Scotland vs. Brazil: Why Ben Gannon-Doak must start World Cup crunch clash as Steve Clarke sent urgent demand

Scotland manager Steve Clarke indispensable reconstruct Ben Doak to the starting lineup for Wednesday's important World Cup 2026 Group C fixture against Brazil, a erstwhile planetary has exclusively told Sports Mole.

The Bournemouth winger was demoted from the XI for Scotland's 1-0 decision to Morocco past Friday, contempt catching the oculus against Haiti successful Scotland's opening radical game.

Doak created 2 chances and completed 2 dribbles successful Scotland's opening 1-0 win, but helium was restricted to 30 minutes against Morocco, coming connected successful spot of the injured Kieran Tierney.

Clarke went with conscionable 1 up apical against Morocco aft fielding 2 centre-forwards against Haiti, but careless of however the Scotland manager sets his broadside up, Snodgrass believes that Doak has done capable to return.

"It’s a benignant of drawback 22 for maine arsenic to whether you bring a striker backmost oregon support the aforesaid enactment arsenic the lucifer against Morocco," Snodgrass said.

Why Scotland indispensable commencement Ben Gannon-Doak against Brazil

"I would decidedly to bring backmost Ben Gannon-Doak connected the close manus broadside arsenic helium made a bully content successful the opening game, helium brings younker and won’t beryllium feared by playing against Brazil."

Scotland felt hard done by against Morocco, having had 2 punishment shouts waved away, portion besides feeling aggrieved astatine Issa Diop escaping a reddish paper for a perceived last-man foul connected Che Adams.

However, Brazil besides flattered to deceive against Morocco, being held to a 1-1 gully earlier putting things close against Haiti with a 3-0 triumph to determination to the apical of the group.

Casemiro played the afloat 90 successful the second match, but aft a hard 45 minutes against Morocco, Snodgrass believes that the ex-Manchester United antheral could beryllium the anemic link.

"You besides request to look astatine the extremity quality arsenic good arsenic we are sitting successful a bully presumption close now," the erstwhile winger added. "I deliberation they tin capitalise successful the mediate of midfield arsenic Casemiro didn’t person the champion opening fractional against Morocco and if McTominay and McGinn tin look to property forward, they tin make chances to score."

What bash Scotland request for World Cup knockout qualification?

The permutations are elemental successful 1 consciousness for Scotland; unless they bushed Brazil connected Wednesday, they volition not gain nonstop introduction into the past 32 of the World Cup.

Even if Clarke's men were to clasp the Selecao to a gully and Morocco were to endure decision against Haiti, they would inactive beryllium beneath the 2022 semi-finalists owing to their inferior head-to-head record.

However, portion a top-two decorativeness whitethorn beryllium retired of the question with thing different than a win, Scotland person a beardown accidental of reaching the knockouts nary substance what transpires successful Miami.

Clarke's broadside are presently the second-highest-ranked third-placed squad - lone down Sweden connected extremity quality - and the 8 champion specified performers volition beforehand to the past 32.

Therefore, barring a catastrophic effect against Brazil and scorelines elsewhere going against them, the Tartan Army tin statesman their preparations for their adjacent sojourn crossed North America.

Robert Snodgrass was speaking to Sports Mole connected behalf of William Hill - Final One Standing