Ewan Murray’s report from Miami is in. Here it is. Congratulations to Brazil for topping Group C, and commiserations to Scotland … though fingers crossed, it’s not over quite yet, and you just never know. Thanks for reading this MBM.
Steve Clarke has calmed down and, more rueful this time, he’s back out for another word with the BBC. “You saw their quality in the final third … we didn’t have that tonight … we created some chances … but didn’t take them … let’s be honest, the best team won … the shift the players put in … outstanding … but we have to be better if we want to compete at this level … we were settling into the game all right and then we make a mistake like that … you can’t do that … it makes it a long night … for me, for sure, I think we’re going home … only Scotland can get a winnable first game and then get number five in the world and number six in the world as their next two games … that’s the level we’re at.”
A quick word with Matheus Cunha: “Our coach has given us confidence … the shirts wear heavy … so many idols … we try to convince everyone [we are worthy] to represent the shirt.”
Scotland captain Andrew Robertson’s interview with the BBC lasts a little longer than his manager’s. “Frustration … making mistakes … we started the game well … we were keeping the ball … pushed up the pitch … they put us in a false sense of security … we thought we had more time on the ball than we did … we got punished … then you have to try to fight back against a real quality team … in certain moments we let ourselves down … we couldn’t quite afford to do that … at times we were comfortable on the ball … got in dangerous areas … a couple of chances … at this stage against these teams we can’t afford to make these mistakes … it’s not good enough … frustrating but we’ve only got ourselves to blame.”
As for the upcoming interminable wait: “Time will tell… take a day or two to see … as a collective we didn’t want to put ourselves in a position of having to watch every game and hope for favours … if you ask me now, I don’t think it’s enough .. I don’t think we’ve done enough … time will tell, maybe I’ll be proved wrong and we’ll get another shot … I hope that’s the case … the next couple of days will be horrible and long … we have to deal with it.”
Post-match postbag. “Scotland weren’t all that bad. If not for some excellent keeping by Alisson they might have had two goals” – Zafar Sobhan
“You’ve got to hand it to Scotland. No matter what innovations Fifa make to the tournament rules, they’ll still find new ways to break your heart” – Justin Kavanagh
“Is that the manager? That’s like a director complaining that his funny actors didn’t make his rubbish jokes sound funny. And walking off is pathetic. You can be emotional and still stand up for your players, rather than look like a bloke who’s just lost his giro betting on them” – Chris Finnegan’s mum, as reported by Chris Finnegan
“Ancelotti has got Brazil playing like Real Madrid. If they get Raphinha back, a few cameos from Neymar, Carlo at the wheel, they’re contenders for sure” – Brendan Murphy
“Meanwhile, in the women’s World Cup, four Brazilian players have scored hat-tricks, but they’ve yet to win the trophy” – Kári Tulinius
“Ah, Jesus. There’s always 2054, eh?” – James Humphries
A very emotional Scotland boss Steve Clarke speaks to the BBC. “We made it difficult for ourselves … that’s it … we gave them the goals … we gave them the game they wanted … disappointing.”
He’s then asked about the upcoming wait to see whether Scotland will scrape through anyway. “Ah I was waiting … I don’t even think about that … sorry … I don’t even think about that.”
And then he’s off. Interview over.
John McGinn speaks to the BBC. “Gutted, obviously … lose more goals at poor times … against a team that can punish you … we had a few chances to get a goal ourselves … we have to wait now … we were short on quality but we gave it absolutely everything … the lads are empty … it’s unlikely now, I would say, but we’ll see … this is the top level and if you make mistakes, you get punished … we were probably fortunate with the goal that got disallowed … we have to be better … we need to wait and see … it’s a bit raw at the minute … we appreciate the support of the fans … we know how difficult it is to be here … hopefully the journey’s not over … if we’ve to go again, we go again.”
… those survival statistics quoted by the BBC, courtesy of Opta, have been updated. And at the moment, a team on three points with a minus-three goal difference is given a 42 percent chance of squeaking through to the knockouts via this third-place malarkey. Gotta say, that looks pretty generous given Scotland’s current position, but numbers were never my strong point, so let’s go with it. On the BBC, Kelly Cates says that Scotland might not know their fate until Algeria play Austria in the early hours of Sunday morning. As you wait, can you ration yourself to two fingernails a day?
