Steve Clarke believes Scotland are “going home” after a damaging 3-0 defeat to Brazil in their final Group C game of the 2026 World Cup.
The Tartan Army were assured of third place heading into the game with Haiti already knocked out, but suffered a huge blow to their goal difference thanks to goals from Vinicius Junior (2) and Matheus Cunha.
The top eight third-place teams will qualify for the knockout rounds and with many points tallies likely to be similar, goal difference will be crucial.
After the game in Miami, Scotland sit sixth in those standing with a minus-three goal difference – although there is still lots of football to be played.
Clarke’s initial interview with BBC Sport was cut short after he walked off in anger at the performance. “We made it difficult for ourselves. That’s it,” he said. “We gave them the goals and gave them the game they wanted. Disappointed.”
However, he spoke to the broadcaster again later and admitted: “I think we’re going home.”
The Scotland boss added: “We created some chances, but didn’t take them. Let’s be honest, the best team won.
“The shift that the players put in, the ones that played 90 minutes in that heat, that humidity, were outstanding. But we have to be better. If we want to compete at this level, we have to be better.
“In the first five minutes, we’re moving the ball quite nicely on the pitch. I thought we were settling into the game alright, and then we make a mistake like that [for Vinicius Junior’s opener]. You cannot do that at this level, because it puts you on the back foot, and then it becomes a long night.
Vinicius Jr opened the scoring for Brazil against Scotland after an error
“Only Scotland can get a winnable first game, and then get number five in the world, and number six in the world with the next two games. That’s the level we’re at.”
Robertson: I don’t think Scotland did enough – the wait will be horrible
Andy Robertson also struck a downbeat tone as Scotland now face an agonising wait for the final group games to be played.
He told BBC Sport: “Time will tell. We need to take a day or two to see what has happened. As a collective, we didn’t want to put ourselves in a position to hope for favours. If you ask me now, I don’t think it is enough. The next couple of days will be horrible.
“In certain moments, we let ourselves down tonight. At times, we were comfortable on the ball and got ourselves into dangerous areas. But against these teams, we cannot afford to make the mistakes we were making.
Scotland’s Kieran Tierney at full-time in Miami
“We were punished for pretty much every mistake. It’s not good enough when you get beaten 3-0. We only have ourselves to blame.”
Robertson’s sentiments were echoed by John McGinn, who says it is “unlikely” that Scotland will now reach the round of 32.
“You can see the lads are gutted,” he told BBC Sport. “We were short on quality but we gave it absolutely everything. The lads are empty. We have given ourselves a more difficult chance. It’s unlikely now but we will see.
“They allowed us to have the ball and at this level, if you make mistakes, you get punished. We know we have to be better. It is raw for us at the moment but hopefully the journey is not over.”
