Scotland's hopes of staying in World Cup as Steve Clarke storms off interview after Brazil loss

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Scotland’s World Cup knockout hopes now hinge on the third-place standings after they finished Group C on three points. The Scots are 11/4 to qualify - an implied chance of just under 27% - following Wednesday night’s 3-0 defeat to Brazil.

That loss did more than end any chance of automatic progress. It wiped out the goal-difference buffer Scotland had built over the first two games, leaving them on three points with a -3 goal difference and dropping them into seventh place in the third-place table.

Right now, William Hill are pricing Scotland to leave at the group stage at 1/4 while a place in the round of 32 is 4/1 with Sky Bet and Paddy Power . You can also find more betting offers at the Mirror Betting Hubs Free Bets offers .

Spokesperson for William Hill , Lee Phelps, said: "Scotland are at the mercy of other teams if they are to qualify from Group C after a dismal 3-0 defeat to Brazil last night, and we go 1/4 that the Tartan Army exit at the group stage.

“In fact, it’s likelier that England reach the semi-finals of the competition. The Three Lions are 13/8 to progress that far, whilst Scotland are 9/4 to progress to the round of 32.

“If result don’t go their way this evening, that price could get even bigger.”

Seventh would be enough to go through if the table stayed as it is, but Scotland’s damaged goal difference leaves them trailing Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sweden, Croatia, South Korea, Algeria and Paraguay among the third-placed sides. South Korea’s surprise defeat to South Africa also tightened the picture. Rather than creating breathing room beneath Scotland, it added another three-point team with a stronger goal difference, squeezing the race for the final places.

Belgium and Senegal are the main dangers from behind. Belgium have two points and a goal difference of zero, while Senegal are still on zero points but have a final group match to play and could force their way into contention with a win.

Scotland may also need results elsewhere to work in their favour. Paraguay and Algeria both sit on three points with -2 goal differences, so a heavy defeat for either could see them fall below Scotland — and a two-goal loss would be particularly significant given Scotland’s -3.

Cape Verde, DR Congo and Ecuador remain part of the broader bubble, but Scotland’s clearest route is for at least one side above them to slip up, while one of Belgium or Senegal fails to win. Both Belgium and Senegal are priced at 1/4 or shorter for their final group games and both need a result to advance. If they both win, Scotland would likely be pushed from seventh down to ninth - outside the qualification line.

There is still a route through, but the 11/4 odds reflect how much damage the Brazil result has done, especially with several teams below Scotland still well placed to overtake them. The expectation is that Scotland fall short of the knockout rounds. They need too much help, and if Belgium and Senegal both deliver, Scotland would likely require a major collapse from Paraguay or Algeria to stay alive.

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Here is what betting expert Tom Phillips had to say:

It would be one of the finer moments of the World Cup for Scotland to qualify purely for the fact we get to see the Tartan Army for at least one more time - and the potential of facing England in the round of 16 is almost too good to be true.

Alas, it is too good to be true.

It seems this is the last time we will see the Tartan Army at this World Cup after a dream qualification campaign, the Scots just did not have enough in the tank to get them over the line. Currently, they sit in the eight places for the best third-place performers but the heavy Brazil defeat will hurt them with -3 goal difference.

In truth, the writing was on the wall the moment the Haiti match had finished as even though it was a win to remember, the one-goal advantage was not enough and they really could have done with getting something out of the Morocco game too. They will go home left to rue missed chances but more opportunities await them but in four years time, not next week.

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