Scotland Men's Football Team

Former Scotland striker Kevin Gallacher, who was part of the 1998 World Cup squad, has admitted his surprise at the manner of last night's 3-0 defeat to Brazil in Miami.

"I'm a little bit down. I wasn't expecting that performance last night - it was hugely disappointing," Gallacher told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast.

"It's not Brazil who go and make us look bad, it was ourselves and that was the disappointing thing. We have given them freebies.

"There's something about Brazil that just keep sucking the energy out of Scotland in these matches and taking the points.

"You can't do that after six minutes [get caught while trying to play the ball out from the back]. You would have thought they would have learned their lesson from the Morocco game and maybe for the first 10 minutes just keep playing it longer, to keep Brazil back.

"But it never went that way. They used a different tactic and unfortunately that tactic failed.

"Scotland are not a team of individuals, we are a collective, and that for me was the thing that was missing. Collectively we weren't together."

Image source, Getty Images

• Scotland now are the only opponent Brazil have faced 11 or more times in all competitions without losing (W9 D2), surpassing Austria (W7 D3). Brazil are also the only side Scotland faced five or more times without ever winning.

• With Scott McTominay's header in the 49th minute, Scotland ended a drought of 200 minutes without a shot on target in the 2026 World Cup, since John McGinn's goal against Haiti on matchday one.

• Brazil have topped their group in each World Cup since 1982, qualifying second most recently in 1978 behind Austria.

• Vinicius Junior has become the fifth Brazilian player to score in all three group matches of a single World Cup, following Jairzinho (1970), Romario (1994), and both Ronaldo and Rivaldo (2002); Brazil went on to win the trophy on each of those three previous occasions.

• Scotland completed 400 or more passes in a World Cup match for the second time on record since 1966 (448), with the other occurrence also being against Brazil (440 in 1982). Lewis Ferguson completed 87 of 92 passes, the most by any Scotland player in a World Cup on record.

• Neymar has become just the fourth player to represent Brazil at four different FIFA World Cups, joining Djalma Santos, Cafu, and Pele. He came on as a substitute for the first time in the tournament (14th appearance), 981 days after he had last played for Brazil (October 2023).

Image source, PA Media

Rachel Corsie on BBC One

There has been learnings. For me, today, there's similarities to the Hungary game at the Euros in Germany. They said "let them have the ball and we get chances", I felt there was similar elements to that today.

Lucas Leiva on BBC One

I expected a lot more from Scotland, especially on the defensive side, because I thought it was one of the strengths of this team.

Pat Nevin on BBC Sportsound

There was no lack of effort from those Scotland players.

They didn't give up. Were they in the Brazilians' league? Nah, not really.

It's probably not going to be enough, but it's probably going to go for the wire.

Billy Dodds on BBC Sportsound

We had our moments in the game, but Brazil could have scored more.

We didn't half give them a helping hand and you just can't do that.

We're at that stage where we always seem to be - going through the wringer for a few days.

You can't play a nation of that quality and do what we did in the game.

Willie Miller on BBC Sportsound

Scotland were masters of their own downfall in terms of the goals they lost.

The Shankland experiment didn't really work, he didn't get much of the ball.

Scott Brown on BBC One

You don't want to give those gaols away within six or seven minutes because then you're chasing your tail and we've done that in the last two games.

Have your say on Scotland's performance against Brazil

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Andy Robertson

"Making mistakes. We started the game well, we pushed up the pitch, they maybe put us in a false sense of security. We had time on the ball and then got punished. We're just off the pitch but the initial reaction is just one of frustration.

"At times we were comfortable on the ball, at times we got ourselves in dangerous areas but at this stage, against these teams, we can't afford to make the mistakes we made.

"We played some nice stuff when you then go and get beat 3-0. A frustrating night but I suppose we've only got ourselves to blame."

On the chances of the Scots qualifying to the round of 32, he adds: "Personally time will tell.

"As a collective we didn't want to put ourselves in a position where we have to watch every team and hope this team score or that team score.

"Time will tell, maybe we'll get another shot at it. The next couple of days are going to be long and horrible but we put ourselves in this position."

John McGinn

"Gutted obviously. We lose poor goals at poor times against a team that can punish you with quality. We had a few chances but we've got to wait now.

"The lads are gutted, we fell short on quality tonight but we gave it absolutely everything. The lads are empty now.

"It's unlikely [to qualify] but we'll wait and see.

"In moments they [Brazil] hurt you. They allowed us to have the ball and at this level if you make mistakes you get punished. We probably were fortunate to have the [second] goal disallowed.

"It's a bit raw at the minute but we appreciate the support of the fans, we know it's difficult to be there. Hopefully the journey is not over and if we have to go again, we will go again."

Kenny McLean

"It was disappointing the result, the manner of the result.

"The fact that we've given the goals away makes it even more disappointing

'We worked on structure and the way we wanted to be off the ball, to try and control where they had the ball.

"We did it for large spells, but when you give the opposition opportunities like that, it's going to be tough.

"It happens, there's no blame attached to any individual. We can all do more.

"Unfortunately, the first falls to their player, and I think there's a little bit of anxiety and nerves throughout the team after that.

"We dug deep, we fought, we gave everything, we came up against a really good team and got punished again.

"It's going to be really tough [waiting to see if Scotland advances].

"Everything is out of our control, unfortunately.

"We've not done enough ourselves, now we need to rely on others, which is not a nice feeling, but it's the position we've put ourselves in, and we need to keep our fingers crossed."

Lawrence Shankland

"It's a difficult night.

"You know the quality of the opposition going into the game and you want to try and make it difficult for them. We gave away the goal, it was a mistake, it happens in football.

"We dealt with the half ok, we had a bit of possession at times but we were never a real threat. Every time we gave up possession cheaply they were punishing us and creating chances.

"It's hugely frustrating for everybody. You kind of know how the game is going to go before it starts.

"We just live in hope. We are in this position because we put ourselves in it. We had the chance to take care of business and we didn't manage to do it. We're all gutted about that but we live in hope."

Have your say on Scotland's defeat to Brazil

Scotland's hopes of reaching the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time are in significant peril after calamitous defending allowed Brazil to sweep them aside 3-0 in Miami and finish top of Group C.

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Image source, Reuters

Scotland head coach Steve Clarke: "We made it difficult for ourselves, that's it.

"We gave them the goals, we gave them the game they wanted. Disappointing.

"You see their quality in the final third of the pitch, we didn't have that tonight.

"We created chances but it wasn't enough. Let's be honest the best team won.

"It was unbelievable the shift the players put in, the ones who played 90 minutes in that heat and humidity were outstanding but we have to be better if we want to compete at this level.

"In the first four or five minutes we passed the ball well and then made a mistake. You cannot do that at this level because it puts you on the back foot and it becomes a long night

"For sure I think we're going home.

"Only Scotland can get a winnable first game and then get number five and number six in the world."