Scotland midfielder John McGinn has called for a more assertive performance as his team prepares to face Brazil in their final Group C World Cup match in Miami on Wednesday. Following a 1-0 loss to Morocco on Friday at Boston Stadium, McGinn emphasized the need for the squad to express greater personality and resilience to secure progression to the knockout stages.

The defeat, sealed by an early Ismael Saibari goal in the 70th second, left Scotland with three points from their first two group fixtures. Morocco and Brazil currently top the group, each with four points after Brazil’s 3-0 victory over Haiti on Sunday.

McGinn, who captains Aston Villa, acknowledged the quality of Scotland’s opponents but remained optimistic about his team’s prospects. “We have come a long way as a country and as a group,” he said. “They (Morocco) are filled with elite players, but we’ve got some elite players in there as well, so we need to start showing more of our personality.” He commended Scotland’s response in the second half against Morocco, noting the team demonstrated character and intent, suggesting they could have drawn or possibly won under different circumstances.

Looking ahead to the match against Brazil, McGinn described it as a “big occasion” against a “famous football nation” with top-level players. He highlighted the importance of meeting the challenge with their best performance and pointed out the shift in conditions for the game, which the team has prepared for.

Manager Steve Clarke made several tactical adjustments for the Morocco fixture, introducing Nathan Patterson, Kieran Tierney, and Ryan Christie into the starting lineup in place of Aaron Hickey, Ben Gannon-Doak, and Lawrence Shankland. Clarke also altered the formation to a 4-5-1, with Che Adams playing as the sole striker. Tierney was deployed in an advanced left midfield role. However, these strategic changes did not prevent the early Moroccan goal and proved insufficient to turn the match in Scotland’s favor.

With the group stage finale against Brazil approaching, Scotland face a crucial test that could determine their advancement in the tournament. A draw would likely be enough to secure a first-ever progression to the knockout rounds, underscoring the significance of McGinn’s call for a more determined and assertive approach against one of football’s most storied teams.