busy. I think I was drinking, but it was roasting. You know, we listened to John Collins and he said when we were living, we'd gone to San Remy and we, John's like, oh, it's the second hottest place from San Tropez and all that. And it's right in the middle of it. It's roasting hot.

36:43and we arrived in San Remy and I was chucking it down for two days. I was like, what's he on about? He says, yeah, I'll get warm. And to be fair, at that stage, we weren't even thinking about the kilts. But when we went to Paris and we had to take all our gear because we had to move from San Remy to Paris, you had to lift all your stuff and then go there. And when you put that kilt on on that day, you realised, wow, I forgot how heavy these things are. And these aren't just your mock kilts that you go on and everybody can wear one. These were proper, cilted, weighted and to be fair, they were absolutely gone.

37:20I've still got mine, Pat, I must admit. But I believe I can get it taken out to get it fitted. But I can't get it. That's the one thing I've tried. I can't get into it. But no, when we got there and you just wear it out to the stadium and I know there wasn't a lot of people there at the time but the atmosphere was building. You could feel the atmosphere and I know what it's like to be in the press box and you feel the atmosphere coming. But you know what it's like, Pat. When we're on the grass and you're walking there and we're a showcase, you know, some of the guys kept their sponsored specs on and all that and you're going there, you're enjoying the beautiful sunshine, this fantastic arena, brand new stadium.

37:58When we got back in to the air-conditioned room, we were, oh, I've never seen so many kilts fly off. You know what I mean? They just flew off. It was that hot. I thought, need to get my gear on. This is too hot. Yeah, I've been to Kayleigh's like that, Kevin. Well, I hope you didn't fly them off like we did. Listen, you were making the analogy with Braveheart and going out there like that. But actually, you said this team was more like Dad's Army. Yeah. It was kind of surreal because we were experienced, and most of us had been together for probably the last decade trying to get to competitions, the Euros in 92, 94, 96, all these World Cups, and you're all there.

38:39and the way that Craig built it, it was a club team rather than an international set-up and the way we got it. So for me, when you're part of that, it was fantastic. You knew at least you were in there somewhere along the line and Craig done it. He just made it as a team and we thoroughly enjoyed that and I think that's why when we were going along in the competition and playing these games and the Swedens were a top-class side, top class players Austria was even better because they all played in the Bundesliga and you're kind of thinking to yourself this is going to be difficult it's a tough one but it's one that we might be able to do if we can give it our best shot and we did we gave it our best shot and you finish second you get to a World Cup and you just think to yourself wow what an achievement but we didn't think it would take us another 28 years and I look at some of the players that we've had in those 28 years who haven't gone and I feel sorry for them you know and this bunch of guys.

39:38And Pat already said it. Phenomenal togetherness that Steve's got with him. And it just reminds me of what Craig had with us. You know, that camaraderie and everybody will work for each other. And it's just the belief that, yes, they know they're not the best team in the world. But what they're going to do is they're going to make sure that the best team in the world are going to have to work twice as hard to beat them. And one thing you can tell those players who are going out there this summer about is competing at a World Cup. and more specifically, you can tell them about what it's like to face Brazil because they are always the team at the World Cup that everybody wants to see.

40:13The eyes of the world are literally on that game. Oh, definitely. You know, there's no doubt about it. You know, I think you guys were talking about it just earlier as well, about being Brazil, being the Scottish people's second team. It was my second team as a kid. You know, I played in mum and dad's back garden. I got to the semi-finale of the World Cup every single day. we beat England and got to the final What happened in the semi-final? Well we beat England that was one thing we got there we made sure we got there and it was Brazil in the final and I don't know what it is I think it was just when you watch a TV and you see a game and you see the flamboyance of Brazil I think that's what grabbed my imagination when I was young and when you're a kid in Clibank and you're having to duck under rope and play one-two off your dad's shed and chip in the chicken wire for a goal you know that's the kind of thing that memories live with.

