Scotland will now play the waiting game. The trouble is, as they hang around to discover whether a place in the last 32 can be secured as among the leading eight third-placed teams, it is legitimate to question the point of it all. Scotland’s on-field contribution to this tournament has been pitiful.
Defeat by Brazil can and should happen. The ragged nature of Scotland’s output in Miami, the utterly punchless nature of their play – again – until desperation set in means they should enter the knockout phase with red faces should that come to pass. Steve Clarke’s men have been outscored by Haiti in Group C plus New Zealand, Iran and Cape Verde elsewhere.
When Scott McTominay planted a 50th-minute header into the hands of Alisson, it was the Scots’ first effort on target since John McGinn’s deflected winner within half an hour against the Haitians. Grim. Fundamentally and undeniably grim. With three points and a goal difference of minus three, Scotland are clinging on. Their fate is out of their hands, with countries who know exactly what they have to do to upstage the Scots.
Clarke is not solely to blame for this pickle, albeit the nature of Scotland’s performances over three games raises the theme of what on earth has been learned from two previous finals appearances under this manager. The Scottish FA, crazily, handed Clarke a four-year contract extension before a ball was kicked in this World Cup. Clarke’s paymasters seem to place no value in assessing tournament output. The same governing body and equally unimpressive sidekicks have overseen a glaring decline in the talent level of Scottish players. The upshot is Scotland come to a World Cup where they look like they do not belong.
It is also fair to pinpoint the individual errors and underperformance that helped the causes of Brazil and Vinícius Júnior. They march forwards under Carlo Ancelotti. This Brazil team, chaotic at times, are a lively watch. It was hardly the evening to assess whether a sixth World Cup victory will be forthcoming, such was the paucity of the opposition. Yet Brazilian confidence of ending a 24-year wait is worthy of respect.
Yellow-clad fans, who hugely outnumbered the Tartan Army, chanted for the return of Neymar. Brazil’s iconic forward entered the fray with 14 minutes remaining, ending an international absence stretching back to late 2023. There was no goal for Neymar, which barely mattered in the grand scheme.
Any plan Scotland had was ruined in the seventh minute. Scott McKenna, restored to central defence, dallied on the ball before cracking it against the advancing Rayan. The deflection landed at the feet of Vinícius, who skipped around Angus Gunn before tapping home.
Vinícius thought he had doubled his tally, only for the kind of video assistant referee intervention that has been rare in this World Cup. Vinícius was assessed to have fouled Jack Hendry when picking the pocket of the Scotland defender. It was a harsh call – Hendry may actually have instigated contact – and one Ancelotti was rightly furious about.
The incident triggered a decent Scotland spell, albeit one which produced only deflected shots from long range. Ben Gannon-Doak had an opening and totally miskicked. If ever a moment …
The smile had returned to Ancelotti’s face by the interval. Nathan Patterson and Gunn were negligent in dealing with a Bruno Guimarães cross from the Brazil right in stoppage time. Scotland had conceded possession in schoolboy fashion. Vinícius took advantage of defensive slackness to head in No 2. Scottish glances were now turning towards goal difference. Only a fine Gunn save prevented Rayan from adding a third.
That honour belonged to Matheus Cunha. The goal owed everything to Guimarães, who bamboozled the Scottish defence with some glorious footwork. The Newcastle man could have shot himself but unselfishly played in his teammate, who made no mistake. Guimarães enjoyed a superb night’s work.
To their credit, Scotland did not wilt. For their many shortcomings, attitude and appetite are strong within this squad. Another McTominay header drew an excellent low save from Alisson. Lawrence Shankland’s attempt found the roof of the Brazil net. More Scottish huff and puff followed. Brazil eased through the tape. Their upcoming tests will be much sterner.
