Scotland Men's Football Team

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Scotland could afford to play four at the back against Brazil on Wednesday if they had "two Jack Hendrys", suggests football analyst and coach John Walker.

The fact they don't means they should play a five-man defence in their final Group C game at the World Cup.

"Jack Hendry's one of those defenders that I think people just keep sleeping on because we've not seen him since he was at Celtic really," Walker told the BBC Scottish Football Podcast. "We don't watch the Saudi league [where he plays for Al-Ettifaq]. We definitely didn't watch a lot of him in Belgium.

"Jack Hendry's really impressed me. If we had another Jack Hendry, I'd be more confident you could play a back four. You could play a high line because he's got a bit of speed behind him. He's very good on the ball.

"Him in that back four, he's really stood out as being somebody that can do bits of everything in defending."

Because "we still don't have world-class centre-halves", it limits Scotland's ability to be "expansive" as then "you've opened up Grant Hanley to high lines and counter-attacks - and that's not his strength either".

Indeed, Walker would go for John Souttar or Scott McKenna to partner Hendry and Kieran Tierney in central defence, with Aaron Hickey, if fit, and Andy Robertson as wing-backs.

He points out that Brazil scored against Haiti with balls in behind, while Morocco did likewise against Scotland.

"I just don't think we have the the capability and players," Walker added. "We've got one or two, but I don't think we can go play a high line and not be exposed.

"I don't think we can go press high and not be exposed. I don't think we've got the pace to then overturn Brazilian transition either."

Scotland striker Che Adams is one of Venezia's targets this summer, but Torino want more than the £3.5m being offered by their Serie A rivals for the 29-year-old. (Sky Sports), external

Sheffield Wednesday are considering re-signing Scotland-capped forward Callum Paterson after the 31-year-old's successful season with MK Dons. (The Wednesday Word), external

Former Scotland centre-half Declan Gallagher, released by Ross County, former Ayr United striker Curtis Main, defender Ewan Otoo, who left Dunfermline Athletic, and former Greenock Morton winger Owen Moffat are among the out-of-contract players attending the first summer pre-season training camp run by the Scottish players' union. (The Courier), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Calum Macdonald

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Scotland striker Lawrence Shankland says he is ready to play whatever role head coach Steve Clarke asks of him against Brazil in Miami on Wednesday.

"No matter where I'm asked to play, I'll be ready and that's the same for the whole squad," said the recent Rangers signing.

"The manager will have his views on everybody. He has a large group of players to pick from out there.

"I'll leave that side of things up to him. All I'll do is train well and try give myself the best opportunity. Coming off the bench is something I am quite familiar with."

Shankland has scored 10 goals in his past 12 games for club and country but did not feature in the 1-0 loss to Morocco.

Scotland did not have an effort on target in Friday's game, while they managed just two in the opening 1-0 victory over Haiti.

"I'm craving more than one chance to be honest," said the former Hearts captain. "Hopefully we'll have a few."

A point should be enough to see Scotland progress from the group phase at a major tournament for the first time, but the 30-year-old is well aware of the problems Brazil will pose.

"It will be a tough challenge, they have a quality squad and good team," he added. "We will need to be at our best to get something out of it.

"When you think of a World Cup, for me, Brazil are one of the first teams that come to your mind. The first team I remember watching."

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Aaron Hickey was again missing for Scotland's final training session at their Charlotte base before Wednesday's final Group C game against Brazil.

The Brentford right-back played 75 minutes off the opening 1-0 win over Haiti but did not feature in the 1-0 defeat by Morocco on Friday at the Boston Stadium.

Defender Scott McKenna and midfielder Lewis Ferguson, who were doing individual work on Sunday, returned to training in North Carolina before the Scotland squad flew to Miami.

McKenna has been managing a calf complaint and has yet to get on the pitch, while Ferguson rested after playing the whole game against the African champions.

Training will resume in Fort Lauderdale and will include sauna sessions to help cope with Florida's heat and humidity.

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Scotland are preparing for a fifth World Cup meeting with Brazil in Miami on Wednesday.

Let's take a look at what happened in those previous matches...

1974: Scotland 0-0 Brazil

Having been under the cosh in the first half in Frankfurt, Scotland gave the reigning champions a real fright after the break.

Davie Hay, Peter Lorimer and Joe Jordan threatened and Billy Bremner came agonisingly close when a rebound off his shin rolled inches wide.

Both nations finished the group stage undefeated, but Scotland were eliminated on goal difference, while Brazil lost the third place game to Poland after defeat to beaten finalists Netherlands in the second group phase.

1982: Scotland 1-4 Brazil

Dave Narey's stunning strike from the edge of the penalty area gave Scotland a shock lead on 18 minutes.

However, a slick Brazil side hit back in style in Seville with Zico equalising from a fantastic free-kick.

A front-post header from Oscar made it 2-1, before Eder bamboozled Alan Rough with a sublime chip.

