Scotland's World Cup hopes are hanging by a thread. A 3-0 defeat by Brazil wasn't an embarrassment but it was a goal more than they would've ideally wanted to keep realistic hopes of qualifying alive.

What happened?

Brazil probably had another gear or two if needed whereas Scotland were stretching every sinew to breaking point. There were moments in the second half when the Brazilians were stretched, particularly from a string of Keiran Tierney crosses from the left. The Scots however were also stretching – credibility in their case, with some of the amateurish defending that gifted Vinicius Jr two goals and almost a third in that crucial first half.

Why it matters for Scotland

We learned a few things; chiefly, this is Scotland's level, a good distance behind the top dogs. The team spirit and battling qualities are second to none, but too many other qualities are missing at this level, which is a shame as they are such a likeable and committed group, just like their fans.

What comes next?

Recent form shows 1W-0D-1L, with the last result being Liechtenstein 0-4 Scotland on 2025-06-09. | Date | Result | | --- | --- | | 2025-06-09 | Liechtenstein 0-4 Scotland | The team will need to regroup and refocus if they want to keep their World Cup dreams alive.