Belgium v Scotland: Past meetings

Published on Tuesday 16 October 2012 00:24

Belgium 2 Scotland 0 - World Cup qualifier - 5 September, 2001: Scotland’s 2002 World Cup hopes were dashed in the space of four days when a 2-0 defeat in Belgium followed a goalless draw against Croatia at Hampden.

Around 12,000 Scotland supporters travelled to the King Baudouin Stadium to see an experienced side who had arrived unbeaten in nine away matches. However, Nico van Kerckhoven gave Belgium the lead in the 28th minute and Scotland struggled to respond and Bart Goor scored in injury time to seal the Belgian win.

Belgium 4 Scotland 1 European Championship qualifier 1 April, 1987

There was no joking after this April Fools’ Day defeat for Scotland which came courtesy of a Nico Claesen hat-trick. The Scots had four players from Dundee United and three from Aberdeen in the starting XI and it had looked encouraging at the interval after Celtic midfielder Paul McStay’s header had cancelled out the Tottenham striker’s early effort. However, the Scots came unstuck after the break. The clinical Claesen scored either side of Frank Vercauteren’s goal to send them packing.

Belgium 3 Scotland 2 European Championship qualifier 15 December, 1982

Scotland’s defeat in the Heysel Stadium is probably best remembered for Kenny Dalglish’s spectacular solo second goal which gave the visitors the lead for the second time in the first half. In an entertaining encounter, his fine first strike came when he linked up with Steve Archibald but that was cancelled out by Erwin Vandenbergh. The Belgians fought back again after Dalglish’s moment of magic and Franky van der Elst helped himself to a double to take the points.

Belgium 2 Scotland 0 European Championship qualifier 21 November, 1979

Jock Stein’s side included stars such as Alan Hansen, Dalglish, Graeme Souness and Joe Jordan but they got off to the worst possible start when striker Van der Elst gave Belgium the lead with only six minutes played. The Scots were similarly slow off the mark at the start of the second half and midfielder Eddy Voordeckers grabbed the second in the 47th minute. Guy Thys’ talented side went on to lose the final to West Germany the following year.

Belgium 3 Scotland 0 European Championship qualifier February 3, 1971

Archie Gemmill made his debut for Scotland in this qualifier at the Stade Sclessin in Liege but it ended in some disappointment for Bobby Brown’s men. An own goal by Rangers defender Ronnie McKinnon gave the home side the interval lead. Belgian skipper Paul van Himst shone brightly and he doubled the home side’s lead ten minutes into the second half with a curling free-kick before grabbing his second with a late penalty.

Taken from the Scotsman