Brazil blew away Scotland 3-0 to clinch the top position in Group C. Vinicius Junior completely ran rampant on the afternoon, reaching a scoring mark previously only hit in 2002 by Brazilian legends. Then the 34-year-old Neymar, who finally completed his much-anticipated return, put the icing on the cake for good measure.
Crashing the Scottish party early
Scotland’s defense was impenetrable under Steve Clarke throughout qualifying. But that wall came down in precisely seven minutes. The Tartan Army attempted a suicidal build-up from the back: Scott McKenna panicked under heavy Brazilian pressure and coughed the ball up on the edge of his own penalty box.
Vinicius Jr. snatched the pass and ripped into the box, skippinng Angus Gunn before rolling it in the corner of an open net.
Scotland responded for a spell in the first half. In the 34th minute, Scotland’s most promising prospect, Scott McTominay, unloaded a wicked 25-yard strike that forced a sensational save from Alisson.
But the Brazilians were happy to pounce on the smallest errors. In first half stoppage time, a sublime Bruno Guimares pass to the back post found Vinicius, who powerfully smashed home a downwards header to make it 2-0 and move into a select pantheon. He joined the hallowed company of 2002 World Cup winners Rivaldo and Ronaldo, as he notched goals in all three group stage matches for Brazil.
Cunha extends the lead before the king arrived
The game was well and truly over in the second half. In the hour-mark, Bruno Guimares threaded a precise ball through the middle of the Scottish defense that left Matheus Cunha with a clean look. Cunha, like many Brazilians with such an opportunity, left no doubt on the finish to ensure his team finished their group stage well.
Scotland came close to getting one back in second half stoppage time, with John McGinn crashing a shot off the post, but there was simply no motivation left in the squad.
For 64,478 people in attendance, their tickets proved to be worth every penny when, in the 76th minute, Neymar entered the pitch to replace Cunha, fully shedding the nagging right; calf injury that sidelined him during Brazil’s opening two World Cup matches.
Though playing for only a limited time, the world's former most dominant player immediately injected his presence into the match, steering play towards the end and forcing a sharp save from Gunn near the end.
Final standing
Simply put, Brazil, with its full compliment of offensive weapons and the king finally among them, rolls into the Round of 32 on fire. While Scotland nervously await the results of other matches to know if their tournament run is even going to extend to the knockout round on goal difference.
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