Scotland cần làm gì để giành vé vào vòng loại trực tiếp World Cup sau trận thua đậm trước Brazil?

Scotland’s loss to Brazil has put a serious dent in their hopes of reaching the World Cup round of 32.

The 3-0 defeat meant Steve Clarke’s side finished the group stage with three points and a goal differential of -3.

Clarke has already admitted his side’s knockout hopes are hanging by a threadGetty

Scotland’s three points were good enough to lock up third place in Group C.

As a result, it means Scotland are officially in the running to progress to the World Cup knockout stage as one of the eight best third-placed teams.

However, given Scotland’s group was the second to complete their three matches, it means they must now wait for the other ten groups to wrap up.

The lengthy delay is something Scotland boss Clarke was in no mood to discuss following the Brazil defeat.

Here, talkSPORT.com breaks down all the ways in which Scotland can qualify for the round of 32 or how results elsewhere could see them sent packing from the group stage for a ninth time.

Before we go into the nitty-gritty, let us give you the short version.

Scotland need at least four teams who finish third to end the group stages with a worse record than them.

That means they need to have either less than three points, or three points but with a goal differential of at least minus-four.

If a nation has the same points and same goal differential, it then goes down to goals scored.

Unfortunately for the Scots, John McGinn’s goal in the 1-0 win over Haiti was the only one they scored in the entire tournament, leaving them extremely vulnerable if it comes down to this tiebreaker.

Although Scotland tasted defeat against Brazil, they may still yet progress to the World Cup round of 32Getty

Group A

If Czechia (1 point, -1 GD) and South Africa (1 point, -2 GD) fail to win either of their final games against Mexico or South Korea respectively, Scotland finish above the third-placed side of that group.

If either Czechia or South Africa win either of their final group games, then Scotland move down a place in the third-placed teams rankings.

Group B

Bosnia and Herzegovina finished third in Group B with four points, meaning Scotland cannot catch them.

Group D

If Australia (3 pts, 0 GD) and Paraguay (3 pts, 0 GD) draw against each other, Scotland will finish below Paraguay in the third-placed rankings.

If Australia beat Paraguay by a two-goal or more margin, then Scotland overtake Paraguay in the third-placed rankings.

Tony Popovic’s Socceroos are hoping to reach the knockout stage of a World Cup for just the third timeGetty

If Paraguay beat Australia by a four-goal or more margin then Scotland overtake Australia in the third-placed rankings.

Group E

Ecuador (1 point, -1 GD) or Curacao (1 point, -6 GD) must beat Germany and Ivory Coast respectively to overtake Scotland in the third-placed rankings.

Ivory Coast (3 points, 0 GD) would slip below Scotland in third-placed rankings if they were to lose to Curacao by four goals or more.

Group F

Sweden (3 points, 0 GD) are currently above Scotland on goal difference in the third-place rankings and would need to lose Japan by four goals or more to move below Scotland.

Group G

Belgium (2 points, 0 GD) are currently below Scotland in the third-placed rankings but would go above with at least a draw against New Zealand.

If Belgium beat New Zealand, they could then drop Iran (2 points, 0 GD) into third.

In the event Belgium beat New Zealand, Iran would only need a draw against Egypt to finish above Scotland in the third-placed rankings.

Belgium are aiming to avoid back-to-back group stage exits at the World CupGetty

If New Zealand (1 point, -2 GD) beat Belgium, they would go into third in the group and be above Scotland in the third-placed rankings.

But if the All Whites beat Belgium and Iran lose to Egypt, that would mean Scotland will finish above Iran in the third-placed rankings.

Group H

Cape Verde (2 points, 0 GD) are currently below Scotland in the third-placed rankings but would go above them with at least a draw to Saudi Arabia.

However, in the event of Cape Verde winning or drawing against Saudi Arabia, Uruguay (2 points, 0 GD) would need to at least draw to Spain in order to finish in the top three. Failure to do so in this scenario would see Uruguay come third in the group and below Scotland in the third-placed rankings on two points.

Uruguay would also finish third in the group on two points and below Scotland in the rankings in the event of failing to draw or beat Spain and Saudi Arabia beating Cape Verde.

If Uruguay beat Spain then Scotland will finish below the third-placed finishing team in Group H regardless of the result between Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia.

Group I

Cape Verde’s World Cup debut may yet have another important chapter to be writtenGetty

Senegal (0 points, -3 GD) must beat Iraq to overtake Scotland in the third-place rankings.

Group J

Austria (3 points, 0 GD) and Algeria (3 points, -2 GD) can both finish third, and they will face off against each other on the final matchday.

If they draw, Algeria will finish third with four points, pushing them above Scotland.

Scotland need Austria to beat Algeria by at least two goals to overtake them in the third place standings.

Scotland also would finish ahead of Austria if Algeria beat them by four goals or more.

Group K

DR Congo (1 point, -1 GD) must beat Uzbekistan to finish above Scotland in the third-placed rankings

Group L

Croatia (3 points, -1 GD) must lose by three or more goals to Ghana for Scotland to finish above in the third-placed rankings.

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