Scotland's World Cup campaign is on life support after the team dropped to 10th in the third-place rankings, requiring an improbable set of results to advance. Steve Clarke, the national team manager, has admitted he feared this outcome, and it is now on the verge of becoming reality.
What Scotland Needs to Qualify
To have any chance of reaching the top eight, Scotland requires three specific results: Ghana must defeat Croatia by at least three goals; DR Congo must not beat Uzbekistan; and Austria must win by two or more goals against Algeria. The most unlikely of these is Ghana's task, as Croatia are heavy favourites.
Scotland's position worsened after Senegal's 5-0 thrashing of Iraq pushed them out of the top eight, and Iran's draw with Egypt dropped them another place. The team now sits in 10th, with only the top eight advancing to the knockout stage.
Agonising Wait for Fans
Fans face an anxious wait, with Scotland's fate potentially sealed around midnight if Ghana fails to achieve the required margin. If Ghana does pull off the miracle, attention will turn to the early hours for the other two results. The squad, according to sources, is resigned to the likely exit, with players reportedly preparing to pack their bags.
Steve Clarke has been brutally honest about the team's predicament, admitting earlier that he had "us pegged as a goner." His downbeat assessment now appears prescient as the team's World Cup dream nears its end.
