Tartan Army fills Miami

Miami has taken on a distinctly Scottish feel before one of the biggest nights in the national team’s World Cup history.

According to ITV News’ Peter Scott, thousands of Scotland supporters have arrived in Florida before Wednesday’s final Group C match against Brazil.

The Tartan Army has already made itself impossible to miss. Fans from Scotland and Brazil have been seen drinking, dancing and swapping songs on Ocean Drive, while others have turned the streets into informal football pitches.

The mood has followed Scotland from Boston, where supporters marched through the city with bagpipes and the now familiar chant of “No Scotland, No Party”. In Miami, the party has continued in the heat, with kilts, flags and blue shirts spreading across the city before kick-off.

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Scotland stands on edge of history

For Scotland, the match is about more than the occasion.

Steve Clarke’s side are third in Group C after opening with a 1-0 win over Haiti and then losing 1-0 to Morocco. Brazil and Morocco both have four points, while Scotland sit on three and Haiti are already out.

As outlined by Radio Times’ Scotland v Brazil preview, a draw would probably be enough to send Scotland into the knockout stage for the first time. A win would settle the matter without any need for outside help.

A defeat would not necessarily end Scotland’s tournament, but it would leave them waiting on results elsewhere to see whether three points are enough to qualify as one of the best third-placed teams.

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Scotland have played at eight previous World Cups and never gone beyond the group stage. That is the history facing this squad in Miami Gardens.

Robertson embraces the pressure

Captain Andy Robertson knows the size of the task. Brazil remain one of the giants of the tournament, even if they have not yet fully convinced in Group C.

Robertson, however, has framed the game as an opportunity rather than a burden.

“We are in control of our own destiny,” he told reporters.

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He also paid tribute to the travelling support, saying: “Everywhere they go, people fall in love with them.”

Those supporters have given Scotland’s campaign much of its colour. But the players now have the chance to turn that atmosphere into something more lasting.

A nation watches late

Back in Scotland, thousands of fans are expected at viewing events, including the Ovo Hydro in Glasgow and The Pitt in Edinburgh.

The match kicks off at 11pm UK time and will be shown live on BBC One. At the same time, Morocco face Haiti in the other Group C match, meaning the final table could shift quickly.

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First Minister John Swinney captured the mood before kick-off, saying the players “have the chance to make themselves legends tonight”.

That is not an exaggeration. A result against Brazil would not just extend Scotland’s World Cup. It would end one of the longest-running frustrations in the country’s football history.

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