Scotland’s hopes of progressing from Group C are hanging by a thread, with Steve Clarke’s side requiring a series of results to go their way to reach the round of 32.
The situation worsened before travelling supporters had even made it back from the stadium, as South Africa stunned South Korea in Group A. That result left the Koreans third on three points but with a better goal difference than Scotland, dealing another blow to their chances. With eight third-place finishers advancing to the round of 32, Scotland currently sit seventh among those third-place sides — though only three of the 12 groups have been completed.
Should Scotland somehow survive, three potential next opponents await. A return to Boston to face the Group E winners — likely Germany — on Monday 29 June (21:30 BST) is one route. A second path is already confirmed: Mexico, in Mexico City, at 02:00 BST on Wednesday 1 July. There is also a slim chance of meeting the winner of Group I, either France or Norway, at the New York/New Jersey Stadium on Tuesday 30 June (20:00 BST).
For Scottish fans on the ground, the wait is an agonising one. Dave Watson, a presenter on the No Scotland No Party podcast, had originally booked a flight home after the final, such was his early optimism. He has since told BBC Scotland he now plans to head to New York on Thursday and wait for his country’s fate to be decided.
Scotland have scored just once across their three group games, and the chances of reaching the knockout phase for the first time remain slim. Unlikely? Absolutely. Impossible? Not quite.
Image credit: BBC Sport / BBC Sport
