Top 10 Scotland Goals at the World Cup

Scotland return to the World Cup in the small hours of tonight for the first time in 28 years against Haiti. The Tartan Army have gone a generation without seeing their side add to the 25 goals scored in World Cup Finals, with the last of these coming Craig Burley in a 1-1 draw with Norway in 1998. But having qualified with the help of a gravity-defying Scott McTominay overhead kick, a Kieran Tierney strike that curled as quick as an F1 motor, and Kenny McLean’s effort that travelled half the length of Hampden, there is every chance this squad breaks into this list of top ten goals scored by the Scottish national team at World Cup Finals. 10. Graeme Souness vs Soviet Union, 1982 Scotland captain Graeme Souness scored his first goal for the national side in a 2-2 draw with the Soviet Union in Espana ’82. He picks up the ball 40 yards from goal, drives forward and jinks past one Soviet defender, before drilling the ball accurately into the bottom left corner from outside the box. 9. John Wark vs New Zealand, 1982 In the opening game of the aforementioned 1982 campaign, John Wark netted twice in as many minutes as Scotland thrashed New Zealand 5-2. This entry is Wark’s second of the match, as he met Gordon Strachan’s floated cross with a powerful diving header to help give Scotland lift-off in Malaga. 8. Craig Burley vs Norway, 1998 The final goal, as of yet, to be scored at the World Cup from a Scotland player. Former Chelsea and Celtic midfielder Craig Burley chased a ball over the top and delicately lobbed the ball into the Norway net to bag what was the final goal of a 1-1 draw. The group in France was also made up with this year’s opponents Morocco and Brazil. 7. Peter Lorimer vs Zaire, 1974 Scotland kicked off the 1974 tournament with a 2-0 win over Zaire (now D.R Congo) in a campaign they ended unbeaten but would not progress in because of goal difference. Joe Jordan headed the ball to Peter Lorimer at the edge of the penalty area, who caught it on the volley and found the top right corner to give Scotland the opener. 6. John Robertson vs New Zealand, 1982 From the same game as Wark’s header, Nottingham Forest legend John Robertson ended hopes of a New Zealand comeback with a free-kick just outside the box, curled excellently into the top left to give Scotland a 4-2 lead, before Steve Archibald completed the rout later on. 5. Kenny Dalglish vs Netherlands, 1978 It was about time the record goalscorer made this list. Kenny Dalglish contributed to a very famous win over Holland in ’78. Joe Jordan leaped up to put the ball across the penalty box much like he did four years prior, and King Kenny was unmarked, unleashing a rocket of a half-volley beyond the Dutch goalkeeper high into the right of the goal. 4. Kenny Dalglish vs New Zealand, 1982 When you score as many goals for Scotland as the King has, you run the risk of making this list twice. However, a lot of this goal’s value is down to the assist from Strachan. The former Scotland gaffer used his blistering pace to teleport into the box, before passing to Dalglish who lifted it in the goal on the slide just at the corner of the six-yard box. 3. Gordon Strachan vs West Germany, 1986 And the winger never just set them up, he could score them as well. He evaded the German backline and got onto the end of a through ball from Roy Aitken, hitting it first time across the goal into the top left to give Scotland a lead against West Germany for all of five minutes, before succumbing to an eventual 2-1 defeat. 2. David Narey vs Brazil, 1982 Another famous opener in an eventual defeat, coincidentally scored 18 minutes in like Strachan’s vs West Germany, Dundee United hero David Narey gave Scotland the lead with a stunning attempt from Narey from outside the box. He picks the ball up narrowly with his left foot, then fires it like a missile with his right into the same side of the net, before the Brazilians found their rhythm and won 4-1. 1. Archie Gemmill vs Netherlands, 1978 Arguably the most iconic Scotland goal until that night against Denmark in November, but without a doubt the most iconic Scottish goal at the World Cup. Archie Gemmill scored his second in a famous 3-2 win, picking the ball up on the right flank, skipping passed three Dutch defenders with ease, and lifting the ball so calmly over the despairing Netherlands goalkeeper to write his name in Scottish World Cup history.