The matches which hold Scotland’s World Cup fate

Scotland's John McGinn (left), Lewis Ferguson (second left), Jack Hendry and head coach Steve Clarke (centre). Pic: Nick Potts/PA Wire.

Scotland’s hopes of going beyond the group stage in a major finals for the first time are hanging by a thread at the World Cup after a 3-0 defeat to Brazil in Miami on Wednesday.

Only the eight best third-placed teams progress to the last 32 and, by the end of Wednesday’s action, Scotland were placed seventh out of 12, with nine groups still to conclude.

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 Scotland need both Curacao and Ecuador to lose or draw in their matches against the Ivory Coast and Germany respectively. 

A win for either puts them above Scotland in the third-place rankings.

Group F 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 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.

Friday Group I 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.

Group H 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 onto five points, and Uruguay lose to Spain and stay on two.

Group G 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.

Saturday Group L 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.

Group K 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 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.