The great paradox of Scotland’s World Cup. The fans, superb. The team? Dismal | Ewan Murray

A mess against Brazil, Steve Clarke’s side are in purgatory, hanging around as a faint hope of a place in the last 32 lives on The sad thing is that in a matter of weeks, this will all have been forgotten about. The intensely tribal nature of Scotland’s football domain means that a new domestic campaign will lead to scratching, swearing and howling that will dominate for months on end. Some may argue it will be wise to banish thoughts of Scottish participation in this World Cup . It should, in truth, serve as a much-needed line in the sporting sand. The psychological, societal and commercial b

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