1 Bosnia and Herzegovina 4pts (5-6) -1GD (three games played)
2 Sweden 3pts (6-6) 0GD (two games played)
3 Croatia 3pts (3-4) -1GD (two games)
4 Algeria 3pts (2-4) -2GD (two games) Team conduct -1
5 Paraguay 3pts (2-4) -2GD (two games) Team conduct -11
6 Scotland 3pts (1-2) -3GD (three games)
7 Cape Verde 2pts (2-2) 0GD (two games)
8 Belgium 2pts (1-1) 0GD (two games)
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9 Czechia 1pt (2-3) -1GD (two games)
10 DR Congo 1pt (1-2) -1GD (two games)
11 Ecuador 1pt (0-1) -1GD (two games)
12 Senegal 0pt (3-6) -3GD (two games)
Updated
A lovely moment as Scotland captain Andy Robertson embraces his (now former) Liverpool team-mate Alisson. They both wave at someone they know in the stand. Robertson then goes around the Brazilian team, congratulating them on an easy victory. Brazil were a class above, though Scotland didn’t help themselves with some egregious errors, ones to file away alongside Miller and Hansen in 1982 and Jim Leighton in 1990. The Scots line up to acknowledge the support of the Tartan Army, who will no doubt party tonight in Miami regardless. But after that, is the party over? Nobody knows yet, because …
Updated
FULL TIME: Scotland 0-3 Brazil
And that’s it. Scotland are on the precipice. But they’re not done for quite yet. An excruciating few days of hoping and praying stretch out ahead.
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90 min +6: So close to a consolation that would make so much difference to Scotland. But it wasn’t to be.
90 min +5: Ferguson sends the free kick into the mixer, earning a corner. He goes across to take it himself, from the left. Brazil don’t clear it. Ralston dribbles down the left and cuts back for McTominay, who tries to force the ball past Alisson, but the keeper spins to drop on the ball.
90 min +4: Brazil stroke the ball around. Then Martinelli faffs around and is stripped by Ferguson. He hauls him down with Scotland planning to break. A free kick, but strangely no booking. That’s neither here nor there for Scotland, though; can they make something of the set piece?
90 min +2: Scotland’s free kick is a waste of time. Vini Jr tries to counter, and release Neymar, but Ralston blocks. It’s 4-2 to Morocco versus Haiti, by the way.
Updated
90 min +1: Shankland is bowled over, 30 yards out. It’s a foul, and drawing it is his last act of the evening. He and McGinn are replaced by Curtis and Adams.
90 min: There will be six additional minutes.
89 min: A long cross into the Brazil box from the left. Ralston tries to volley home, but no McTominay he. Then the ball goes up the other end, and Christie is booked for a foul on Vini Jr. Nothing comes of the resulting free kick. “Another goal either way makes no difference,” writes Peter Roy. “Statistically it may be 60% of 40% based on other results to come, but it’s SCOTLAND, they could be 99% likely and everything would still conspire against them.”
88 min: Thinking about that Brazil hat-trick thing again. Put another way: they’ve won five World Cups since someone last scored one for them at a finals. Such a weird stat.
86 min: … Gabriel attempts to McTominay a spectacular volley goalwards. But it’s blocked.
85 min: What a difference a goal would make to Scotland. They’d still have a 66.8% chance of progressing with a two-goal loss. It’s just 49.2% as is. And if they concede another, it’d be only 38.7%. And now Vini Jr has won a corner down the left, from which …
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83 min: Fabinho is booked for skittling an in-flight McLean. The free kick leads to a short period of Scotland pressure that ends with Tierney clanking into a defender when attempting to volley goalwards.
82 min: Both teams make a double change. Sandro and Endrick come on for Rayan and Santos, while Ralston and Christie replace Gannon-Doak and Patterson.
81 min: Danilo crosses low from the right. Vini Jr meets at the far stick but sky-slices over the bar. Brazil getting closer and closer to a fourth; Vini Jr getting closer and closer to that elusive hat-trick.
79 min: Vini Jr zips in from the left and tries to surprise Gunn with a shot towards his near post. The keeper does well to turn around for a corner, from which nothing comes. Vini Jr wants that first Brazilain World Cup finals hat-trick since 1958!
78 min: Danilo arrives late on McGinn. He’s already booked, so from now on in will be severely testing the referee’s patience.
