Scotland Brazil at World Cup 2026 is potentially the biggest game in the history of the Scottish Men’s National Team (SMNT). If the Scots get a good result, they momentously qualify for the knockout stage of a major tournament for the 1st time in 13 attempts. Fitba.scot genuinely believes that while Scotland are underdogs, they can get a result against this particular Brazil outfit. Below, we spotlight 6 key decisions Steve Clarke has for his Scotland Brazil line up.
1) Who starts at right back?
Clarke has indicated Aaron Hickey is unavailable until the knockout stage (should the Scots qualify to get to that stage). However, given Hickey’s underwhelming performance against Haiti, Hickey may not have been the best choice anyway. Directly facing Vinicius Jr on the wide left of the Brazil attack is a formidable & for some at least, a daunting prospect.
Nathan Patterson started against Morocco, suggesting he is next in Steve Clarke’s RB pecking order. Patterson’s strengths are argued by some as being more in attack than defence. Tony Ralston, who subbed on for Patterson against Morocco, is an honest, hard working trier. The best option though maybe the strategy tried when Gordon Strachan was Scotland boss; play Kieran Tierney at RB instead of LB.
Tierney’s strengths of running & tackling could be just the ticket against the mega-gifted attacking threat Vini Jr brings. Further, Tierney being naturally left-footed, could be ideal to mitigate Vini’s propensity to cut in from the left to shoot. As per the November qualifier 4-2 win against Denmark, Tierney famously came inside from the right to score with a curling shot from outside the box. Hence, Tierney has already played at RB for Clarke.
2) Who plays beside Hendry at centre back?
Jack Hendry has been solid so far at this World Cup and deserves to retain his place. However, who should start beside him against Brazil?
Grant Hanley was arguably Scotland’s best player against an energetic & enthusiastic Haiti side. However, that may have been viewed differently if he hadn’t survived a strong handball claim. Furthermore, against Morocco Hanley’s misjudgement to try to play offside, fatally allowed Ismael Saibari to breach the Scots back line to score the only goal of the game.
Hanley is a vastly experienced CB; 34 years old, over 550 games including now 70 SMNT caps. Why would he in the 2nd minute of such an important game as that against Morocco, risk trying to play offside against such pacey opposition?
Hanley to his credit, recovered to have an otherwise reasonably solid game. The Brazil game though seems appropriate to try someone else. An obvious alternative seems Scott McKenna. Similarly to Hanley, McKenna offers physique & height. Also, McKenna offers speed Hanley is unable to match. Additionally, McKenna being left footed presents a natural option for left side of central defence. However, McKenna has had fitness questions since arriving for this World Cup.
Dom Hyam like Hanley & McKenna is 6 foot 2, and offers more than Hanley in terms of passing the ball out of defence.
3) Who plays beside Ferguson in central midfield?
Lewis Ferguson’s hardworking, committed midfield diligence, has made him Scotland’s best player in both qualifying for and playing at this World Cup. Only injury should deny him a starting place against Brazil. Who though should line up beside him?
Kenny McLean impressed after subbing on against Morocco, exhibiting composure & intelligence to bring his teammates into the play. In the suffocating heat & humidity of Miami, that composed intelligence could be needed all the more. Another vastly experienced 34-year-old, he did more than enough against Morocco to justify starting beside Ferguson against Brazil, instead of Ryan Christie.
Tyler Fletcher is an excellent prospect and could likely do a competent job. A game of this importance though, is not the occasion to start a 19-year-old whose 2 SMNT caps match his number of club career 1st team appearances to date.
4) Should Gannon-Doak start or sub on?
The searing pace of Ben Gannon-Doak as stated numerous times on fitba.scot, offers danger of a type that is completely non-existent when he is not on the pitch. His wide attacking threat is potentially decisive against a Brazil team that seems unconvincing at FB.
Gannon-Doak’s threat is prospectively all the more valuable, given analysis by Coaches Voice. Specifically, they report the biggest weakness of the otherwise fabulous Alisson Becker, is reluctance to come for crosses.
The big question is, does Gannon-Doak start like he did against Haiti, or sub on like he did against Morocco? Given how little football injury-impacted Gannon-Doak has played recently, and that the heat & humidity will be draining, should Gannon-Doak start or sub on from the bench? That is a huge decision & is why Steve Clarke gets paid the big bucks.
5) Where should McTominay play?
Scott McTominay is consistently at his best when in attack. He displayed that again in the Morocco game, when given license to get forward in the latter part of the game. If given license to get forward against Brazil, that would allow him to imprint his mark on this World Cup as the Scot of greatest stature. His aerial threat and runs into the box are made for a team attacking the vulnerability profile of this Brazil team.
6) Who plays up front?
Ross Stewart has the best all round striker’s game of any currently playing Scotsman. If he hadn’t been burdened by recurring injuries in the last 3 seasons, he’d be at a mid-table EPL club such as Everton. Hardworking, physically imposing, a good finisher and dominant in the air, he especially ticks the boxes to play against this particular Brazil team.
If Stewart can retain fitness, he has the attributes to exploit crosses from wide positions by the likes of Gannon-Doak & Andy Robertson. Whether Clarke starts Stewart ahead of one his usually preferred forwards, Ché Adams & Lyndon Dykes, remains to be seen. Adams & Dykes are both hardworking, with Dykes also big, tall & physical like Stewart. Neither Adams nor Dykes though has the finishing ability that Stewart offers.
If needing a goal later in the game, Lawrence Shankland‘s 2 footed finishing and link up play is a great option to sub on.
Destiny
We are on the cusp of potentially the most momentous game in SMNT history. Steve Clarke was unexpectedly in the eyes of fitba.scot, given a new contract just before this World Cup, of a further 4 years duration as Scotland boss. Scotland Brazil is a golden opportunity for Clarke to justify that contract. If he and his players get a positive result from this game, they guarantee Scotland automatically get out of the group for the first time at a major football tournament.
For the Scotland players & backroom staff, destiny awaits.
