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Scotland’s World Cup dreams and hopes of progressing to the last 32 are hanging by a thread after their heavy 3-0 defeat to Brazil.
After finishing their group on three points behind both Brazil and Morocco, Scotland can only progress to the last 32 as one of the top eight third-place sides.
Prior to kick-off against Brazil, Scotland had been in second place in the third-place table.
But the three-goal defeat to Brazil saw Scotland plunge to seventh in the table and in severe danger of being knocked out altogether once the group stage is completed.
“I think we are going home,” conceded Scotland boss Steve Clarke.
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Steve Clarke admits Scotland are on the brink of a World Cup exit after a harming 3-0 loss to Brazil in Miami
“We have given ourselves a more difficult chance,” said captain John McGinn. “It’s unlikely now but we will see.
“It’s not the way you want to go out either. We’ll probably hurt tonight, hurt tomorrow and then just keep our fingers crossed.
“If we go into the last 32, if we get a miracle, we’ll need to be better, we know that.
It’s unlikely now but we will see. We need a lot to go our way, we will hope.
“It leaves us in the worst possible position from this morning. We gave ourselves a good platform to go and qualify and tonight we’ve made that very difficult. There’s no hiding from that.
“We need a lot to go our way, we will hope, but what we do need to be if we manage to get through is be a lot better.”
A frustrated Andy Robertson said: “If you ask me now, I don’t think it is enough. Time will tell. The next couple of days will be horrible,” while midfielder Kenny McLean added: “Unfortunately we can’t control [our destiny] now.
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Sky Sports’ Luke Shanley gives the latest after Scotland’s hopes for knockout football at the World Cup took a huge dent, following defeat to Brazil
“We’re going to be hoping results go our way, it’s not what you want to do.”
Opta estimate Scotland’s hopes of progressing at just 23.8 per cent, while bookmakers have priced them between 4/11 and 2/13 to go out in the group stage.
Who do the other third-place teams face?
Here we look at what needs to happen for Scotland to stay above other third-place teams and sneak through to the knockout stages.
Thursday
Group E: Ecuador vs Germany, Curacao vs Ivory Coast, Thursday, 9pm
Scotland need both Curacao and Ecuador to lose or draw in their matches against Ivory Coast and Germany respectively. A win for either puts them above Scotland in the third-place rankings.
Friday
Group F: Sweden vs Japan, Friday, 12am
Scotland need Sweden to lose by four or more goals to Japan – Sweden have three points, a level goal difference and have scored six goals compared to Scotland’s one.
Group D: Paraguay vs Australia, Friday, 3am
A defeat by two or more goals for Paraguay against Australia is good news for Scotland
A defeat by two or more goals for Paraguay against Australia – or a defeat by four or more for Australia – is good news for Scotland. A draw would put Paraguay ahead of Scotland on four points in third.
Group I: Senegal vs Iraq, Friday, 8pm
A draw between Senegal and Iraq would be the dream result for Scotland, limiting both sides to one point apiece. A low-scoring win for Iraq would also work in their favour, given their current zero points tally and minus-six goal difference.
A draw between Senegal and Iraq would be the dream result for Scotland
Saturday
Group H: Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia, Uruguay vs Spain, Saturday, 1am
The best outcome here for Scotland is that the team in third has just two points – that could happen if Cape Verde beat Saudi Arabia to move on to five points, and Uruguay lose to Spain and stay on two.
Group G: New Zealand vs Belgium, Egypt vs Iran, Saturday, 4am
As with Group H, the team in third could be on just two points if Egypt win against Iran and Belgium beat New Zealand. That combination of results would leave Iran third on two points.
Group L: Croatia vs Ghana, Saturday, 10pm
Scotland need Ghana to beat current third-placed side Croatia by at least three goals, so that the Croatians have the same points tally as Scotland and a worse goal difference.
Scotland need Ghana to beat current third-placed side Croatia by at least three goals
Sunday
Group K: DR Congo vs Uzbekistan, Sunday, 12.30pm
A draw between DR Congo and Uzbekistan would suit Scotland in this group, or even a low-scoring win for Uzbekistan, whose goal difference is currently minus seven.
Group J: Algeria vs Austria, Sunday, 3am
A draw between Austria and Algeria would be bad news for Scotland
A draw between Austria and Algeria would be curtains for Scotland. The best outcome is an Algeria defeat by two or more goals to push them behind Scotland on goal difference.
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