Former England international Ian Wright has voiced strong criticism of Scottish football's leadership following the national team's heavy defeat to Brazil, suggesting they are "letting the country down." Scotland's World Cup campaign now hangs precariously as they await the results of other matches to determine if they can advance as one of the best third-placed teams.
Brazil secured a 3-0 victory over Scotland, with Vinicius Junior scoring twice and Matheus Cunha adding a third. The match also marked Neymar's return to the pitch for Brazil after a long absence. Scotland finished third in Group C with three points and a -3 goal difference.
Wright highlighted disparities in broadcast revenue and commercial operations between Scotland and comparable nations like Norway. He pointed to Scotland's strong attendances and grassroots participation as evidence of untapped potential, stating that "someone in Scotland is letting down this country on a massive scale." He called for a "bolder, braver vision for Scottish football."
In other overnight matches, Morocco defeated Haiti 4-2, securing second place in Group C. Switzerland topped Group B with a 2-1 win against Canada, with Johan Manzambi noted as a breakout star. Bosnia & Herzegovina beat Qatar 3-1, likely securing a place in the knockout stages, while Mexico maintained a perfect record by defeating the Czech Republic 3-0. South Africa reached the knockout rounds for the first time in their history after a 1-0 victory over South Korea.
Looking ahead, today's fixtures include a highly anticipated match between France and Norway, featuring Golden Boot contenders Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland. Curacao will aim to make history by advancing to the knockout stages when they face Ivory Coast. The USA, having already won their group, may see Christian Pulisic return from injury against Turkey, though his role is expected to be limited. Other matches include Ecuador vs. Germany, Tunisia vs. Netherlands, Japan vs. Sweden, Paraguay vs. Australia, Senegal vs. Iraq, and Norway vs. France.