Falcao completed the scoring with a raking shot from 25 yards.

Scotland would go on to face more World Cup heartache, again exiting at the group stage on goal difference. Brazil fell at the second group stage, losing an all-time classic 3-2 against eventual winners Italy.

1990: Scotland 0-1 Brazil

A low key contest in Turin was settled on 81 minutes when Muller forced the ball in from a tight angle after a Jim Leighton fumble.

Scotland needed a point to progress and nearly got it in the closing stages but Claudio Taffarel produced a brilliant point-blank stop from Maurice Johnston.

Later results elsewhere deprived Scotland of progress as one of the best third-placed teams. Brazil were edged out by Argentina in the last 16.

1998: Scotland 1-2 Brazil

In what was the tournament's opening match in Paris, Brazil struck early with a Cesar Sampaio header from a corner.

Scotland were level before the break thanks to a cool John Collins penalty after a trip on Kevin Gallacher.

But Craig Brown's side lost out in cruel circumstances when Cafu's shot was saved by Leighton, only for the ball to strike the chest of Tom Boyd and creep over the line.

Scotland once again failed at the group stage after a draw with Norway and a 3-0 defeat to Morocco as Brazil lost to France in the final.

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

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Bristol City want to sign Ipswich defender Harry Clarke.

New Robins boss Michael Skubala is looking to bring the right-back to Ashton Gate with doubts over Ross McCrorie's future.

Scotland international McCrorie - who has interest in the Championship and Europe - has 12 months left on his contract and is yet to sign a new deal, with City wary of losing him for free.

Bristol City were in a similar situation with Zak Vyner and Anis Mehmeti last summer, before accepting cut-price fees for the pair in the winter window and they joined Wrexham and Ipswich respectively.

Clarke, 25, spent the second half of last season on loan at Charlton, making 19 appearances, having previously been on loan at Sheffield United in 2024-25.

He joined the Tractor Boys from Arsenal in January 2023 and has played 67 times for the club, scoring once.

Clarke made 39 appearances in all competitions when Ipswich were promoted to the Premier League in 2023-24 and also helped them up from League One the season before.

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Andy Halliday believes Scotland can "go far" in the World Cup if they can get "10% more" from the squad.

The Scots sit on one win and one defeat so far and face Brazil on Wednesday (23: BST).

"If we just get that 10% more out of the group and that's all it is for me, I think we can go deep in this tournament," former Hearts, Motherwell and Rangers midfielder Halliday told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"You can get yourself in a real twist looking at the probabilities of what it takes to go through and who we've got in the last 32 and in last 16. But when I'm looking at some of the teams that we could potentially get if we go through, there's absolutely nothing to suggest we can't go far in this tournament.

"The last time I checked, the probability in the last 32 was either Mexico or Sweden. Mexico will be extremely difficult, especially in the Azteca with the altitude and the heat there.

"But if we play Sweden in last 32, who just lost 5-1 to Holland who finished bottom in their qualifying group, and then the potential of last 16 are South Korea or Switzerland.

"I'm saying that if we play better... we've got a chance against Sweden."

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Scott Allan believes Ben Gannon-Doak's role in Scotland's final World Cup Group C fixture with Brazil is "the main topic" in how the Scots prepare.

The winger started the win against Haiti, playing a role in the winning goal, and came off the bench in the loss to Morocco.

"I feel like when we land on the ball, we never really know what the next pass is," former Celtic and Hibernian midfielder Allan told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"A lot of that comes down to how your structure is to maybe find your best players in attacking positions. The main topic will be Ben Gannon-Doak. Steve Clarke probably looks at that and goes, 'pulled cramping on about 65, 70 minutes against Haiti, can we stay in the game up until the last 30 minutes and then unleash Ben Gannon-Doak?'

"We've got more energy and more enthusiasm in the middle of the park than Brazil have and that is a route where we have to try and exploit.

"They aren't free-flowing like we've seen from Brazil. If we can get that real energy out of possession and then be so much better on the ball and a bit braver, and a lot of that on this game for me lands on the players being a bit braver and wanting to take a bit of risk."

Allan believes it is "incredible" the Scots could lose two group games and still progress to the knockout stages.

And Allan identified the main threat to Scotland in Miami.

"Vinicius Jr is the man you have to stop and that's why that's an area of the park where you think you'd expect real pressure to be on the ball," Allan explained.

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Brazil playmaker Lucas Paqueta says he has "great respect" for Scotland before the decisive meeting of the teams in Miami on Wednesday.

The five-time world champions sit top of Group C after following up their 1-1 draw with Morocco by beating Haiti 3-0.

Former West Ham United midfielder Paqueta insists there will be no danger of complacency from him when the sides meet.

"All the teams at the World Cup deserve respect," he said. "You have to study them and prepare as best as possible to face them.

"We have great respect for Scotland but we also know we need to play our game and follow what the coach asks of us.

"Regardless of the opponent, our goal in every match is to win."