NAREY TALE ENDING
DARTS WORLD CUP IN FRANKFURT
GARY ANDERSON hopes to emulate David Narey by putting Brazil on the rack at the World Cup – but he’s determined to also get the job done.
The Scottish star and partner Peter Wright go in against Samba slingers Diogo Portela and Bruno Rangel today gunning for a spot in the last-eight of the showpiece in Frankfurt.
Anderson admits the sight of the yellow shirts facing the Dark Blues will evoke memories of famous football matches.
The Musselburgh marksman was just a schoolboy when Narey struck his fantastic goal at the 1982 World Cup.
Anderson has vague recollections of that moment 36 years ago but while the Scots crashed 4-1 that night he expects to get the job done.
He said: “When it turned out that BY CRAIG SWAN Scotland were qualified to play Brazil in the World Cup, a couple of folk spoke to me about old games that have taken place in the football.
“I’m not really a big football man but my dad loved it and I’m sure I would have been there watching that game in the house when the teams played in the World Cup in Spain.
“It has been said Narey’s goal was one of the greatest toe-pokes in the history of the competition.
“It was a great goal right enough but I don’t think I’ll be allowed to toe-poke a dart into the board. “It’s not as if I can aim for the topright hand corner of the double 20 like Narey did with the top righthand corner of the goals. But I’ll just be happy enough to win the game no matter how it’s done.
“Anyway, his goal upset them because they ended coming back and battering us 4-1. So I don’t want that to happen.”
Scotland are fancied for a huge run in the tournament and managed to negotiate their first-round game against United States without any real worries.
But Anderson said: “I don’t think we played that well against America. Not as good as we’d like. It was a bit annoying because I was hammering everything on the practice board before we went on stage.
“Even the Americans were saying it was looking dodgy for them but it was roasting on the stage and I never felt I got going.
“Pairs can be horrible to play. There was a couple of times I went up to throw but it wasn’t my turn and I felt like a right eejit.
“But it’s not a complaint. That’s the format and you have to adjust. I’m sure we’ll be better when it gets to the singles matches and later into the event but we have to deal with what is happening now and the Brazil game is all that matters.”
The Brazilians are big underdogs, but proved in their opening-round win over Denmark they are not to be taken lightly.
Portela said: “It’s a great feeling to be in this position. I’m so happy as we’re all part of one big family.
“I’ve known Bruno for a lot of years and he used to play darts with my dad so to bring both families together here is a dream. The party has started and I hope it can continue in the next round.
“We’ve got through the first round for two years now and we’re showing there are good players in Brazil.
“It’s lovely to represent your country against the best in the world. It’s a dream come true.
“It was brilliant to get the win against Denmark but now we have to focus on the next round and Scotland.”
GARY ANDERSON