Five unlikely heroes from previous England versus Scotland matches
From Rickie Lambert’s dream debut in 2013 to Richard’s Gough’s looping header 36 YEARS AGO – as England face Scotland in Group D at Euro 2020 we look back at five unlikely heroes in the past between the ‘Auld Enemies’
- England face Scotland at Wembley on Friday in their Euro 2020 Group D clash
- The oldest international fixture has thrown up some unlikely heroes before
- Sportsmail looks back at five surprising matchwinners in this historic fixture
- Find out the latest Euro 2020 news including fixtures, live action and results here
When you trawl back through those who have scored ‘winning goals’ in Auld Enemy clashes, it throws up some unlikely heroes.
Here are five players who stole the headlines…
Rickie Lambert – England 3-2 Scotland, 2013
Perhaps the greatest story of them all, 31-year-old Lambert scoring with his first touch on his England debut to settle a hugely entertaining friendly match, just days after the birth of his third child.
The former beetroot-factory worker had been on the pitch for less than three minutes when he met Leighton Baines’ out-swinging corner and dispatched a thumping header from 12 yards.
He went to the World Cup in Brazil the following year, but nothing ever matched his fairytale debut.
Rickie Lambert (centre) rose highest to head home England’s winner against Scotland in 2013
This was Scotland’s last victory in the fixture and arrived courtesy of Hutchison’s towering header six minutes before half-time. As he told Sportsmail this week: ‘I somehow jumped and hung eight feet in the air!’.
It was bittersweet, though, because England’s 2-0 victory at Hampden Park four days earlier meant it was they who progressed to Euro 2000.
Not that Hutchison has been deterred from enjoying his moment of glory.
Don Hutchison was Scotland’s last matchwinner against England and that was back in 1999
Richard Gough – Scotland 1-0 England, 1985
Switched to Hampden Park amid fears of a Tartan Army invasion of London on a Bank Holiday weekend, this inaugural match of the short-lived Rous Cup featured an incredible 34 attempts on goal.
But only one of them went in – and that was from Gough, the Dundee United right-back who climbed highest in the 68th minute to loop his header beyond Peter Shilton.
Gough won a move to Spurs a year later.
Richard Gough’s (top right) looping header saw Scotland beat England in the 1985 Rous Cup
Paul Mariner – Scotland 0-1 England, 1982
In the deciding fixture of the Home Championship – and 100th meeting between the nations – this was billed as Kenny Dalglish versus Kevin Keegan.
But it was Ipswich striker Mariner who emerged as the hero with a brave header in the 13th minute, beating the fist of goalkeeper Alan Rough to a loose ball after Terry Butcher’s header had come back off the crossbar.
Mariner went to the World Cup in Spain that summer and started all five matches, scoring once, as England were eliminated at the second-group phase.
Paul Mariner (No 9) watches on as his header goes into the back of the net for England in 1982
Steve Coppell – Scotland 0-1 England, 1978
Scotland were heading to the World Cup in Argentina the following month with manager Ally MacLeod proclaiming they could win it.
But they were brought back down to earth as England clinched the Home Championship when Manchester United winger Coppell netted a hotly-disputed winner seven minutes from time.
The Scots claimed Trevor Francis had fouled Rough before Coppell pounced to convert with a tidy half-volley.
Watching it back now, Rough was too soft.
Steve Coppell (right) wheels away in celebration after scoring at Hampden Park in 1978
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