Scotland defender Nathan Patterson admits that gifting Brazil easy goals may have severely damaged his country’s hopes of advancing at the World Cup.
Steve Clarke’s side were beaten 3-0 by Brazil in Miami, with individual defensive mistakes proving decisive throughout a calamitous night for the Scots.
A Scott McKenna error inside the opening seven minutes handed Brazil the lead, with Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr converting to put Scotland immediately on the back foot.
Vinicius Jr then doubled the advantage after more poor defending before Matheus Cunha sealed the comfortable victory for Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
The result leaves Scotland clinging to the hope that other results in Group C fall their way, as they fight to avoid another group-stage exit.
Patterson, who started both the Morocco and Brazil games, said Scotland simply cannot afford to hand quality opposition such generous head starts.
The Everton defender said: “I thought we started quite well in the game, we were comfortable on the ball, but then obviously the mistake gives them the goal and put us on the back foot again.”
Patterson acknowledged the steep challenge Scotland faced but believes there were genuine positives to take from the performance despite the scoreline.
He said: “Giving them easy goals is not what you need. Hopefully we can still get through. We’re not sure now. It was massive to get that win in the first game.”
The right-back also pointed to the Morocco defeat as evidence of a recurring problem, with Grant Hanley’s error having proved similarly damaging in that earlier match.
Patterson drew personal satisfaction from his own display, particularly in his direct battles against one of the most dangerous attackers in world football.
He said: “I knew it was going to be hard for myself up against some of the best players in the world on Wednesday night. I said to myself, just to try and make sure I won my one-v-one battles and I feel as though I did that.”
Despite the disappointment, Patterson was keen to stress that the squad left everything on the pitch during a difficult evening in the Miami heat.
He said: “Everyone gave their all out there, that’s all you can ask for. I feel as if we’ve left it all out there. The message in the changing room was always to leave everything on the pitch and don’t come off with regrets.”
Scotland remain in danger of failing to reach the knockout stages, which would mean missing out on making history as the first Scottish side ever to progress beyond the group phase of a World Cup.
Clarke and his players face scrutiny heading into the final group stage reckoning, particularly given the more forgiving structure of the expanded tournament format.
Patterson, however, remained defiant about what the performance showed beyond the mistakes, pointing to clear evidence of quality within the squad.
He said: “I think we showed glimpses against Brazil of how we CAN compete with teams at the highest level. Obviously we need to cut out the mistakes because teams like that will punish you, but there are signs in that performance that show you we can play at the top level.”
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