Scotland Men's Football Team

Calum Macdonald
BBC Sport Scotland in Miami

Image source, PA Media

Two games down, only one to go?

There could yet be more fixtures to come at the World Cup if things go Scotland's way against Brazil.

We've been putting your questions to former internationals Leanne Crichton and Neil McCann before Wednesday's final - and vital - group game in Miami.

Firstly, Brazil, how good are they? Should we be fearful or hopeful we'll get what we need from them?

McCann: If you're getting a chance to play against Brazil for the chance to qualify for the first time in our history, to me that's something where you just say, 'I want some of that'.

Brazil look very good going forward. I do think, because of the conditions, the build-up will be a wee bit slower, but once you get towards the middle areas of the pitch, they're exceptional.

They could go very deep into the competition, but I just think it's a wonderful chance for us.

We haven't really performed yet. I would love to see us have a go. You can't go wide open, we don't want to get a hiding and then we end up losing that chance to progress [on goal difference], but I just think we're so much more than we've shown.

Crichton: If you had given us this opportunity at the start of the tournament to be heading into the third game with a real good chance of qualification based on the points tally that we're on and the goal difference that we're on, you would 100% have taken it.

It's an unbelievable opportunity to go and face Brazil with their star-studded team.

When you see teams like Cape Verde, Curacao and Congo having a go and getting results against higher-ranked teams, have Scotland underperformed by comparison?

Crichton: The reality is Scotland have got an identity and they play a certain way under Steve Clarke. For the most part, that is with a real good defensive structure and a contained element within the performance.

I think it's wonderful you can come to the tournament and see other identities and different styles of play.

I think we need to focus on being Scottish. The element of being Scottish in the performances that we've seen throughout the qualifying campaign is the reason we're here.

I think there's more to us, but the reality is we've won the opening game, which was a high-pressure game and such a vital start to the tournament for us.

McCann: When you think of some of the results we had against Norway, against Denmark, when we had to go for it, we actually looked really dangerous and got rewards by going for it.

I'm a wee bit different. I would absolutely think that we've got the players to have a go.

Go and ask Brazil questions defensively, because I think because they do play with a freedom. I always feel that then you have opportunities to go and create your own magic in the final third and that's what we're all looking for.

Where are the goals coming from?

McCann: I thought [Lyndon] Dykes should have started against Morocco. I felt he came on and made a huge difference. I think [Lawrence] Shankland is the best finisher out of the three and Che Adams has served Scotland brilliantly.

What Lyndon does as a lone striker means he energises and probably gives Scott McTominay and John McGinn more opportunities by being able to get us up the pitch. I would play Lyndon.

Crichton: I think set-pieces could be absolutely vital. We need to try to sustain attacks for a little bit longer.

It felt in the Morocco and Haiti games it was really quite a rushed job in terms of getting there and almost, when we got into that final third, everything had to happen really quickly and we chose the wrong decision.

You're 1-0 down with 15 minutes to go. What do you do if a 1-0 defeat might take us through?

Crichton: The reality is, where we are just now could be enough to take us through. But, if it was me and I felt we could play for that set-piece moment or get extra attackers on to the pitch to give you that bit of magic, then I would roll the dice.

McCann: I'm going for it. I want to take destiny in my own hands as a coach. I want to go and do something off our own back.

I don't want to be reliant on someone else and I think that's the fine balance of being stupid and being smart and I know there are probably times in my career that I have been stupid. I would absolutely go for it.

Image source, SNS

Former midfielder Paul Lambert has urged Scotland not to fear Brazil in tonight's crucial World Cup showdown as Steve Clarke's men bid to become history makers.

A point against Carlo Ancelotti's side will almost certainly be enough for Scotland to progress from the group stage of a major tournament for the first time, while a narrow defeat could also be enough.

Lambert told BBC Radio Scotland: "We're a small nation and Brazil's an iconic footballing country.

"Don't bother who you're playing against, that's the key to it. If you're going to worry about them then you lose focus on your own game.

"We've got enough players in the Scotland squad that have played in big games before, they shouldn't be overwhelmed by Brazil just because of their names or the shirts they're wearing.

"You certainly don't fear them, you go for them, and they're not the most resilient team I've seen. The front three could definitely be a threat, but there's nothing to be frightened of.

"Any one-off game you can win. You can cause them trouble, because we will get chances, whether it's a set-play or something.

"There's no reason why we can't cause an upset."

Samuel Ukah
BBC Sport Scotland

Six-year-old Scot Indie Menzies has designed Brazil's first official national tartan - and her family shares an uncanny link to the man who introduced football to the South American nation.