41:04And that was my childhood dream, was doing that. And then to realise that your childhood dream was sort of coming to fruition. But okay, it wasn't the World Cup final. It was the World Cup finals. It was still part of it. You know, I still remember the Davinary toe poke that wasn't a toe poke. It was an unbelievable goal. And you just want to, I don't know what it is, but you just want to play against Brazil. And at that time, for us to play against Brazil, they were the world champions. And to push some world champions so close, it gave you that great piece of dignity that when people rubbed the dad's army thing and because probably half of us were all in our 30s, it kind of gave you a sense of pride.

41:46And I think that's why we kind of enjoyed that occasion. And Brazil, I just think it is every Scotsman's second team, you know, because of the players that they've brought through over the years with the football they have. Can I ask you, Kevin, just one thing, that game was not just a Scotland-Brazil game. It wasn't just a group game. It wasn't just a World Cup game. It was the opening game of the World Cup. And the whole world was watching that game. Did you feel when you were walking out, it's not just Brazil I'm doing here. I'm in front of the greatest tournament in global sport and I'm being watched by the globe.

42:22Not when we walked out. I would say no, not when we walked out. I think when you walk out, you see the crowd and you've seen the gold shirts, the blues and the tarns. It was all mixed nations within that first game. I think when we get the general feel of how big it was, it's probably after it, when you realise that it's probably the second biggest watched game around the world. And people ask you, what's the biggest crowd you play in front of? And you go, I had 80 ,000 at Saint-Denis, I had 80 ,000 at Wembley. and you talk about this and you go, hold on, no, no, no, I'll tell a lie there. I'd actually about four or five billion when we'd done the World Cup game and you're like, oh my God, yeah, I never thought of that because I don't think you think of the TV things.

43:11I think you're just, you're so hit up with what you've got in front of you but, you know, it's the biggest crowd you'll ever play in front of and, you know, for me, I've been over to Brazil and they hadn't a clue who I was until I showed them my goal against Barcelona. And when I showed them my goal against Barcelona, they knew who I was and they went, oh, you played in the 98 World Cup. I went, well, yeah. So it's kind of surreal how people around the world remember you for different things. When you have a game of that magnitude, as Roddy pointed out, being the opening game of the whole tournament, being against Brazil, one of the really lovely things about football is it brings the kid out in everybody, even in some of the biggest celebrities in the whole world who were desperate to get into the dressing room, Kevin?

44:01Oh, we had Sean Connery, Billy Connery. I mean, unfortunately, security wouldn't let them in. You know, they're at the game. And just to even hear that they were there was surreal as well. But, you know, you wouldn't want them coming in and actually watching us warm up because we weren't allowed out in the pitch to warm up either. So if they'd have come in, they'd have seen us in this room warming up. and they're just seeing a Jim Layton doing goalkeeping stuff with his underpants on. So I don't think they'd actually really wanted to see things like that. So it was probably good that the security kept them out, but it's brilliant for us as a player to know that these people and these top, top celebrities wanted to be a big part of it and you were going out to entertain these people.

44:45It was just kind of added to the butterflies that you have in your stomach getting ready and preparing. Of course, it's not just the kind of celebrity fans who come along and are trying to gatecrash into the warm-ups. It's about the Tartan army. And Pat was saying there, when it's the opening game, you maybe don't get really quite the numbers that you would do because they all go off to various dignitaries and they get a lot of the tickets. But the Tartan army, because you were there in France in 98, they could come over in absolute droves. Well, they did as well. I think they took over all the campsites going towards Paris, in and around Paris everywhere you went even down as far as we were in Saint-Rémy people were camping and people were plotting the route as well and we had to do that as players as well for the families our families all wanted to go my family went over we had a chateau just outside Paris basically I got all the family and friends and they all came over there and basically and then they commuted from there they had a hotel in Bordeaux and then went down to Saint-Etienne and then drove all the way back up again.

