It’ll be the clash of mighty fan bases in Miami as two nations vie for their spot in the Round of 32 during the FIFA World Cup.
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Of course, we’re talking about Brazil vs. Scotland at 6 p.m. EDT in Miami Gardens.
Scotland is hoping to qualify for the knockout stage at the World Cup for the first time following eight previous group-stage exits. The Scots got off to a good start to their first World Cup in 28 years, beating Haiti 1-0 in their opener for their first win on soccer’s biggest stage since 1990.
Brazil, meanwhile, has lost only one of its last 16 World Cup group matches against European teams. Scotland has never beaten Brazil in 10 meetings and is winless in eight previous World Cup matches against South American opponents.
Where do the teams stand?
Brazil leads Group C with 4 points after eliminating Haiti 3-0 and tying with Morocco 1-1.
Morocco sits in the second position with 4 points after beating Scotland 1-0.
Scotland is 3rd with 3 points after beating Haiti 1-0.
Brazil could be playing with Neymar
Neymar is expected to return from a right calf injury and play for Brazil in its final World Cup group match, coach Carlo Ancelotti said last week.
Neymar missed Brazil’s first two games of the tournament, but Ancelotti said he “will be available” for Brazil when it closes Group C play against Scotland.
Neymar is Brazil’s career scoring leader with 79 goals in 129 international appearances.
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But Andy Robertson, captain of Scotland’s national team, said getting through the juggernaut squad will be tough regardless of who suits up.
“It’s not really if we want to face Neymar. If we want to face Vinícius Júnior. If we want to face Endrick. If we want to face (Gabriel) Martinelli,” Robertson said. “I could go on and name every player on the Brazil squad. They have so much quality. We just have to prepare and try to play the best we can because we know they have quality on every single possession. And we know if they have to make substitutions, they have quality.”
Scotland coach Steve Clarke grew up admiring Brazil after watching the dominance of the 1970 team featuring Pelé. He noted he’s excited to face the powerhouse that he grew to love.
“But tomorrow night,” Clarke said, “we have to not love Brazil and love Scotland more.”
‘No Scotland, no party’
Scotland’s fans have been the toast of this year’s World Cup, taking over Boston’s bars before their team’s opening match, then turning the Miami Marlins’ ballpark into a giant party.
Imagine what the Tartan Army will do if the Scots advance to the knockout stage for the first time in nine World Cups.
Sitting third in Group C, Scotland needs a draw or potentially even a narrow loss against Brazil to make it out of the group stage. Scotland has three points and a goal differential of minus-4, so a 1-0 defeat could be enough to get through.
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The bagpipes will blare if Scotland advances.