Scotland manager Steve Clarke stormed out of a BBC interview after being asked about the anxious wait to find out whether his side will qualify for the round of 32, following a calamitous 3-0 defeat to Brazil in Miami that leaves their World Cup hopes on the brink. "I don't even think about that," Clarke said before walking away from the camera, forcing the BBC to cut back to Kelly Cates in their Salford studio. A frustrated Clarke later returned to deliver a full post‑match interview, admitting Scotland are "for sure" going home.
The loss means the Tartan Army finish third in Group C on three points with a -3 goal difference, and results elsewhere will determine whether they finish as one of the eight best third-place teams. Right now, Scotland have a very slim chance of progressing, sitting seventh in the third-place table with 18 more group matches to take place this week.
“Steve Clarke storms out of BBC interview after Scotland's 3-0 defeat to Brazil leaves World Cup hopes hanging by a thread.”
Midfielder John McGinn delivered a more measured reaction, telling the BBC: "The lads are empty now. It's unlikely [we'll qualify] but we'll wait and see."
Brazil, who finished top of Group C, beat Scotland 3-0 in Miami with five-time world champions securing seven points. Morocco also finished level on seven points after a 4-2 victory over Haiti in a six-goal thriller on Wednesday, but are runners-up on goal difference and will play the Group F winners – Japan, the Netherlands or Sweden – on Monday in the first knockout round.
Haiti, the first side eliminated from the 48-team tournament after losing their second group game, went ahead early but Morocco twice came from behind before Soufiane Rahimi's 78th-minute strike and a last-minute goal from Gessime Yassine sealed the win. Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi said: "Morocco has entered a whole new dimension, and we're part of a new momentum where we actually need to believe we can take the title." Haiti manager Sebastien Migne, whose team lost all three games, said: "We showed that we didn't steal our spot here. We deserve to be here."
For Scotland, the wait continues – but with Clarke's outburst and McGinn's resignation, the mood is bleak.