Scotland came into this Group C opener at Hard Rock Stadium with a disciplined low-block game plan — and for the first 22 minutes it worked. Andy Robertson pushed high on the left, Scott McTominay and John McGinn sat deep and compact, and Brazil were forced to probe patiently. The breakthrough came on 23 minutes when Raphinha, drifting inside from the right, slid a perfectly weighted through-ball behind Aaron Hickey's recovery run. Vinícius Júnior took one touch to set his feet and curled a left-footed finish beyond Craig Gordon's outstretched right hand — a goal of the highest quality. Scotland responded with spirit: Lawrence Shankland won a flick-on from a corner that Ché Adams headed just wide, and McTominay drove a long-range effort straight at Alisson. But Brazil's technical superiority was relentless. Neymar, playing his first World Cup minutes since 2022, was irrepressible — dropping deep to collect, turning defenders and threading passes through lines. The second goal arrived when Jack Hendry's clumsy challenge on Endrick (on as a 60th-minute substitute) gave the referee no choice but to point to the spot. Neymar stepped up, sent Gordon the wrong way, and the match was effectively over. Craig Gordon's heroics — a stunning double save from Raphinha and Bruno Guimarães in the 74th minute — kept the scoreline respectable. Scotland will need results against their other Group C opponents to have any hope of progression; Brazil look every inch a tournament contender.

• Brazil dominated possession (64%) and registered 19 shots — Scotland's defensive block held firm for 22 minutes before Vinícius Jr broke the deadlock.
• Neymar's return to a World Cup stage was electric: 1 goal (pen), 1 key pass, 4 dribbles completed in 72 minutes.
• Craig Gordon made 6 saves — without him Scotland could have conceded 4+.
• Scotland's xG of 0.62 came almost entirely from two set-piece headers; they barely threatened in open play.
• Fabinho's absence through suspension (Casemiro) forced Brazil to use the less combative Fabinho as the deepest midfielder — Scotland exploited that briefly in the first half.
• Vinícius Jr completed 7 of 8 dribble attempts against Nathan Patterson, the stand-out individual duel of the match.