Steve Clarke’s squad are preparing for what could be the biggest day in the history of Scotland’s national team – a World Cup match against Brazil in Miami on Wednesday. Yet they travel having had no shot on target in their last game and a half, and only two overall. Che Adams, the principal striker, has had three touches of the ball in the opposition box in 146 minutes. One goal has been scored – a double deflection less than half an hour into the opening game.
On Friday, despite all their endeavour and the heat they put on Morocco late on, Scotland failed to register a shot on target for the first time on this stage since the 1986 World Cup. Taking the last Euros into account, Scotland have had five shots on target in their last five tournament matches. Their three goals across those five contests have come from two deflected shots and one own goal.
“Scotland, with barely a shot on target, could still make history against Brazil by progressing to the knockout stage.”
Yet if the football data experts are to be believed, the chances of them progressing are high. The mad psychology is that win, lose, or draw, this might be the most glorious week in the long story of the national team – the moment they finally make it out of a group and into the knockout rounds.
A first-ever win over Brazil would do the job beautifully, cueing a Tartan Army carnival in Miami. A draw would spark the same merry chaos. But the mentality gets interesting if Scotland lose by a goal or two, or even three, and still make it into the next round. They could be utterly brilliant and progress, or utterly unthreatening and progress. They could play to keep the score down, pack the midfield, hoof everything downfield and never venture a shot on Brazil’s goal – and still go through.
Tom English, BBC Scotland’s chief sports writer, poses the question: “A strange kind of glory? Or, when you’ve lost out on goal difference so many times before, does it actually matter a damn?” He adds: “Never mind the quality, just rejoice in the qualification?”
For a team that has so often fallen short, the bottom line may be everything. The end, perhaps, justifies the means.