76 min: … and Shankland meets it, heading over. At which point, to wild cheers from those in the stand bedecked in yellow, Cunha makes way for the returning hero Neymar. Scotland have met this dude before.
Updated
75 min: Tierney barges down the left yet again, this time winning a corner off Rayan. Ferguson sends the set piece into a crowded box; Alisson comes through the crowd to punch powerfully clear. But Scotland come again, and McLean’s presence forces Fabinho into the concession of another corner. Ferguson to send it in from the left again.
73 min: Another fine Tierney cross from the left. He’s been Scotland’s best player since coming on. Shankland tries to spin and shoot on the left-hand edge of the six-yard box. He doesn’t connect properly but McTominay comes in behind to shovel a snapshot over the bar from close range.
71 min: We go again. “Is gifting them goals and then being run ragged by Brazil enough humiliation or is it worse that you’re a poor enough team that Ancelloti thinks that Neymar Jr could possibly have a run out?” wonders Nick Trim. Harsh but fair.
70 min: … and yes I know the lyric is about their lager and not the tinnies of Export. But the point, if there is one, stands.
68 min: … and that’s bevvies. McEwan’s according to this. Don’t tell Primal Scream and Irvine Welsh. They’ll have one of those Brahmas.
66 min: Brazil make a double change. Casemiro and Paqueta make way for Martinelli of Arsenal, and erstwhile Liverpool midfielder Fabinho.
64 min: … the ball’s worked right to left. Tierney crosses. McTominay heads. Alisson parries yet again. If nothing else, it can be said that Scotland have given it a good go in this second half. They’ve been found sadly wanting at the back, though.
63 min: Ferguson curls powerfully towards the top right. Alisson is forced to tip over and around the frame of his goal. And from the resulting corner …
62 min: Tierney one-twos with McGinn down the left and is scythed inches outside the Brazil box by Danilo, who goes into the book. Another inch infield, and that was a penalty. Just a free kick, which Ferguson will take.
GOAL! Scotland 0-3 Brazil (Cunha 60)
McLean is brushed off the ball by Guimaraes with absurd ease. He enters the box, draws Gunn, and lays off to Cunha on his right. Cunha passes into the bottom right, and Scotland’s World Cup coat is now hanging on a shoogly peg.
Updated
59 min: Brazil are after a third. Rayan has a shot blocked. The ball rebounds to Paqueta, who aims a curler towards the top right but sends the ball way off target.
58 min: That Brazil hat-trick stat is wild. And there are only two others scored in history! For the record, they were notched by Leônidas against Poland in 1938 and Ademir versus Sweden during their ill-fated 1950 final group campaign.
56 min: McLean barrels into the Brazil box from the right, chasing a Shankland flick. Gabriel brushes his back, so he goes over. But there’s not enough in that for a penalty. I mean, you’ve seen them given, but only to everyone’s spluttering disbelief. It would have been super-soft.
54 min: Vinicius Junior sends a screamer goalwards from the best part of 30 yards, out on the left. Gunn is behind it all the way. Vini Jr wants that hat-trick. He’d be the first Brazilian to bag one at a finals since Pelé in the 1958 semi against France!
53 min: Patterson drives into the Brazil box from the right and tumbles. He claims a penalty but there’s nothing doing.
52 min: Paqueta sends Vinicius Junior into space down the inside-left channel. The striker can’t poke the ball past Gunn, though, and that’s another fine intervention by the Scotland keeper.
Updated
51 min: That was better from Scotland, though. Realistically, they’ll not be winning this game. It’s almost as realistic to say they won’t get a draw. But if they can limit the damage to the goal difference … although … “Sell your house and everything in it and then place all the money on Scotland being the ninth best third-placed team,” writes Mick McCann with the supreme confidence of a man who knows history has his back.
49 min: Tierney crosses from the left. An inviting ball that McTominay rises to meet. He plants a header goalwards from ten yards … but it’s straight at Alisson, who claims without fuss.
Updated
47 min: Scotland haven’t earned a point at a World Cup finals after falling two goals behind since that aforementioned 2-2 draw with the USSR at Espana 82. This is the last time Scotland came from behind to win a World Cup finals match …
Brazil get the second half started. Tierney has replaced his captain Robertson.
