Scotland’s campaign concluded after the group stage. Steve Clarke’s side sought a miracle to stay alive. They had to secure victory in one match, draw another and wish a rival lost, all to end up as a third‑placed team. The necessary win was against a traditional foe, the draw had to come in a different game, and a competitor had to slip up. None of those results happened.
The squad will head back to Britain with no spot in the knockout rounds. Their World Cup tally won’t grow this summer. Scotland now shifts its attention to rebuilding for Euro 2028.