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‘They were about 35!’ Paul Dickov on Saudi Arabia and playing a World Cup final with Scotland

The 1989 under 16 World Cup is remembered fondly by a generation of Scotland fans and the Manchester City icon also has great memories despite how it ended

By Douglas Dickie · Scottish Daily Express

Published: Saturday, 10 October 2026 at 7:42 AM

Key Things to Know

Paul Dickov reflected on Scotland's 1989 Under-16 World Cup final loss, joking Saudi Arabia's squad looked 35 years old.
Dickov scored and assisted during the final at Hampden Park before Scotland lost to Saudi Arabia on penalties.
Craig Brown's young Scotland squad advanced to the final following a 1-0 semi-final win against Portugal.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Former Scotland international Paul Dickov has reflected on reaching the final of the 1989 Under-16 World Cup on home soil, jokingly suggesting their Saudi Arabia opponents looked about 35 years old. The former Manchester City forward described playing in the prestigious tournament as a 15-year-old on home soil as a phenomenal experience despite the eventual heartbreak.

Managed by Craig Brown, Scotland reached the final at Hampden Park after defeating Portugal in the semi-finals. Scotland established a 2-0 lead in the final through Ian Downie and Dickov, but Saudi Arabia came back to tie the game before winning on penalty kicks.

Read the full article on Scottish Daily Express

‘They were about 35!’ Paul Dickov on Saudi Arabia and playing a World Cup final with Scotland

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