Scotland facing World Cup exit after Brazil loss and can only blame themselves | Football | Sport

Scotland are staring at another agonising World Cup group stage exit after Vinicius Junior put them to the sword in Miami. Real Madrid forward Vini Jnr scored twice, had one ruled out and was twice denied a hat-trick by goalkeeper Angus Gunn. But Manchester United’s Matheus Cunha completed a 3-0 win for Brazil with a 60th-minute goal that leaves Scotland praying for favours elsewhere.

Scotland started the night second in the 12-team table of the World Cup’s best third-placed nations but dropped to sixth after losing to Brazil. And all of the six teams below them have one more game still to play. The expanded 48-team format at this summer’s tournament means the top eight of the 12 will progress to the next phase. Per Opta, Scotland currently have a 42 per cent chance of qualifying but that percentage is highly likely only going to decrease as the other 10 World Cup groups are settled in North America. Steve Clarke’s side sadly have only themselves to blame after paying the price for defensive mishaps, with Scott McKenna’s blunder allowing Brazil to go 1-0 up after seven minutes.

Jack Hendry was a relieved man after Vini Jnr had a second goal ruled out but the forward did have his second when Gunn got caught under a Bruno Guimaraes cross before the break. And Cunha poured the pain on for the Scots on the hour.

Scott McTominay was Scotland’s biggest goal threat and had two headers saved by Alisson before being denied a stoppage-time goal that would have made it 3-1. Ultimately, Scotland only threatened the Brazil goal in brief spells and failed to truly trouble Alisson.

Defeat leaves Scotland on three points in Group C, while Brazil and Morocco both finished on seven. The five-time winners topped the group thanks to a superior goal difference after the Moroccans beat Haiti 4-2 in their final group game.

Despite losing 3-0, Clarke’s squad are still desperately hoping they will become the first Scotland team ever to reach the knockout rounds of a World Cup.

Four times before the Scots have failed to qualify despite winning a match, with the 1974 squad picking up five points. They still failed to make it through due to Yugoslavia and Brazil’s superior goal differences, and it is goal difference that could once more bite them here.

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Their final tally of -3 leaves them in real danger after they failed to score in their defeats to Morocco and Brazil. They scored just once in the groups, which came when they defeated Haiti 1-0 in their opener.

The knockout bracket as it stands has Scotland facing co-hosts and Group A winners Mexico in Mexico City next Wednesday. But the bracket is subject to further change with so many other group games still to be played.

Scotland midfielder John McGinn said post-match: “Gutted obviously. To lose more goals at poor times against a team that can punish you with quality… We had a few chances to get a goal ourselves which would have been important at the end but we’ve just got to wait now.

“You can see the lads are gutted. We fell short on quality tonight but we gave it absolutely everything. The lads are empty now. If we’re to go through, we’ll have to see over the next few days. We’ve given ourselves a more difficult chance. It’s unlikely now, I would say, but we’ll see.

“In moments, Brazil hurt you. They allowed us to have the play and at this level if you make mistakes, you get punished. This is the top level. We probably got fortunate with the goal that got disallowed. We know we have to be better. We just need to wait and see now.

“It’s a bit raw at the minute but we appreciate the support of the fans. We know how difficult it is to be here and hopefully the journey’s not over. They’ve been absolutely outstanding and if we’re to go again, we’ll go again.”

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