Popular ESPN duo Craig Burley and Steve Nicol have reacted to Scotland's 3-0 defeat against Brazil, after a sobering evening in Miami.
Steve Clarke's side faces an anxious wait to see if they will qualify as one of the best-placed third-place teams, a reality which the national team boss has admitted looks unlikely.
“We’re just rewarding complete mediocrity here. They don’t really deserve to go through, if we’re being honest.” @craigburley on Scotland’s chances to advance to the knockout stage after finishing 3rd in Group C ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/5jwfcDCX0C
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 25, 2026
Speaking on ESPN FC following the match, ex-internationals Burley and Nicol could not hide their disappointment. "I have no problem with Scotland going out or any other team that's down there because I'm sorry... I know this is the way the bracket works with the 48 teams, but we’re just rewarding complete mediocrity here," Burley said.
"They don’t really deserve to go through, if we’re being honest. I don't think they will, barring getting lucky. In fact, if they do go through, I think it's just going to continue the embarrassment of looking at what Scotland are.
"It's kind of second-rate, isn't it? They just don't have the players of yesteryear. They've got a couple. I'm not just talking about the team I played with, and they had some very good players. If they go through, fine. But there should be no celebration if this is the first-ever Scotland team to qualify for the group stage, because it's just really by default.
"They might do, but they haven't got much leeway because they are sixth of eight. And I think the likelihood is they get knocked out."
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Nicol added, "If you take Scotland's name away, just the quality that that group of players has, whether it's Scotland or anybody else, shouldn't be going forward in a World Cup.
"A World Cup is supposed to be the elite. It's the medal that every single player wants to win more than any other, regardless of what country you play in.
"And it's been devalued when there are certain terms who are going to be going through who just don't deserve to be there."
