Why Scotland Can't Afford to Play for a Draw Against Brazil
Scotland face Brazil knowing a draw or narrow defeat could be enough to advance, but experts warn that a passive approach carries significant risks.
Scotland's national football team will take on Brazil in Miami on Wednesday, aware that a draw is sufficient to reach the World Cup knockout stage. Even a narrow loss could see them through as one of the eight best third-placed teams. However, former Scotland player and manager Craig Levein cautioned against playing for a draw.
Speaking to BBC Scotland, Levein said: "I don't believe Steve [Clarke] will be playing for a draw because there's a dangerous element to that. If you lose a goal while in that mindset, it's hard to shift out of it." He recalled the 2010 match against the Czech Republic when Scotland deployed a 4-6-0 formation and lost to a set-piece despite a draw being a good result.
Scotland's performances so far have been passive: they had only 46% possession against Haiti and 40% against Morocco, managing just two shots on target. Former Hibernian and Celtic midfielder Scott Allan noted that a passive approach leads to anxiety instead of belief. "You can sit in a low block and still be aggressive," he said, emphasizing the need to press at the right moments.
Former Rangers midfielder Andy Halliday agreed, stating Scotland must be more aggressive off the ball against Brazil. "We can't allow top players time and space," he said, adding that all of Scotland's best chances against Morocco came from pressing high and winning the ball.
Manager Steve Clarke's team selection, such as including winger Ben Gannon-Doak, could signal a more attacking intent. Levein believes Clarke's demeanor and training approach will influence the players more than external talk about needing only a point.
The match kicks off at 23:00 BST on June 24 at Miami Stadium, broadcast live on BBC One, iPlayer, BBC Radio Scotland, and BBC Radio 5 Live.