The Brazilian Consulate in Edinburgh asked Largs Academy pupils to create Brazil's national tartan because of the town's historic footballing ties to the country.

Indie's winning design, 'The Spirit of Brazil', takes inspiration from the iconic yellow and blue of the country.

"We looked at the Brazil flag, and that showed me all the colours, and I decided where they would all go," Indie told BBC Scotland.

Indie couldn't believe that her design was selected and reflected on her emotions when seeing the tartan in person.

"I was like how is this what it looks like now? It's nicer than my drawing because it came to life."

The timing couldn't be more fitting as Scotland face Brazil in Miami at the World Cup on Wednesday night and the tartan is expected to appear at events marking the occasion, including the Coral Gables Museum where the world's oldest football is also being held.

But for the Menzies family, this win has a deeper meaning. Indie's gran June is the great-great-great niece of Charles William Miller - the man credited with bringing football to Brazil.

Miller was born in Sao Paulo in 1874. His mother is Brazilian, but his father originates from Fairlie, North Ayrshire - just three miles from Largs.

Miller moved to England for school, where he found his love for football before heading back to Brazil and introducing the sport to nation.

Miller even founded the 'Liga Paulista de Foot-Ball' which is currently known as 'Campeonato Paulista' - Brazil's first football league. To this day he's known as the father of Brazilian football.

"There was something in our local paper about Charles Miller a while back, and we discovered then that we were related, so I wanted to just verify it," said June.

"I got in touch with a local historian, and he got the family tree and showed us that we are related.

"It's just lovely that we are related to him and it's just so nice the connection between the two countries."

You can watch a documentary about the first time Scotland and Brazil met in the World Cup, in 1974, on BBC iPlayer.

Image source, Getty Images

Tony Docherty has "a good feeling" that Scotland will at last put to bed their reputation for "glorious failure" when they face Brazil in World Cup Group C on Wednesday.

The Scots will almost certainly qualify for the knock-out stages of a major tournament for the first time if Steve Clarke's side avoid defeat in Miami.

"I've actually got a good feeling," former Dundee and Ross County manager Docherty told the BBC Scottish Football Podcast. "I'm positive about it."

Docherty expected the win over Haiti but pointed out that Morocco and Brazil were always going to be tough as they are the seventh and sixth ranked sides in the world.

"But what I've got an opportunity now," he said. "People might view this as a threat or as an opportunity. I see it as an opportunity.

"They'll approach this game like any game, with the same attacking principles, same defensive principles, hoping that the footballing gods look down on us a wee bit.

"I don't think they did against Morocco. I think decisions went against us, I think the referee was poor.

"We're still in a position that we can qualify for the next 32 and make history."

Docherty pointed out that playing in the heat of Miami will be "like playing in the oven" where "you're gasping for breath".

However, he added: "Everybody has that feeling of you know, Scotland historically, we've had that glorious failure.

"I feel this group of players are different and I've felt it for a while. They show real resilience and a real strong mentality and that's going to be required tonight.

"Playing in a World Cup against Brazil for qualification, it doesn't get any better than that. I can see us coming away with a one each."

Image source, Getty Images

Kenny McLean has "got to start alongside Lewis Ferguson" for Scotland against Brazil in their World Cup Group C decider tonight, according to former Celtic and Hibernian midfielder Scott Allan.

Norwich City's McLean made an impression with his passing when coming on as a substitute in the 1-0 defeat by Morocco.

And Allan believes keeping possession in midfield will be vital in the searing heat in Miami.

"It would play a factor if we don't at least keep the ball for at least some spells in the game," he told the BBC Scottish Football Podcast. "For me, Kenny MacLean's got to start alongside Lewis Ferguson.

"Lewis Ferguson, I think he's been a standout, certainly out of possession for Scotland in this tournament. Showed great energy levels, picked up the second balls."

Meanwhile, Allan thought McLean added "that bit of composure".

Allan, who predicted correctly Kieran Tierney would start on the wing against Morocco, this time suggests head coach Steve Clarke will stick with a four-man defence instead of reverting to a five.

He thought it worked "except for 70 seconds" when Morocco scored their winning goal.

"I would go 4-2-3-1 and then goes into a 4-5-1 - you flood the midfield," Allan said.

That would be important to put pressure on Casemiro, the ageing Manchester United midfielder who was careless in possession when put under pressure by Morocco.

