Scotland’s World Cup picture: solid at the back, short of spark up front

Scotland have three points from their first two World Cup matches, following a 1-0 win over Haiti and a 1-0 defeat by Morocco. Their route to the last 32 remains open, but the Brazil match will decide how secure that position really is.

The clearest concern is Scotland’s attacking output. They were outperformed on shots and xG by Haiti despite winning, and against Morocco they ended without a shot on target. Che Adams was replaced by Lyndon Dykes after 71 minutes in that match, having had only limited involvement, while the squad’s other forward options may come into sharper focus before the Brazil game.

There have been more encouraging signs defensively. Ismael Saibari’s early goal for Morocco exposed Scotland immediately, but the back line recovered and limited further damage. Jack Hendry’s interventions stood out, and Angus Gunn has strengthened his case as first-choice goalkeeper after a clean sheet against Haiti and several important saves against Morocco.

Midfield balance remains another issue, especially with Billy Gilmour ruled out by the knee injury he sustained before the tournament. Scotland have not consistently controlled possession or built attacks through the centre, which has increased the pressure on direct balls and isolated forwards. The question now is whether Steve Clarke prioritises security against Brazil or adds more pace and risk through players such as Ben Gannon-Doak or Findlay Curtis.