When Scott McTominay planted a 50th-minute header into the hands of Alisson, it was the Scots\u2019 first effort on target since John McGinn\u2019s deflected winner<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n Clarke is not solely to blame for this pickle, albeit the nature of Scotland\u2019s 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<\/a>. Clarke\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n It is also fair to pinpoint the individual errors and underperformance that helped the causes of Brazil and Vin\u00edcius J\u00fanior. 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.<\/p>\n Brazil\u2019s Matheus Cunha (right) after scoring Brazil\u2019s third. Photograph: Nick Potts\/PA<\/p>\n Yellow-clad fans, who hugely outnumbered the Tartan Army, chanted for the return of Neymar. Brazil\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n 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 Vin\u00edcius, who skipped around Angus Gunn before tapping home.<\/p>\n Vin\u00edcius thought he had doubled his tally, only for the kind of video assistant referee intervention that has been rare in this World Cup. Vin\u00edcius was assessed to have fouled Jack Hendry when picking the pocket of the Scotland defender. It was a harsh call \u2013 Hendry may actually have instigated contact \u2013 and one Ancelotti was rightly furious about.<\/p>\n
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