Allan would also like to see Lawrence Shankland up front but added: "I think he might opt for [Lyndon] Dykes just because, if we are sitting in, he gives you that presence and he is the best at getting the nod down to John McGinn, Scott McTominay and Ben Gannon-Doak."

Image source, Getty Images

• Brazil and Scotland will face each other in the World Cup for the fifth time (after 1974, 1982, 1990 and 1998). Only Argentina v Netherlands (six) has been played more times since the 1974 edition.

• Since the sides drew 0-0 in 1974, Brazil have won their past three matches against Scotland at the World Cup (4-1 in 1982, 1-0 in 1990 and 2-1 in 1998).

• Brazil are the team Scotland have faced most in international football without ever winning (P10 D2 L8). Conversely, Brazil's 10 games against Scotland is the joint most they've played a nation without losing, along with Austria (W7 D3).

• This will be Scotland's ninth competitive fixture against South American opposition at the World Cup, failing to win any of their prior eight (D2 L6) while conceding 2.5 goals per game on average.

• Brazil have had 20 shots across their two 2026 World Cup games so far (12 vs Morocco, 8 vs Haiti), with their average of 10 per game currently their lowest on record at a single edition of the tournament (since 1966).

• Vinicius Junior has been involved in six goals in his past five games for Brazil in all competitions (three goals, three assists), scoring in both group games so far. Only four players have scored in three of Brazil's first-round group games at the World Cup, with the team going on to win the trophy each time - Jairzinho in 1970, Romario in 1994 and Ronaldo and Rivaldo in 2002.

• Lewis Ferguson leads all Scotland players at the 2026 World Cup for tackles made (eight), interceptions (four) and duels won (20), while only Jack Hendry (120) has completed more passes than Ferguson (101).

• Neymar's first brace for Brazil came against Scotland, in a March 2011 friendly - he scored both goals in a 2-0 win at the Emirates Stadium in London.

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland in Miami

Image source, Reuters

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

It feels like the whole of Scotland are squashed into Miami.

Many thought - me included - that Boston was the Tartan Army at its best and there was a wee, quiet, concern that 'The Magic City' couldn't match it.

Boy, were we wrong.

Following on from Monday's march to the Miami Marlins match - because baseball is what we follow now - Tuesday featured the TA bouncing down the beach to the soundtrack of 'No Scotland, No Party', 'Yes Sir, I Can Boogie' and 'We'll Be Coming'.

Coming they are. Well, they've long arrived.

The mile march from Lummus Park to Ocean Drive was magnificent. A throwback to Cologne two years ago at Euro 2024.

Who said that couldn't be topped?

Locals are immersing themselves in the atmosphere - and the accent - and enjoying the influx of men in kilts who keep going on about the heat.

There really is that once in a lifetime feel about all this. Kicking about America, not aware of what day of the week it is with a flock of folk from home.

All this without even thinking about the football.

It's only Brazil, eh?

Rangers are closing in on a deal to bring 28-year-old versatile Scotland-capped defender Ross McCrorie back to Ibrox from Bristol City. (Rangers Review), external

Rangers are preparing to submit a formal offer for 22-year-old Dundee centre-back Luke Graham in the coming weeks. (Football Insider), external

Head coach Steven Pressley says Dundee have received "plenty of phone calls" about Luke Graham this summer, but there has been no firm offers for the centre-half who trained with the senior Scotland squad before the World Cup. (The Courier), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Image source, Getty Images

Scott Mullen
BBC Sport Scotland at Miami Stadium

Image source, Getty Images

Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti says his team will face a Scotland with a "very clear strategy" when they meet in Miami on Wednesday.

The five-time world champions sit just a point ahead of the Scots who lie third in Group C, with Steve Clarke's side needing a positive result to be sure of progression.

Speaking at the Brazil media conference on Tuesday through an interpretor, Ancelotti said: "They are a strong team. They have a very clear strategy.

"It's a very well organised team. Usually play 4-4-2, long balls. They will try and do a lot of crossing.

"We need to control the match in that sense."

Ancelotti says Neymar could be set for his first game in a Brazil shirt for almost three years, adding: "We are very happy. He is a high quality player.

"He can play half-time or the whole 90 minutes. He's very well, he worked very hard. So he is ready."

Scotland fans are becoming baseball experts, and on Monday night they became the stars of the show once more.

Just over a week on from their Fenway Park takeover in Boston, Scotland supporters embraced the Miami Marlins.

There was Billy Gilmour, mince and tattie hot dogs, romance was in the air and there was also... Stephen McGinn.

Watch HERE, external on the BBC Scottish Football YouTube channel.