Half-time postbag (featuring: Grief! Ennui! Repressed memories! Grudging acceptance! Depression! Gallows humour!) “At 64 years old, I thought I had counted all the ways that a Scotland team could induce heartache. Turns out there are more ways” – Colin Livingstone
“I’m in a hotel room in Guatemala city, and there’s 100 channels on the TV but I can only find the Morocco-Haiti game. From following your MBM I think that’s a good thing” – Kevin Watson
“I have a vivid memory of watching the 1982 version of the Scots in my neighbour’s kitchen in Kirkcaldy. The Scots had to get a result and threw goals at the USSR to pile on the challenge. They finally came to life (if my addled memory serves) in the final kicks of the match and lost 2-2. Yeah yeah ... that was a draw, but out they went (as always) on goal difference ... that’s a loss. Come on: play like you sing your wonderful anthem!” – Robi Polgar
“At this point we’ll take going out at the group stages with our dignity intact, but I’m sure we’ll Scotland that up too'” – Rose Hanley-Nickolls
“I omitted the part about the two of us (teenagers) BAWLING OUR EYES OUT in that kitchen that night. Scotland ... such a challenge” – Robi Polgar
“Well that went well. We’ll always have Dave Narey’s toe poke in 82 I suppose. And Buckfast” – Simon McMahon
“Brazil better watch out now, they’ve made us angry” – Colin Livingstone
Steven Naismith, Scotland’s assistant coach, speaks to the BBC: “It’s tough obviously … now the second game in a row we’ve lost an early goal … really difficult … they’ve shown their threat … we need to regroup … be better defensively but we need to carry a a threat … it’s similar to Morocco, we’ve not tested the goal and need to do that in the second half.”
A much more reserved version of the half-time rant delivered by his opposite number with England, Anthony Barry, against Croatia. But he’s not happy either.
Half-time entertainment. Because you want to experience all of that again, right? Erm.
Updated
HALF TIME: Scotland 0-2 Brazil
Oh Scotland. The architects of their own downfall, pt XXXVIII in an ongoing series.
45 min +6: Robertson sends a free kick into the Brazilian mixer from the left. It’s only half-cleared, and Shankland has a crack from the edge of the box. The shot is blocked, and Brazil counter a Scotland team light at the back. Rayan dinks the ball over the head of Robertson, and he’s one on one with Gunn … who sticks out a hand to stop a shot heading for the bottom right. That really would have been that.
45 min +4: Scotland had a couple of chances to clear the ball earlier in that Brazil attack. Once again, faffing around at the back has cost them dearly.
GOAL! Scotland 0-2 Brazil (Vinicius Junior 45+3)
… and it’s now 0-2 for Brazil. A cross floated in from the right by Gabriel. Gunn comes out to claim but misses it, and Vini Jr can’t miss with a header from a couple of yards.
Updated
45 min +3: Patterson has a grab at Vini Jr’s shirt and is pretty fortunate not to go into the book. Meanwhile it’s now 2-2 between Morocco and Haiti!
45 min +2: Gannon-Doak dribbles into the Brazil box from the left. He can’t decide whether to shoot or pass, and eventually falls over. Casemiro clears. Gannon-Doak claims a penalty, though his heart’s not really in the plea.
45 min +1: The first of six additional first-half minutes. What Scotland would do to hear the whistle now, get in, and regroup.
45 min: Vini Jr accellerates into the box down the right, reaching the byline and cutting back for Cunha, who tries to force home from a tight angle. Hendry hooks off the line, and while the ball nearly pings back off Gunn and in, it squeaks wide right. And nothing comes from the resulting corner.
44 min: Vini Jr runs into Gannon-Doak and falls over. He’s not happy about it. He wants a free kick, but isn’t getting one. The pair exchange words. In the meantime, Haiti retake the lead against Morocco with an absolute pearler: it’s 2-1. Not sure what this says about Scotland, given the first two results. There’s good and bad in everyone, perhaps?
42 min: Cunha strolls down the inside-left channel and, upon nearing the left-hand edge of the Scotland D, opens his body and aims a sidefoot towards the bottom right. Gunn is beaten all ends up again, but the ball flies harmlessly wide.
41 min: Morocco have equalised against Haiti: it’s 1-1. Not that any of this makes a jot of difference to Scotland. But it does to Brazil, who are still winning the group as things stand.
39 min: Time and space for McLean out on the left, with blue shirts in the middle … but he overhits it. Goal kick. Scotland are almost as jittery in attack as they are in defence.
