Scotland on World Cup life support as latest game goes wrong and Rangers man ends 28-year wait

Scotland are now on life support in the World Cup. By the time the morning comes, they could be officially out of the tournament.

Since their third-place finish in Group C was confirmed on Wednesday night after losing 3-0 to Brazil, everything that could go wrong has gone wrong in the quest for the last 32. Add Senegal beating Iraq 5-0 in Group I.

The Africans’ victory officially booted Scotland out of the top eight in the 12-team league of third-placed finishers. Now Steve Clarke and his players are looking for snookers. At the time of writing, five pools require completion. Scotland require outcomes to go their way in four of them.

Ismaila Sarr scores for Senegal as they strengthened their case for a World Cup last-32 spot. | Getty Images

Senegal weren’t one of the bankers, that’s for sure. They started the evening in Toronto on zero points but after defeats by France and Norway, this game against one of the World Cup’s minnows looked a far easier assignment.

Pape Thiaw and his players knew the drill. Win and win well. One goal was enough to supersede Scotland but they needed to clock up the goals to catch South Korea and put pressure on Algeria and Croatia above them. This comfortable victory did the trick. Now they must wait, sitting far more cosily than the Scots.

They were helped by the perfect start. Habib Diarra deflected Ibrahima Seck’s header home on six minutes and then Iraqi defender Rebin Sulaka saw his yellow card upgraded to a red on 11 minutes for denying a clear and obvious goalscoring opportunity.

Senegal laboured through the rest of the first half but refocused after the break and once Ismaila Sarr stabbed the ball in from close range on 56 minutes, there was no looking back.

Pape Gueye curled home a magnificent strike from range three minutes later and that prompted Senegal to chase more goals with ample time remaining in Toronto.

The next one was such a good strike that had the net not been in place, the ball may have made it all the way to Charlotte and smacked the watching Scots in the face. A half-clearance fell into Gueye’s wheelhouse on 71 minutes and the Villarreal midfielder leathered it in. The pace was recorded at more than 100 kilometres per hour.

Senegal kept going. There was no mercy. Bayern Munich striker Nicolas Jackson was summoned from the bench and drew a really smart save for a now overworked Iraqi keeper Jalal Hassan, who had come on for the injured Ahmed Basile at half time.

Iliman Ndiaye wasn’t to be denied on 82 minutes. He added to the scoresheet with a cracking rising finish from the edge of the penalty box. Iraq desperately needed the full-time whistle. They got to it with no further wounds.

The other game in Group I was over in Foxborough and while Ousmane Dembele stole the show with a first-half hat-trick in France’s 4-1 win over Norway, there was a moment of note for a Scottish-based player.

Rangers midfielder Thelo Aasgaard was handed a start by the Norwegians - who like the French had already qualified as a top-two finisher - and he scored on 21 minutes to get his country up and running.

In doing so, he became the first Rangers player since 1998, when Brian Laudrup netted for Denmark, to score at the World Cup. He may get another chance when Norway face Ivory Coast in the last 16.

Desire Doue added a late fourth for the French, who remain one of the favourites to win the trophy.