Scotland reaction: Bleak World Cup verdict, Steve Clarke's emotional response and Tartan Army verdict

Steve Clarke struggled to hide his emotions as he processed Scotland almost certainly falling short at a World Cup again.

Confirmation awaits and it’s a new form of agony as the Scots head back to their base in Charlotte to lick their wounds after a 3-0 defeat to Brazil which leaves them relying on help from others to qualify.

It’s quite clear the manager was planning to empty his wardrobe and fold his clothes as soon as the Scotland party return to North Carolina on Thursday. He is not expecting results to fall in the Scots’ favour. It’s the hope that kills you though there seems very little of that, even.

Scotland head coach Steve Clarke applauds the supporters after defeat by Brazil. | Getty Images

“For me, for sure I think we’re going home,” was Clarke’s blunt assessment afterwards. “‘Only Scotland can get a winnable first game and then get number five in the world (Brazil) and number six (Morocco) in the world for their next two games.”

If that sounded a bit like he was feeling for himself, he was more brutal about Scotland’s shortcomings later. “We got the ball in their box a number of times and created one or two chances but nothing really clean,” he said.

“When you look at Brazil’s play in the attacking third, there’s really no comparison.”

It seems a long way to bridge the gap between Scotland and the very top sides in the world. Asked if wider issues were at play, including athleticism and technical ability, Clarke agreed.

“The short answer to that is, yes," he said. “I think when you see the physicality, the power and the technique of both Morocco and Brazil you can see that we have to try to do something of our own. We have to try and be better at producing young players that can grace the world stage.

“It was a very disappointing performance,” he added. “If you give away chances like we did tonight you are going to be punished. And that’s what happened.

“The first thing the players have to do is go away and compute their performance and why we lost the game in the manner we did. That’s the first thing we have to do and then we can worry about the rest later.”

‘Not my remit’ as Scotland head coach

Something he wasn’t going to take responsibility for was telling the Tartan Army whether to save money by leaving now or staying to learn what Clarke seemed to have already concluded was inevitable.

“Do you want me to make that decision for the people that are here?” he replied when asked what he advised Scotland fans to do. “I'm not sure that's in my remit as a head coach.”

Voice wobbling with emotion, and despite the deep disappointment, he then delivered an impassioned tribute to the fans and players.

“The fans are fantastic, they've been absolutely brilliant,” he said. “And don't forget that this group of players brought these fans to America, this group of players qualified.

“That is why the Scottish journalists are here. Otherwise, we'd always be sitting on the sofa, watching the World Cup without Scotland. So the fans appreciate what this group of players have done for them.

‘They've had a great time, they are great ambassadors for the country. But they wouldn't be here without that group of players. I think, for me, that's a very important point.”

It was a chastening night for Scotland in Miami. | Getty Images

There was, though, no getting away from it: whatever happens next, Scotland have once again been found wanting at a major tournament. Not only that, but they were the architects of their downfall against Brazil with kamikaze defending that was gleefully punished by players who don’t need to be asked twice to score a goal.

Vinicius Junior struck twice and might have had a hat-trick. Scotland were fortunate to have a decision go in their favour midway through the first half when the Real Madrid forward was adjudged, after a VAR check, to have fouled Jack Hendry as he robbed the defender of the ball.

“I think it was self-inflicted,” said Clarke, when asked about the scale of the defeat. He also conceded it could very easily have been a lot worse.

“Listen, we are playing a top quality team and we know they are deadly in the attacking third of the pitch. And we gave them for sure the first two goals and probably the third goal as well. We gave them those goals but on the counter-attack as well they missed a few chances and Angus Gunn had to make some good saves.

“It was then on us to try to create something in the second half,” he added. He accepted Scotland had done well to stem the flow of goals after the hour mark, a period which included a short cameo from Neymar. The Brazilian No. 10 replaced Matheus Cunha, scorer of Brazil’s third goal, with 15 minutes left.

“It became a game of basketball,” said Clarke. “Brazil were waiting to get a chance to over-turn the possession and attack us, and they did that a few times. We managed to get back and defend that.

“Angus Gunn made a few decent saves at that stage of the game. And we did create some half-chances to get the goal which would have made it a little bit better in terms of what everyone wants to talk about, the goal difference.”

It will remain the topic of conversation for a couple more days at least. Now on three points and minus three goal difference, the cut mark could very well be minus two. This accounts for Clarke’s raw emotional state at the post-match press conference, although he denied that he was bad tempered.

““I’m not angry and I’m not prickly,” he said. “I’m certainly not angry. I’m disappointed for them (the players) because we didn’t reach the levels that they can reach. Anyone who has watched this team over the last few years knows that we didn’t reach the levels that we can reach.”