World Cup 2026

[Durhamfootman]

I've been trying to work out Scotland's chances of going through, even if they lose tonight. I reckon there are only 3 groups where 3rd place is likely to be less than 3 points... groups A, E and G, so they are going to have to get a result, or hope that somebody else screws up. I think Algeria/Austria and Paraguay/Australia will all set their stalls out to play for the draw, knowing that 4 points will take them through.
Sweden are vulnerable if they lose to Japan by more goals than Scotland lose to Brazil. Uruguay have to take a point off Spain to progress if Scotland lose. I think Senegal will beat Iraq, but have a much worse GD, so that might be determined by how badly Scotland lose as much as by how handsomely they win. Congo will beat Uzbekistan so if Scotland lose, DRC will go through. Croatia can ill afford to lose to Ghana

there are loads of permutations, but the upshot is that if Scotland lose, they might get lucky as long as they don't lose by much more than the odd goal.

It bothers me, with this format, that second and third placed teams can go into final group games knowing that they can go through with a nod and wink before the start of the match. I thought football was supposed to have moved away from all that nonsense

[Durhamfootman]

Uruguay would seem to be Scotland's best bet

[Durhamfootman]

In fact there will be a fair number of teams who will all be hoping that Uruguay lose to Spain

[Durhamfootman]

Scotland are 2 down already, so they are going to have to be very, very lucky


ooh.... disallowed by VAR. 1 down.... only

[Durhamfootman]

3-0 to Brazil. Scotland now have the worst GD of any of the 3rd placed teams on 3 points

[andy]

Scotland defensively were abysmal and frankly they don't deserve to go through

[alfie]

Bit of a shocker for Scotland I'm, afraid. Might be kinder to them to go home rather than have to play another top team based on that performance. You'd think that negative goal difference has done for them. Haiti's spirited effort against Morocco actually makes the one Scottish success look a lot more impressive , ironically enough !

[sussexpob]

I really didn't get Scotland's approach at all. They started playing out from the back, McKenna then gifts Brazil a goal crumbling in front of the forward press, and any sensible manager at that point tells his goalkeeper to smash it downfield and stop fannying around with it. But no, they continued and Jack Hendry then did the same, and they were incredibly lucky with that disallowed decision.

I thought Scotland competed well in Midfield, but they just lacked quality in the final third..... all which doesn't matter if you defend that badly anyway. The 2nd was also abysmal defending from Hendry, who had a real stinker. Ben Doak was also entirely redundant.

Tbf I did quite enjoy seeing ex-Brugge scumbag Hendry being outclassed on the world stage. The guy is a n*bhead.

[Durhamfootman]

Have Scotland ever got out of the group stage? I don't think they have. They'll be hoping to break that duck, even if it leads to a thumping in the R32

I think Uruguay are toast. Spain will certainly want to finish top, but if they were to lose, they could easily find themselves in 3rd place, with the prospect of a much tougher route through the KO stages and that means they'll have to put their strongest side out and it will surely be too much for Uruguay

Germany have earned the right to put a weakened side out, rest their key players and give game time to their B team, so that might help Ecuador, but I still don't see them getting enough from the game to save themselves

Iran look favourites to finish 3rd in their group, because Belgium will surely be too strong for NZ, but will still need to find a way to get a point off Egypt, to end up ahead of Scotland on GD. If Belgium were to unexpectedly lose, and they have been poor, then that would help the Scots

Even with all of those, Scotland will still need somebody to screw up big style. Senegal suddenly only need a 1-0 win over Iraq to finish ahead of Scotland. Other teams could easily contrive to draw to progress. DRC will surely beat Uzbekistan. Sweden might very well lose to Japan, but would have to do so by 3 or 4 for there to be any risk to them

Conceding 3 goals to Brazil was a killer, really. Not a good time to commit sepuku defensively

[bigfluffylemon]

Australia-Paraguay playing out as you would expect from two teams of limited quality who would both be quite happy with a 0-0 scoreline. Don't think I've ever seen a game where both teams are trying to play 10 behind the ball...

It's partly an indictment of the format that there's bugger-all on the line as they're both certain to make the next round with a draw. But a loss could send the third place team out of the top 8 3rd place qualifiers. So no incentive to take any risks whatsoever.

[bigfluffylemon]

Job done. Australia through to the knockouts in second place from a competitive group.

[bigfluffylemon]

Not looking good for Scotland.

[mikesiva]

Ecuador 2-1 Germany!

[Durhamfootman]

no Scotland are done

Ecuador beat Germany

Sweden managed a draw with Japan

Scottish hopes are fading fast...... chances of progression are down to 5%, apparently

Turkey burst the USA bubble

[Durhamfootman]

Scotland now need every result to go their way, so they might as well start packing their bags. When Ecuador beat Germany (however disinterested) then Scotland are screwed. I'd fancy 0-0 for Austria/Algeria too.