38 min: Rayan rasps a shot over the bar from a tight angle on the right. Gunn wouldn’t have got to it, had it been on target.
37 min: Vinicius Junior dribbles hard down the left and reaches the byline, only for Patterson to whisk the ball off his toe at the last instance. Scotland look extremely uncomfortable every time the Vini Jr and Rayan run at them.
35 min: Rayan bustles his way down the inside-right channel and nearly breaks into the box. McKenna and Ferguson do just about enough to close the door, just in time. Ferguson flicks the ball out for a corner, but the referee awards a goal kick! Rayan can’t believe it, and Ferguson does his level best to keep a straight face. Scotland can’t complain about the officials tonight; not yet, anyway.
33 min: Ferguson has a whack from distance. His shot is deflected wide left. Another corner, a third in quick succession. But Hendry wrestles Guimaraes to the floor, and the whistle relieves the pressure on Brazil. “That disallowing is amazing,” writes Rory Munro. “Presumably because the VAR was told by Fifa to keep it vaguely interesting until after the second hydration break.”
32 min: Nothing comes of the corner. But this is indeed better from Scotland, who have clearly been given the what-for during that hydration break.
Updated
31 min: McGinn sends Robertson scampering down the left again. He wins another corner. “Man, that Buckfast I borrowed from McKenna and Hendry before kick off is good,” hiccups Simon McMahon.
29 min: Robertson wins a corner down the left. The ball’s worked to the other flank, where McGinn delivers long. McKenna wins a header at the far stick, but can’t connect properly, or send it goalwards. That’s a good chance spurned. Better from Scotland, though it couldn’t have gotten much worse.
27 min: There was a double let-off for Scotland and Hendry there, in fact. Because once Vini Jr had stripped him of possession, Hendry momentarily grasped for the striker’s waist, thinking about hauling him down, NFL style. But he thought better of it and let Vini slither away. In another world, Vini bought the foul, there’s no VAR intervention, and that could have been a red card and penalty. But here we are.
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25 min: … and that’s drinks. You may well need one too. A huge let-off, and Steve Clarke needs to knock a few heads together, double-quick.
NO GOAL! Scotland 0-1 Brazil
The referee has a look at the monitor, then overturns the goal! That’s a result for Scotland, because it looked like Hendry might have instigated the contact and kicked Vini Jr rather than the other way round. But here we are. Scotland were due one after the McTominay penalty incident against Morocco, to be fair.
Updated
23 min: … but hold on, VAR is getting involved. Has Vini Jr nicked Hendry’s ankle seconds before taking the ball away from him?
GOAL! Scotland 0-2 Brazil (Vinicius Junior 22)
Another goal, another fiasco. Hendry waltzes out from the back into space. There’s nobody to pass to. He eventually pings it upfield to McLean, who doesn’t want it and returns the pass. Hendry dithers, facing his own goal. Vinicius Junior takes it off his toe and slots it into the bottom right. Oh my word.
Updated
20 min: It’s probably safe to say it won’t be to Scotland’s benefit if this game turns into a basketball affair, as it did exactly one minute ago.
19 min: … nothing occurs. In fact Gannon-Doak briefly has the opportunity to launch a counter. He holds the ball up instead, then finds McTominay … who ships possession, allowing Vini Jr to romp down the right and wheech a low speculative shot across Gunn and wide left.
18 min: Brazil turn it up a notch, and Vini Jr nearly gets past Patterson on the left. Patterson does enough to stop him breaking into the box, but at the expense of a corner. From which …
17 min: Brazil do something about that possession stat with some calm passing around the middle of the park, hither and yon. Meanwhile here’s Simon McMahon’s attempt to break the official world record for sunny optimism: “With Haiti taking an early lead against Morocco, a couple of goals for Scotland and we’ve won the group!”
15 min: Casemiro crosses from the right to nobody in particular. Goal kick. Scotland have had 58 percent of possession so far! But … well, y’know.
13 min: Half a chance for Gannon-Doak to sprint clear down the right, chasing a long pass. Gabriel comes across and times his challenge to perfection.
Updated
12 min: Cunha sends a rake over the bar from distance. “Brazil have scored too early,” argues Sean Boiling, who then insists: “That’s a thing.”
11 min: Hendry swings a ball in from the right. McTominay shapes to recreate his miracle bicycle kick against Denmark, but Danilo intercepts and clears, leaving poor McTominay to swish at fresh air. But at least that’s a positive attacking response from Scotland.