45:53So they had good fun of it. I was quite lucky that I could actually, when I finished the campaign, I could come home and, and this is kind of weird talking on the phone nowadays because I can watch the VHS, as we know, as the old school. I could put the video back on of them in the chateau playing tennis over the top of the chateau. They're enjoying themselves while we're actually ready to go out and play in one of the biggest competitions in the world. And it kind of, it was brilliant trying to match them together. Kevin, I wonder if you know you were talking about Sean Connery and Billy Connolly being refused entry by security, but I wonder if you know that back in the 70s when that famous England-Scotland game happened at Wembley and the posts were dismantled after it, Ali McLeod tried to get back to the Scottish dressing room after it and security wouldn't let him in.

46:40And when he eventually got in, the Tartan army was in the bath. True story. Oh, brilliant. How very Ali McLeod. That was in 77, wasn't it? Yes, yes. Yeah, well, I think my brother brought a bit of tough back, unfortunately. I don't know if I'm allowed to mention that. But he got tough from the Wembley that day as well. So I think that was mum and dad's back garden back in play bank. That's the holy ground, they call it. Yeah, grow a hold on from it. Listen, Kevin, just talking about the games themselves, obviously we've touched on the Brazil game. There was that John Collins penalty, the equaliser, and maybe Scotland were going to get something from it.

47:16and then, well, it is an own goal technically, but as Pat said earlier, it feels quite harsh. A draw against Norway and then that defeat by Morocco. So at the end of all of that, as you're getting ready to come home, how were the squad feeling? How were you feeling? Oh, that was dejection. It was horrible. The Morocco game was a disaster in every manner. For the preparation that everybody, all the guys, the staff had put in for that game and we knew that there's a possibility that Norway's not going to go anywhere near and beat Brazil. That was the initial thinking. So there's a possibility we could beat Morocco and be the first national side to qualify through the group stage.

48:03So I think that side of it lent a bit heavy on us and we went out there thinking that Morocco was going to be easy. But we'd watched them on videos, we'd done all the preparation, apart from the preparation on the grass and I don't think we can hold our heads up and I think we let ourselves down and we knew that and it was disappointment and we knew we had to come back to it and we knew we were going to come back to a bit of stick but it's one of those things you go and represent your country try and do it the best you can and if you don't succeed you're going to get that little bit of stick and it comes part and parcel with the job and we had to take it and then move on because we're all at different football clubs and we've got to do a job at that as well.

48:46So it was pretty difficult. But as I said, I was fortunate I could go back and I could put a VHS on. I could see my family and my friends all enjoying ourselves. Kevin, listen, I know you look back on those memories so fondly and kind of get that VHS out and look back on the images. So thank you so much for sharing them with us. Oh, no, it's been a massive pleasure because it's great to always go backwards and remember these things. and it was a big thing back in the days. It's nice that 20 years later, someone else now can take responsibility. Yeah, exactly. Kevin, thank you so much for joining us.

49:21Thanks very much, guys. See you, Kevin. Thank you, Kevin. Thanks, Kevin. Now, look, we've got there eventually. You cannot have a tournament without a Scotland World Cup song and there have been bangers over the years. We support the boys in blue and it's easy, easy. We are going to follow you and it's easy, easy. We're on the box, we always have a game. We're going to the Argentina. And we'll really shake them up when we win the World Cup. Because Scott won the greatest football team. Have a dream If dreams come true If dreams come true Then body's Scotland Then body's Scotland I will play for you

50:24We're taking a big trip to Mexico The World Cup is waiting We're set to go We reach the finals More in a row Stand up Scotland Here we go So say if we cry The lions shall roll in the sun Say if we cry Our hearts will be beating as one Just don't come home too soon Just don't come home too soon Oh yes sir, I can boogie But I need a certain song I can boogie, boogie, boogie All night long This is Scotland Where everybody knows you start with nothing This is Scotland Where you can join an army that's for peace We love football And Florida is coming to Miami We love Haiti Up against the rock, go in the heat That was a musical tour of Scotland's World Cup appearances.

