Key events
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.
Will we see this fella on the pitch this evening? Photograph: Andrew Milligan/PAShare
Updated at 18.38 EDT
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.
Updated at 18.33 EDT
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.
ShareNO 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.
Scotland get away with one. Photograph: Paul Childs/ReutersShare
Updated at 18.30 EDT
23 min: … but hold on, VAR is getting involved. Has Vini Jr nicked Hendry’s ankle seconds before taking the ball away from him?
ShareGOAL! 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.
Uh oh. Photograph: Paul Childs/ReutersShare
Updated at 18.29 EDT
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.
Ben Gannon-Doak is closed down well by Gabriel Magalhaes. Photograph: Robert Cianflone/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 18.23 EDT
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.
ShareGOAL! 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.
Oh no! Vinicius Junior scores for Brazil. What a mess at the back for Scotland. Photograph: Paul Childs/Reuters Photograph: Nick Potts/PA Photograph: Paul Childs/Reuters Photograph: Javier García/ShutterstockShare
Updated at 18.19 EDT
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) …
Pennant Watch rating: 10/10. Photograph: Carmen Mandato/FIFA/Getty Images
… 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.
Pennant Watch rating: 11/10, a bonus point for winning the thing five times. Photograph: Carmen Mandato/FIFA/Getty ImagesShare
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.
Updated at 17.24 EDT
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)
————-
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.
ShareThe 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 at 16.53 EDT
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.
double quotation markI 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.
SharePreamble
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 …
Toe-poke? All together now … ♪ ♫ ♬ “ We hate Jimmy Hill …” ♪ ♫ ♬
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.