From the archives: Scotland 1 - 0 Italy: Baxter-Greig move smashes Italy's padlock defence

What a triumph this was for Jock Stein, the man who devised the team and inspired the men. The great Hampden crowd of 100,000 acclaimed it when they demanded a lap of honour. The team appeared soberly and with dignity, and acknowledged the applause and thanks of the crowd on the centre circle. Jock Stein promised a hardworking team, and in truth this was all that. They hammered the sophisticated Italians into deep defence for almost all of the exciting 90 minutes. It was hard, solid attacking. Against such attacking fury the Italians set the dreaded Catennacio - the padlock defence with six men guarding the penalty area. The right-winger Lodetti never appeared on the No 7 beat, and he was set deep in defence. Provan thus was left clear with no man to mark, and made good use of his freedom by racing into attack. Provan was an astonishingly good back - so, too, was Greig, who played as if he had been brought up in the position, but then from goal out to the strikers it was a satisfying team. And ahead of them was the old Baxter, weaving and making position subtly, and alongside him Murdoch, and the new Bremner, making a spectacular international debut and surely in the team for a long time. Out to Henderson and Hughes they sent the ball and right nobly did they use it, and never has a Hampden goal been so hammered, but there was a softness and lack of sharpness around the striking position, for Gilzean and Martin could not break clear, and so the winner took so long to come. But above all it was a victory won by disciplined teamwork, a victory planned in the short term at Largs, a victory where every warrior was a hero. Italy had players of class and precision, but they were not allowed to develop the sophisticated moves that were always just around the corner. This Scotland were there to do a job, and no part of that was to allow Italy to break free. And now the straight proposition is to win again in Italy on December 7, to qualify for the World Cup final - a draw would earn Scotland a play-off. It is a task within the scope of this new "one for all and all for one" Scotland. McKinnon, the centre half, was hit on the face by the goalkeeper's boot in an incident during which both were injured and later he had to have two stitches put in a cut above his right eye, The start was as exciting as the scramble for pennies at a wedding. Scotland went rushing for a goal and Hughes galloped away, obviously in the mood.Baxter stroked the ball and he, too, was in form. Scotland, to their credit, were having a go and the crowd got in behind them with noisy encouragement. The pattern was set and it was seen Bremner was marking the suave Rivera, the Italian creative artist. Baxter was operating in an attacking sense in midfield and doing the job with all the old panache. In the first few minutes, two chances were made in front of Negri, but both fell to Martin and he was operating behind the pace of the attacks and the chances were lost. But it was not a clinical Scotland attack. It was like the charge of the clans skilfully directed from behind and soundly turned to the flanks, where Henderson and Hughes took it up. It was stirring exciting stuff. In the heat of it Facchetti was so disturbed that he headed backwards a cross from Martin and was fortunate to see the ball bounce off the crossbar for a corner. In the first half-hour Italy were crushed relentlessly back into defence and their attacking raids were few but, it must be said, menacing. There was a scare on the half-hour when Mazzola headed from far out and Brown slipped when going for the ball. He was glad to see it carry over the bar. That settled Italy and they built up their first attack in depth. It was smooth and cool as ice-cream and only broke down when Greig headed the finishing shot off the line with Brown beaten. But soon Scotland were back driving the ball into the middle relentlessly and persistently, giving Martin and Gilzean a chance with their heads and even Provan was up swinging the ball over and swinging was the operative words (sic]. As had been promised it was a hard-working attacking Scotland and they deserved a break. There was a thrill when a great long pass from Greig left Salvadore slipping and Martin and Facchetti raced for the ball in the clear. The Scot got his shot in but with only a half touch on the ball and it went harmlessly into the side net. It had been a great Scottish first half, one in which with any luck at all they would have led. Any fears that Scotland had spent themselves in the first half were soon shattered after half-time. The pressure was screwed on to the set defence the Italians presented and all hands poured into the job of breaking the wall. Gilzean missed a great chance when Baxter found an open space for the ball, and there were few of them, but for 12 minutes it was slam, slam, slam - great exciting stuff, but fruitless. These Italian masters of defence were not to be disturbed. And then Italy did at last break clear and Brown dived to save brilliantly from Mazzola, and Barison had a long shot and Brown was troubled, for he was limping badly. He had had his right knee heavily bandaged at the interval. And so it went on, a great, exciting, hard but sporting spectacle, with Scotland needing just one wee break to go ahead. Everywhere the cylinders were sparking furiously, except in the striking position.Gilzean and Martin could not break clear. Italy, harassed and troubled in defence, became even coarser in the rear, and there were calls for penalties as they were forced into obstructions and indiscretions. What a pounding they were taking. As the minutes tolled away it seemed a break would never come, and then with little more than 100 seconds to go Baxter floated through the middle, swerved the ball round the centre half, and Greig charged on to it and hammered a thundering shot past Negri. Scotland had done it at last. Scotland: Brown (Tottenham), Greig (Rangers), Provan (Rangers), Murdoch (Celtic), McKinnon (Rangers), Baxter (Sunderland), Henderson (Rangers), Bremner (Leeds), Gilzean (Tottenham), Martin (Sunderland), Hughes (Celtic). Italy: Negri, Burgnich, Facchetti, Guarneri, Salvadore, Rosato, Lodetti, Bulgarelli, Mazzola, Rivera, Barison. Referee: R Kreitlein (West Germany). Attendance: 101,293