9 min: That was such a sleepy error by McKenna. File alongside Hanley’s dilly-dallying against Morocco, and Scotland have given themselves yet another mountain to climb.
GOAL! Scotland 0-1 Brazil (Vinicius Jr 7)
Another early disaster for Scotland. McKenna tries to play a pass out from the back, down the inside-left channel. He dithers, allowing Rayan to block tackle. The ball pings left to Vinicius Junior, who takes a simple touch to see off Gunn and roll the ball home. Oh dear. Oh Scotland.
Updated
6 min: A pocket of space for Casemiro, 30 yards out. He takes a shy at goal. McLean blocks and clears. But …
5 min: Robertson’s heavy touch out on the left touchline gifts possession to Guimaraes, who tears back down the flank and whistles a low cross into the mixer. Gunn comes off his line to claim confidently.
3 min: Hendry pulls off a little trick in his own box to see off the pressing duo of Vinicius Junior and Cunha. Steady now!
2 min: Now it’s Ferguson on the receiving end as Rayan jumps in carelessly, hip on head. No quarter given during these early exchanges.
1 min: Ferguson lays down an early marker on Paqueta’s chin. An accident during a midfield coming-together, but the Brazilian isn’t happy. Somewhere in the multiverse, Billy Bremner allows himself a little smile.
Scotland get the ball rolling. Here we go, then. No going back now! “As a neutral (I am allowed to be neutral as an English man/England supporter?) I think that Scotland really need a massive performance from McTominay,” writes Brendan Large. “I can’t be the only person amazed by the guy’s levels in Italy. He could be the difference today to get Scotland what they need. I really hope he does. Fingers crossed here (in Norway) for the Scots. Come on!”
The Brazil anthem is a banger as well, of course. What a tune. What a rendition! What a goddamn atmosphere. Both sets of fans giving it plenty. Jings, crivens, help ma boab. “I was at that 1966 game with my dad,” remembers Paul Connelly. “I’ve lived in Canada since 1968 but still it’s the Scotland team I want to do well. We’ll see …”
The teams are out! There’s a raucous atmosphere at the Miami Stadium, like that’s breaking news with two fanbases driven by so much heart in attendance. Speaking of which, Kelly Cates on the BBC reports that Scotland have a quote from the legendary Denis Law stitched inside their shirts, and it reads: “Look around the room at each other, listen to the fans out there, and throw everything at anyone who’s trying to stop Scotland from winning.” Just imagine the great man saying that in his laid-back Aberdonian drawl. Hairs on the neck standing up? If not, then please turn on the BBC right now and listen to this rendition of Flower of Scotland! The rollercoaster ride begins a couple of minutes.
Pre-match postbag of optimism (sort of). “I thought I’d made my peace with going out in the group stages, but as kickoff approaches and the distinct jangling nerves of The Fear start gripping, it turns out that I was wrong (again). Oh god, please don’t let us get skelped. If we somehow sneak a point though, I’m going on a two-day bender; I can call the first pint tomorrow the hair of Ally MacLeod’s dog. Wait a minute! I can do that either way!” – James Humphries
“Brazil ain’t all that, Scott. But then neither are Scotland. I think a draw is a distinct possibility. Four points would mean almost certain qualification, and the chance for players and fans to celebrate together at full time, which would be quite the sight. Whatever happens, I think alcohol will be taken, and grown men will cry. And I’ll probably sleep through most of it, as it’s still roasting here and I’ve been on the whisky since teatime. Oh, and while we’re on the subject of the toe-poke, Dave Narey turned 70 just over a week ago, while there’s two former Dundee United men in the starting XI today, and another two on the bench, so if that doesn’t guarantee heartbreak I don’t know what will. But come on Scotland!!!” – Simon McMahon
“True story. After Scotland’s heroic draw with world champions in 1974, Rivellino approached Billy Bremner in the tunnel full of admiration exclaiming ‘Bremner Primo!! Bremner Primo!!’ In reply Bremner grabbed him by the shirt and in the spirit of these great occasions screamed ‘Who the #### are you to call me a Primo?!!’ Happy days” – Tom Kenny
Steve Clarke talks to the BBC. “I’ve got to make the choices … sometimes you start a little bit more conservative … sometimes a little bit more positive … I’ve said to the boys on the bench, I’m sure five of them will have a massive outcome on the result … the players know that I believe in them … they’ve been fantastic for me … fantastic for their country … tonight’s a chance to make a little bit of history … why not start on the front foot and see what we can do … playing Brazil at a World Cup, it doesn’t come any bigger, it doesn’t come any better … we’ve prepared … hopefully you see that on the pitch.”
