Scotland captain Andy Robertson was left to rue his own pre-match prophecy as Alisson Becker’s Brazil cruised to a 3-0 victory
The script felt almost painfully predictable. Long before a ball was kicked at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Scotland captain Andy Robertson in his pre match press conference laid out the brutal reality of trying to beat his long-time but now former Liverpool teammate, Alisson Becker.
***“I can count on one hand how many I’ve scored against him in training,” Robertson admitted pre-match.***On Wednesday night, the rest of his countryman found out exactly what he meant.
Brazil cruised to a 3-0 victory, completely outclassing Steve Clarke’s side to secure top spot in Group C. The defeat leaves Scotland’s World Cup dreams hanging by the skin of their teeth, clinging desperately to a potential knockout spot as one of the best third-placed teams.
A masterclass in Miami
Steve Clarke knew Scotland needed goals, swinging the axe by dropping Che Adams to hand Lawrence Shankland the start upfront. But tactical tweaks matter very little when you run into a yellow-and-green brick wall. Scotland actually manufactured five shots on target, but Alisson dealt with everything thrown at him with that trademark, unflappable composure.
At the other end, Brazil showed no mercy. as winger Vinícius Júnior terrorised the Scottish backline, bagging a brilliant brace, while Matheus Cunha added a third to put the game completely out of reach. Angus Gunn could do nothing but watch the Selecao wave of attack overwhelm his defence.
For Scotland, who have only seen John McGinn find the net this entire group stage via a deflected strike in a 1-0 win against Haiti the lack of cutting edge has proved fatal to their chances of qualifying for the round 32.
Scotland await their fate
Robertson, who recently agreed to join Tottenham Hotspur upon the expiry of his Liverpool contract, played with his usual heart-on-sleeve intensity, but the gulf in class looked stark. The Scots now fly back to their training base in Charlotte with their bags half-packed and their destiny entirely out of their own hands.
With three points and a costly minus-three goal difference, the next 48 hours will feel agonisingly long for Robertson and his squad. Only the eight best third-place finishers from the 12 groups will progress to the last 32. At full time the former Reds vice captain gave his honest thoughts on his side chances of qualifying.
“As a collective, we didn’t want to put ourselves in a position of having to watch every game and hope for favours,” a dejected Robertson admitted after the whistle. “If you ask me now, I don’t think it’s enough… The next couple of days will be horrible.”
On the other hand Brazil have officially won Group C at the 2026 FIFA World Cup following the convincing 3-0 victory against Scotland in their final group match.
The full-time embrace
Despite the high stakes of World Cup central, the beautiful game provided a poignant reminder of the bonds forged on Merseyside. The moment the referee blew the final whistle, the fierce competitive tension evaporated.
Robertson and Alisson tracked each other down amidst the chaos on the pitch. The former Liverpool teammates shared a long, emotional embrace a warm hug that caught the attention of cameras and fans worldwide.
For eight years, these two served as foundational pillars of Jurgen Klopp’s trophy-winning machine at Anfield. Even with Robertson heading to North London next season, the deep mutual respect and brotherhood between the left-back and his former keeper remained completely intact on the world stage.
Live4Liverpool Verdict
This was a bittersweet watch for any Liverpool supporter. On one hand, you have to admire Alisson Becker. The Reds number one remains the absolute high standard for goalkeeping he showed Scotland absolutely zero sympathy, which is exactly why he is the best in the business.
On the other hand, it is incredibly tough to watch Andy Robertson suffer like this on the big stage. He gave everything for the shirt, just as he did for years on Merseyside. Seeing the two of them lock eyes and share that massive hug at full-time was a beautiful moment. It reminds us that no matter where their club careers take them next, the bond built during Liverpool’s golden era is unbreakable.