History awaits Scotland in Miami tonight but manager Steve Clarke and captain Andy Robertson are simply refusing to look at the permutations table.
Even a defeat could, realistically, send the Scots through to the second phase of the World Cup finals for the first time and at the ninth time of asking.
The opening night win against Haiti may be enough to extend the Tartan Army’s American party for at least another week, even if Scotland follow the loss to Morocco with another defeat but end up as one of the best placed third teams as 64 teams becomes 32.
It’s a mouth watering prospect as Scotland prepare to take on a Brazilian side with Neymar available to Carlo Ancelotti for the first time this tournament.
But The Guardian reports that neither Clarke or Robertson would entertain any debate about the permutations when they held their pre-match press conference in Miami yesterday.
“I couldn’t care less” said Robertson when asked about the umpteen permutations attached to that third-place scenario. “After the game that might change, I can’t deny that.
“But we are in control of our own destiny at the moment, we still have a game to play. What we do know is if we get a [positive] result against Brazil, we will be 100% through.”
Clarke is more concerned about containing a Brazilian side oozing talent. He said: “The characteristics of a Brazil team is that they have to attack.
“We know what we have to do. Not overcommit going forward, don’t leave yourself open to a counterattack. And when we have the ball, create chances.”
New Rangers manager Derek McInnes could start the season in the stands after he was charged for remarks made after Celtic won a late penalty at Motherwell in May before wrestling the title from Hearts.
McInnes reacted to the controversial decision to award a last gasp penalty in the penultimate game of the season - Celtic won the game 2-1 then defeated Hearts at Parkhead to snatch the title.
The Hearts boss McInnes, speaking to Sky Sports after a win against Falkirk at Tynecastle, said: “When you heard Celtic got a 96th minute penalty that was going to VAR and they were checking it, you just assume what’s happened is they get the penalty.
“Having seen it again, it’s disgusting. It is. I don’t think it’s a penalty kick. But we’re up against it. We’re up against everybody.”
McInnes has now been cited for the remark with the BBC reporting he faces a sanction before the new season kicks-off at the end of July.
The World Cup’s all-time leading goalscorer Lionel Messi is the greatest of all time according to former Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given and striker Callum Robinson.
A report in the Irish Mirror says that Given and Robinson branded Messi as the GOAT in social media posts after Argentina’s win over Austria on Monday.
The report says that former Boys in Green goalkeeper Shay Given led the way as he posted: ‘Messi is the GOAT’ while Cardiff City striker Robinson wrote: ‘Please people just stop the debate now!! There’s only 1 goat.’
Shelbourne striker Sean Boyd could be on his way to Drogheda United when the transfer window in the League of Ireland opens next week.
The Irish Sun’s has reported that Drogheda manager Kevin Doherty will make Boyd his top transfer priority as he bids to drag United out of the bottom half of the Premier Division table.
Boyd has struggled for first team football all season and was dismissed late on in Monday’s 3-1 defeat to Bohs at Tolka Park after he had been introduced as a half-time substitute.