Kit and Pennant Watch. The Scots are keeping things simple and classy. Andrew Robertson will hand over a gift of the darkest blue (blue sky) …
… while his opposite number Marquinhos will offer a more wordy but equally cultured trinket. Twice as much plush tasseling by the looks of it. Fair enough. They are Brazil, after all.
So anyway, that toe-poke. The toe-poke. The toe-poke to end all toe-pokes. Here’s Steven Pye on the second most iconic goal in Scotland’s World Cup finals history.
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Billy Gilmour, whose dreams were shattered a week before the World Cup, has come along for the ride anyway, and speaks pitchside to the BBC. “The boys are looking really up for it … it doesn’t get any better playing Brazil … we’ve had two great games … confidence … be aggressive … we’ve got a great starting line-up tonight … a great bench also … hopefully tonight it’s a good one and Scotland get what we need.”
The BBC have flashed up a graphic of Scotland’s chances of reaching the knockout stage. It shows that if they win tonight, they’re 100 percent sure of getting through. A draw puts them on 99.99%. A defeat by one goal still gives them an 84.7% chance, while a two-goal loss drops the number down to 66.8%. All fairly promising, but then diminishing returns set in: a three-goal loss reduces the chance of progress to 49.2%, a four-goal defeat and it’s 38.7%, a five-goal stuffing and it’s just 31.3% and … well, if it gets much worse it’d probably be for the best to pack up and pop back over the briny. But there’s a big reminder that all hope is not lost should things go awry tonight.
The first setback for Scotland tonight comes early. Bosnia and Herzegovina have already seen off Italy in the qualifiers, and now they’ve done for Qatar in Group B with a 3-1 win. Bosnia and Herzegovina therefore finish third in the group, and their four-point haul means one less potential lifeline for Scotland, who have three points in Group C, should they lose tonight.
1 Bosnia and Herzegovina 4pts (5-6) -1GD (three games played)
2 Sweden 3pts (6-6) 0GD (two games played)
3 Scotland 3pts (1-1) 0GD (two games)
4 Croatia 3pts (3-4) -1GD (two games)
5 Algeria 3pts (2-4) -2GD (two games) Team conduct -1
6 Paraguay 3pts (2-4) -2GD (two games) Team conduct -11
7 Cape Verde 2pts (2-2) 0GD (two games)
8 Belgium 2pts (1-1) 0GD (two games)
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9 Czechia 1pt (2-3) -1GD (two games)
10 DR Congo 1pt (1-2) -1GD (two games)
11 Ecuador 1pt (0-1) -1GD (two games)
12 Senegal 0pt (3-6) -3GD (two games)
Neymar – who gave everyone a big thumbs-up as he disembarked from the Brazil team bus – doesn’t start. But Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that he is “available” to come on. There’s one change from the 3-0 win over Haiti: the injured Raphinha is replaced by Rayan … another young Bournemouth star! Quite the evening for the Cherries. He’s one of several present or former Premier League players in the Brazil starting line-up tonight: Alisson (Liverpool), Gabriel (Arsenal), Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle), Casemiro and Matheus Cunha (Manchester United), and Danilo (once of Manchester City) are all present and correct.
As earlier reported by Ewan Murray, the exciting young Bournemouth winger Ben Gannon-Doak starts for Scotland. There’s a first start in this World Cup up front for Lawrence Shankland, Scott McKenna is named in the centre of defence, and Kenny McLean comes into the midfield. Grant Hanley, Kieran Tierney, Ryan Christie and Ché Adams are the players replaced. A more adventurous, front-foot selection by Steve Clarke than many were expecting.
The teams
Scotland: Gunn, Patterson, McKenna, Hendry, Robertson, Doak, McLean, Ferguson, McGinn, McTominay, Shankland.
Subs: Kelly, Gordon, Hickey, Hanley, Tierney, Fletcher, Dykes, Adams, Christie, Stewart, Souttar, Hyam, Hirst, Ralston, Curtis.
