Scotland 0-1 Brazil Match Report: Vinicius Junior double fires Brazil past Scotland as McTominay misses chances
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Key Events
Minute | Event | Player / Team | Description |
7' | Goal | Vinicius Junior / Brazil | Finished calmly after Rayan won possession from McKenna's error |
22' | Disallowed goal | Vinicius Junior / Brazil | VAR ruled foul on Hendry during ball recovery |
45+3' | Goal | Vinicius Junior / Brazil | Headed in Bruno Guimarães cross unmarked at back post |
60' | Goal | Matheus Cunha / Brazil | Slotted right-footed finish from Bruno Guimarães cutback |
64' | Save | Alisson / Brazil | Denied McTominay's close-range header diving low to his left |
Player Ratings
Scotland
Player | Rating | Description |
Angus Gunn | 6.3 | Made several saves including denying Rayan one-on-one with right hand |
Nathan Patterson | 5.9 | Combined with Ferguson for goal-line clearance; struggled against Vinicius Junior |
Jack Hendry | 5.7 | Dispossessed by Vinicius Junior for disallowed goal; repeatedly exposed by pace |
Scott McKenna | 5.2 | Misplaced pass led directly to opening goal; made blocks but confidence appeared affected |
Andrew Robertson | 5.8 | Limited attacking threat before half-time withdrawal; dealt with Rayan's runs |
Kenny McLean | 5.8 | Shot blocked by Casimiro at 36 minutes; beaten by Bruno Guimarães for third goal |
Lewis Ferguson | 6.4 | Blocked Casimiro's early shot; goal-line clearance; free kick forced Alisson save |
Ben Gannon-Doak | 5.8 | Showed pace on right flank; shot blocked by Casimiro in stoppage time |
Scott McTominay | 6.6 | Four headed chances including close-range effort saved at 64 minutes; missed from six yards |
John McGinn | 5.7 | Struggled to influence match; consistently tracked by Gabriel |
Lawrence Shankland | 5.3 | Minimal involvement; header from near small box went wide at 76 minutes |
Kieran Tierney | 6.5 | Half-time substitute provided attacking impetus; won foul leading to Danilo's booking |
Anthony Ralston | 5.6 | Limited time after 82nd-minute introduction |
Ryan Christie | 5.4 | Shot blocked by Endrick; booked for foul on Neymar |
Ché Adams | 5.8 | Late substitute with no time to impact match |
Findlay Curtis | 5.8 | Blocked Vinicius Junior's shot at 90+6 minutes |
Brazil
Player | Rating | Description |
Alisson | 7.8 | Excellent diving save on McTominay at 64 minutes; tipped Ferguson free kick over |
Danilo | 6.4 | Defensive stability on right; booked for challenge on Tierney at 62 minutes |
Marquinhos | 7.0 | Captained with composure; made timely clearances from set pieces |
Gabriel | 7.2 | Blocked Ferguson's shot at 33 minutes; consistently tracked McGinn throughout |
Douglas Santos | 6.6 | Solid at left-back; left-footed shot blocked late in first half |
Casimiro | 7.1 | Blocked McLean and Gannon-Doak shots; pass found Bruno Guimarães for third goal buildup |
Bruno Guimarães | 8.2 | Two assists from right side of area; drove past McLean to create third goal |
Rayan | 7.6 | Pressing won ball for first goal assist; one-on-one saved by Gunn |
Lucas Paquetá | 6.9 | Lofted pass released Rayan for one-on-one; combined with Vinicius Junior |
Vinicius Junior | 9.1 | Two goals from close range and back-post header; disallowed goal; forced multiple saves |
Matheus Cunha | 7.5 | Third goal with right-footed finish; effort cleared off line at 45 minutes |
Fabinho | 6.1 | Replaced Casimiro at 65 minutes; booked for foul on McLean |
Gabriel Martinelli | 6.0 | Limited impact after 66th-minute introduction |
Neymar | 6.3 | Returned after nearly three years; shot saved centrally by Gunn |
Endrick | 6.2 | Blocked Christie's shot inside area at 83 minutes |
Alex Sandro | 6.0 | Provided experienced cover at left-back after 82nd-minute introduction |
Line-Ups and Subs
Steve Clarke made four changes from the Morocco defeat, with Scott McKenna starting in central defence alongside Jack Hendry, Lawrence Shankland leading the attack, and Kenny McLean reinforcing midfield. Carlo Ancelotti made one change from the Haiti victory, with Rayan replacing the injured Raphinha on the right flank.
Clarke replaced Andrew Robertson with Kieran Tierney at half-time. Ancelotti introduced Fabinho for Casimiro at 65 minutes and Gabriel Martinelli for Lucas Paquetá at 66 minutes. Neymar entered for Matheus Cunha at 76 minutes. Both managers made double changes at 82 minutes before Scotland's final substitutions in stoppage time.
Raphinha was absent through injury for Brazil.
First Half: McKenna Error Opens Door for Vinicius Junior
Scotland controlled territory in the opening minutes before Brazil's pressing forced the decisive error. McKenna's pass under pressure from Rayan was blocked, and the ball fell for Vinicius Junior, who advanced into the small area and finished with his right foot past the advancing Gunn.
Brazil continued to threaten. Bruno Guimarães had a shot blocked by McKenna, Matheus Cunha fired over, and Vinicius Junior curled wide with the outside of his right foot. At 22 minutes, Vinicius Junior appeared to score again after dispossessing Hendry, but VAR disallowed the goal for a foul during the challenge.
Scotland's response came through blocked shots from Ferguson and McLean. Matheus Cunha's close-range touch at 45 minutes was cleared off the line by Patterson and Ferguson. Then Bruno Guimarães crossed from the right, and Vinicius Junior headed in unmarked at the back post to make it 2–0.
Second Half: Matheus Cunha Seals Victory Before Neymar's Return
Tierney's introduction provided Scotland's most consistent attacking outlet. McTominay headed toward goal early in the half, but Alisson saved comfortably. Vinicius Junior tested Gunn twice more without adding to his tally.
Brazil's third arrived at 60 minutes. Casimiro found Bruno Guimarães advancing on the right, and the midfielder drove past McLean before laying the ball across for Matheus Cunha to slot into the bottom corner. Danilo was booked for fouling Tierney, and Ferguson's subsequent free kick forced a diving save from Alisson.
McTominay's header from the resulting corner bounced down inside the six-yard box, and Alisson dived low to his left to push the ball away. McTominay later fired wide from inside the small area. Neymar entered at 76 minutes for his first appearance in nearly three years and had a shot saved centrally by Gunn. McTominay's final effort at 90+6 minutes was stopped by Alisson.
Tactical Notes
Clarke shifted from a three-at-the-back system to 4-2-3-1, but McKenna's early error undermined the more attacking approach. Tierney's half-time introduction provided the crossing volume that created McTominay's headed chances. Brazil operated in 4-2-3-1 with Casimiro shielding the back four, and Bruno Guimarães repeatedly arrived in advanced positions from midfield to deliver both assists.
Broader Implications
Brazil finished Group C as winners with seven points. Scotland remained on three points in third place, their progression dependent on results elsewhere. Neymar's return after nearly three years provides Ancelotti with another attacking option for the knockout rounds.
Off-the-Pitch Context
Neymar's introduction at 76 minutes marked his first appearance for Brazil since October 2023, ending an absence of nearly three years due to injury. Raphinha was unavailable through injury for Brazil.
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