52:00The first one was Easy Easy from 1974, recorded by the Scotland football team. You might have guessed that by the quality of the singing. The last one, much better performed. That was Belle and Sebastian, written for this World Cup, called It Only Takes One Lion. Now, Stuart Murdoch, who's the lead singer, is currently on tour with Belle and Sebastian, so they're a bit busy, but he's still managed to find time to leave us a message. Hi Pat, hi Roddy, hi Kelly. I feel like the BBC's correspondent in Miami. That's where I am today and this is where Scotland will be to play Brazil. And it is hot but it's not crazy hot.

52:37I always worry about the Scottish team getting overheated but maybe they'll get an overcast day. So my band, Belle and Sebastian, we are on a tour all around North America. We started in Mexico. We're going up to Canada. We're going all around the USA. And in fact, we'll be playing our last gig in Seattle on the night that Scotland play Haiti back in Boston. So why did I want to do a World Cup song? I didn't plan to do a World Cup song. After the 4-2 game with Denmark, I woke up the next day with a tune in my head. this is the way it works. I just had a tune in my head and the feeling that I needed to write about my experiences of following Scotland.

53:23I sort of poured that experience into the song. I remember there's a line in the song that says, I remember the squad and I don't think it's odd that I can see all their faces. Because when I was little, I used to memorise the squad, all 21 players that were going to the World Cup, that's how many they used to take. I used to memorise them and it was super important to me and I can still see all their faces on the sort of team sheet. And I also fantasise like any 10 year old would be, well many of us fantasise about being in the team when you grew up and going to all these amazing places. There's a line that gets repeated in the song, Mount Florida is coming to Miami.

54:07And Mount Florida is the area of Glasgow that has the famous Hamden Park. So that is a convenient line. It feels like the whole of Mount Florida will be coming to Miami to see Scotland play Brazil. So and in the song, I also give Haiti and Brazil and Morocco a good shout out. that's the teams that are in our group because after the 4-2 game we're just really happy to be here we're just really happy to be part of the World Festival of Football alright, bye guys have a great World Cup and I'll see you soon So good to hear from Stuart Merrick there from Bell and Sebastian who have put together Scotland's World Cup song Well, I have to say I'm delighted one of my favourite bands anyway can I tell you a story about Stuart?

54:56I played in a midfield once and it was Colin McIntyre who's a more historical society Stuart Murdoch and myself and that's my favourite midfield I've ever played in just because of Muscles kind of thing it's a great track not all of them are absolutely brilliant tracks that we've had but we've got so many now before the game it's a party and there's so many songs because it's the official ones and then there's the sort of soundtrack and the goal celebration music and obviously Bakara and Yes Sir I Can Boogie has become the most recent of them that is a product of a stag do and it's just a long long history.

55:33You have to go and look that one up if you don't know the story. It's a long long history of musical celebrations. Alison Walker who used to be, who was the first female reporter to report on football in BBC Scotland has also written one and her granddaughter's primary school recorded it last week and it's just such fun. Oh that is lovely so we'll go and look that one up as well. One of the ones that we heard a little earlier, and as you said, there's so many great bands that have recorded, so many great artists that have recorded for Scotland. Della Maitri was the, they were the band who had the World Cup song in 1998.

56:07That one you will have heard called Don't Come Home Too Soon, and their lead singer Justin Curry joins us now. Listen, Justin, it is an absolutely iconic World Cup song, and part of, a large part of the reason for that is, it wasn't full of bravado and and, you know, thinking that we're better than everyone else. It was a much more measured take on a World Cup song. Why was that? Well, you say measured, other people would say modelling. Which side of the line are you on, Justin? Well, I'm not sure. I try to avoid that being the official World Cup song because I wrote the song after coming back from the game against San Marino when Scotland was qualified and I wrote it to be a kind of song about the Scotland football team.

56:51that I thought Americans would think was about sending your niece over to America to make her total fame and fortune. And then it kind of got dragged into officialdom, much to my eternal regret. And as soon as it became the official song, the entire country seemed to be 50-50 with people who hated it and would cross the street to tell me such and people who loved it. So, yes, I kind of regret getting involved in the whole shenanigans of being the official song. But I'm still proud of the song. How do people react to it now? Is it still one of the most requested? Oh, no, God, no. I mean, we're touring the States around about, you know, the first couple of Scotland games, and I don't know whether the audience will expect us to play it or not.

