FIFA World Cup 1974 Group 2

fifa world cup 1974 poster Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo) became the first team from sub-Saharan Africa to reach the World Cup finals while Scotland were the sole representative from the British Isles. All the matches that did not involve Zaire were drawn so qualification for the next round came down to the number of goals each team scored against the Africans. The Scottish team became the first to be eliminated from the finals without having lost a game.

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Brazil

Yugoslavia

Brazil 0 Yugoslavia 0

Waldstadion, Frankfurt (62,000)
13 June 1974

The world champions were without most of their stars from 1970 who had retired but were still a formidable side. Yugoslavia held them to a draw in the opening match.

Scotland

Zaire

Scotland 2 Zaire 0

Westfalenstadion, Dortmund (25,000)
14 June 1974

Peter Lorimer and Joe Jordan put Scotland two up before half-time but Scotland's inability to capitalise on their superiority would cost them a place in the next round.

Yugoslavia

Zaire

Yugoslavia 9 Zaire 0

Parkstadion, Gelsenkirchen (20,000)
18 June 1974

Yugoslavia hammered the hapless Leopards and equalled the record for a winning margin set by Hungary against South Korea in 1954.

Scotland

Brazil

Scotland 0 Brazil 0

Waldstadion, Frankfurt (50,000)
18 June 1974

Scotland equalled their achievement of eight years previously when they had drawn with Brazil in a warm-up game for the 1966 finals.

Scotland

Yugoslavia

Scotland 1 Yugoslavia 1

Waldstadion, Frankfurt (60,000)
22 June 1974

A win would see Scotland into the next round but with nine minutes to go they fell behind to a well-worked goal scored from close range by Karasi. With two minutes left, Scotland were pressing and the ball fell to Joe Jordan after bobbling across the edge of the six yard box where the big man squeezed it home but it was too late. Scotland went home proud and undefeated but smarting at how cruel the World Cup could be.

Brazil

Zaire

Brazil 3 Zaire 0

Parkstadion, Gelsenkirchen (35,000)
22 June 1974

The match is best remembered for a bizarre incident when, facing a free-kick 25-meters out, Mwepu Ilunga ran out of Zaire's defensive wall and hoofed the ball up field. Bemused commentators patronisingly put his actions down to naïvety and indiscipline but Ilunga later explained he was trying to get sent off as a protest against Zaire's football authorities who were allegedly withholding players' earnings.