Billy Bremner is there to win, 1974: Leeds at the World Cup

In summer 1974, Billy Bremner was a league champion, 31 years old, captain of Scotland, tired, in West Germany, pissed off, and defiant. 

"I wouldn't be here in the first place unless I believed Scotland would win the World Cup," he told journalists, who were annoying him by insinuating the players were doing too much drinking and relaxing at their base in Frankfurt. If he wasn't there to win the World Cup, he told them, "I'd rather be sunning myself on the beaches in Majorca."

A few days later Scotland beat Zaire 2-0, while their next opponents, Brazil, drew 0-0 with Yugoslavia. The public thought Scotland could have run their score up further than the one each scored by Peter Lorimer and Joe Jordan, but Bremner was insisting that each game was going to be different. 

"I honestly believe we can beat Brazil," he said. "I believe it in my heart and my head, I have always thought Scotland were the team to do it." Scotland had come close in two of their recent meetings, Bremner said. In Rio, "We murdered them in all departments", but lost 1-0. Last summer, "they were tuned up after a long tour while we had been on holiday for three weeks," and that's why Scotland lost 1-0 then too. "I don't think they have really improved," he said. "They just can't replace Pelé."

Brazil were a strange looking entity at the start of the match in the Waldstadion, Frankfurt, when their first contribution was to take a short goal kick, backwards, out for a corner until the referee reprieved them with a retake. The referee, Arie van Gemert, was a strange looking entity himself, clad all in red with enormous white collar and cuffs on his long sleeved shirt. He was like a grandfather from another era to the enthusiastic ballboys in their all-red Adidas tracksuits, hurdling the hoardings to get the ball back into play.

But for twenty minutes Brazil were worth their canary shirts, blue shorts, white socks. A swerving shot by Piazza was a test of David Harvey in goal, and from the corner Leivinha hooked a volley off Harvey's fingertips and his bar. Then Brazil's passing movement dragged Scotland's defence out of shape and they got the ball behind Harvey, into the six yard box, but not into the goal: it was scrambled away.

Brazil were on top but without scoring a goal, and now abandoned their ascendence almost by will. And by hacking down Billy Bremner, a brutal foul by Piazza that left Scotland's captain on the floor clutching his ankle. Not for long. Soon he was up, and limping, and looking around for Piazza.