Brazil: Alisson, Danilo, Marquinhos, Gabriel, Douglas Santos, Guimaraes, Casemiro, Lucas Paqueta, Rayan, Cunha, Vinicius Junior.
Subs: Weverton, Ederson, Alex Sandro, Bremer, Leo Pereira, Ibanez, Ederson Silva, Fabinho, dos Santos Danilo, Neymar, Endrick, Luiz Henrique, Martinelli, Thiago.
Referee: Cesar Arturo Ramos Palazuelos (Mexico).
Updated
This isn’t the greatest iteration of the Seleção, and the mood back home reflects that. Think Elis Regina’s version of Aquarela do Brasil as opposed to Tom Jobim’s.
Paul MacInnes is also in Miami. He’s been mingling with the Tartan Army, and here’s his report on an all-new American pastime: no Scotsmaxxing, no party!
A reminder of Fifa’s weather protocol. If thunder rumbles and lightning strikes within an eight-mile radius of Miami Stadium, the players will be sent to their dressing rooms, and a 30-minute countdown will begin. Should no other strike be detected during it, the teams will come back out for a 15-minute warm-up after which the game will restart. But if there’s another strike during the countdown, the 30-minute clock resets. And if there’s another … etc., and so on, and so forth. We’ve been here before, with play between France and Iraq suspended for two hours a couple of evenings ago, so it could be a long night.
Ewan Murray is at the Hard Rock Stadium (rebadged Miami Stadium under the yoke of Fifa and formerly known as Pro Player Park, Pro Player Stadium, Dolphins Stadium, Dolphin Stadium, Land Shark Stadium, and Sun Life Stadium). Here’s his up-to-the-minute dispatch, which may well not be his last this evening, if what he’s saying about the weather comes to pass.
I just shared a lift at Miami Stadium with Denilson. He has particularly small feet.
On matters less personal... black clouds are not far in the distance, raising the possibility of a storm delay at some point in this game. Scotland hope the weather is the only threat to their hopes for a smooth evening. Wishful thinking, I fear.
Expect Ben Gannon-Doak to return to the Scotland team. Raphinha misses out for Brazil, with the key intrigue surrounding whether or not Carlo Ancelotti deploys Neymar from the start.
Preamble
Scotland’s record against Brazil is not good – P10, W0, D2, L8 – and yet despite what those bare numbers seem to say, it’s not exactly that bad, either. The countries first met in a Hampden friendly just before the 1966 World Cup: with less than a minute on the clock, Jim Baxter’s cute pass found Stevie Chalmers, who flicked gracefully into the top left. Servilio equalised soon after, but Billy Bremner marked Pelé out of the game, while Baxter ran the show against the still-reigning world champions. “Baxter frequently had the Brazilians bemused as he spread the play or cleverly sent them the wrong way with a body swerve,” reported this newspaper. “Scotland captured almost everything but the victory their play so richly deserved.” Olé Ola!
The countries first competitive match ended in a draw as well. The aforementioned Bremner missed from a couple of yards at the 1974 World Cup, the game ended goalless, and it’s not exactly a spoiler to say the Scots went out at the group stage, albeit undefeated. Since then, there have been three more meetings on the biggest stage, and Brazil have won them all. Scotland were genuinely unfortunate in 1990 (Jim Leighton’s late fumble that allowed Müller to score, Claudio Taffarel’s last-ditch point-bank save from Mo Johnston) and 1998 (Tom Boyd’s excruciating own-goal ricochet) though the 4-1 defeat in Seville in 1982, the Seleção in full sexy samba soccer mode, was a proper gubbing. And even then …
All of which possibly tempts fate tonight. This may not be the best crop of talent Brazil have brought to a World Cup, but they’ve still got Vinícius Júnior, Matheus Cunha, Rayan and Neymar. They’re still Brazil. Scotland meanwhile need Scott McTominay and John McGinn to finally spark into life if there’s to be any hope of a surprise. But then hope is a nebulous concept tonight, because Scotland don’t need to win; they don’t even necessarily need the draw that would almost guarantee making it to the knockouts for the first time in their history; and they could even get through after another Seville-style shellacking, should results in the other 11 groups go their way. So fingers crossed a point at least is coming down the road for Steve Clark and his brave boys … but let’s remember all will not yet be lost, whatever happens tonight.* Kick-off is at 11pm BST. It’s on!
* Catastrophising too much? I can’t help it. It comes with the territory.
