Gemmill or Gazza: Who scored the better goal? You decide

We’re currently in the middle of an international break so what better time to look back at two of the best goals scored in international football by England and Scotland and ask: Which was better, Archie Gemmill for Scotland against Holland or Paul Gascoigne for England against Scotland?

Both goals will live long in the memory for both countries. Gemmill’s was a mesmerising piece of skill that even Maradona would have been proud of while Gazza’s was ultimately the springboard which united a nation.

Archie Gemmill

The former Derby County and Nottingham Forest midfielder wrote himself in Scottish folklore when he scored ‘that’ goal against the Netherlands. Needing to beat the Dutch by three clear goals to progress to the next round, and already leading 2-1, Archie Gemmill picked the ball up near the right touchline, rode the challenge of one Dutch defender, cut inside another before slipping the ball past a third and found himself with only the goalie to beat. The wee man kept his composure to coolly lift the ball above the oncoming keeper to score a classic goal. It famously featured in the smash-hit movie Trainspotting when Renton, played by Ewan McGregor, climaxed after having sex by saying: “I haven’t felt that good since Archie Gemmill scored against Holland in 1978.”

Paul Gascoigne

Arguably one of the most talented players to come from these shores, Gazza lifted the nation in Euro 96 by scoring the winner against the Auld Enemy Scotland. David Seaman had just saved Gary McAllister’s spot-kick, which would have seen Scotland level the match 1-1. Seaman launched his goal kick into Scotland’s half which was superbly controlled by Teddy Sheringham, who played it out to Darren Anderton. Seeing Gazza making an advanced run, Anderton lifted the ball into his path. With Colin Hendry looking to stop Gascoigne in his tracks the then Glasgow Rangers player feinted to go down the line before lifting the ball over Hendry’s head, leaving the former Blackburn Rovers defender on his backside, and smashing the volley past his then team-mate Andy Goram.

Of course there are many top class goals scored by both countries down the year, like Michael Owen’s against Argentina, John Barnes’s against Brazil or James McFadden’s against France for example, but out of Gemmill and Gascoigne, two wonderfully gifted midfielders in their day, who scored the best goal? I’d love to hear from you.