57:34I mean, that song was designed to work if we qualified from the opening group, which obviously we haven't done so far. Seems to me this time the chances are pretty high we will qualify. So I would sing it after we qualified. I'm not sure if I would sing it before we qualified. Here's some bad news for you, Justin. that tune will be played at one of your gigs because I'm DJing do you know what I'll stand up and mime along to it you knew that Stuart Murdoch had such a good radio voice oh he's brilliant oh you should see somebody he posts it he puts online he's absolutely fantastic and he's a fine player he's a fantastic football player Stuart Murdoch I still have a beef with him playing a 7th S8s game when I was in goals and I knew he was going to chip me and a 7th S8 goal you're taller than the crossbar and he chipped me and I knew he was going to do it and I went sealed over my left hand and went in the top left corner I still hate him for it I'm just delighted that Dylan Maitre doing it I mean I bought the first album you probably know this Justin I bought the first album it was very jangly at the time isn't it and it's kind of very jangly very indie just down my street at the time but the fact that we've got some of real Scottish bands doing it I am so delighted with as opposed to a more plasticky version of it so I'm delighted with that you might not feel so good about it but I always felt good about that song Pat I just want to ask you about what your involvement is with Justin over the World Cup a couple of times I've done some DJ stuff over back in Germany we did some stuff for a party there as well Dylan Mitchell got in touch and said do you want to DJ and I'm saying try and stop me because it's going to be a great night and a great party and really looking forward to meeting up there.

59:21It'll be great. And you've timed it well, Justin, to make sure the band's playing in Boston the night before the game. Exactly. Yes, I look forward to listening to your set, Pat, because I think we share a lot of the same taste in music, so that'll be a delight for me. Can I just say something to you? As one person who has Parkinson's disease to another, I want to say to you how much of an inspiration you are, keeping going on as you always did. That's the best advice I can ever give to MDLs when they ask me if I have anything to say. and so I just want to say thank you for setting that example.

59:52Thank you, and you know, it's not the end, it's the beginning. Let's hope so. Oh, Justin, really appreciate your time. Thanks, Justin. See you in Boston. Thank you. Let's go round the table here. What's your favourite Scotland song then? B.A. Robertson. Really? Yeah, I love it. I wasn't going for that with you. Yeah, I love it. We have a dream we're talking about. Yeah, yeah, yeah. What's your favourite bit of it? Well, I know your favourite bit is the commentary, isn't it? That's the bit where he has the dream and he sees Scotland get a penalty and Johnny Robertson has the ball and he's going to take it, but he hands it to me.

1:00:24Go on, yourself, big man. I love that. It's so good. I thought you'd go for Caledonia. I love Caledonia, but it's not an official one though, is it? Yeah, that didn't say official. Oh, OK. Well, I do love Caledonia and I'll be honest, I do love a bit of yes sir, I can boogie. What's yours, Pat? Actually, I love the original purple tank they're kind of go lessy oh you're in it and I actually am in the video of it so I actually got into the video and then get dropped for the actual World Cup itself mixed blessing Roddy and Pat thank you so much for your company taking us through that sort of potted history of Scotland and World Cup's past and what we have to look forward to in the summer of 2026 this is the Football Daily Podcast with Kelly Kitts.

1:01:15The 2023 Ballon d 'Or France footballer is Lionel Messi. The winner is Cristiano Ronaldo. This is the story of the greatest rivalry in the history of sport. A rivalry that split football into two fates for a generation. There could be no, oh, Messi and Ronaldo are both great players. There had to be one that was better. They 100 million percent pushed each other to the next level. You know, we were the lucky ones who got to see it. I'm Steve Crossman. This is Sporting Giants Messi v Ronaldo. Listen first on BBC Sounds. Take the leash off your laptop with the processor that gives you long battery life.

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