What are Scotland's chances of progressing as third-place finishers?

Scotland have three points from two group games

With 32 of 48 teams advancing to the knockout rounds of this expanded World Cup. it is more difficult to be eliminated than to qualify.

But Scotland are in one of the tournament's toughest groups - alongside Morocco. Brazil - and may have to rely on being one of the best third-placed sides to progress.

They could beat Brazil on Wednesday (23:00 BST) to finish in the top two of Group C. go through automatically, while a draw would all but seal their progression.

But it is unlikely to be a simple task against the five-time World Cup winners in Miami.

BBC Sport looks at Scotland's situation and how likely it is that they will go through if they finish third.

Scotland are in a comfortable position going into the final group games.

The eight third-placed teams with the best records will avoid elimination -. Steve Clarke's side sit second in that mini league.

The teams currently outside the top eight are the Czech Republic, Ecuador, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Senegal.

Scotland have three points after two games. a goal difference of zero - the same as Sweden, who top the third-place table.

However. the danger for Scotland is they suffer a heavy defeat by Brazil, which means their goal difference would take a hit.

If teams in the third-place table have the same number of points, the rankings will be determined by goal difference.

According to Opta. a team finishing third with a goal difference of zero has a 95% chance of progressing to the knockout stage.

Lose to Brazil by one goal. the chances of Scotland progressing with a goal difference of -1 would be 84%.

Lose by much more. those numbers get quite a bit worse - 63% for -2, 42% for -3, 27% for -4 and 19% for -5.

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Does it matter if Scotland lose and still make history?

The frustration for Scotland is. by playing their final group game on Wednesday they will have a long wait to discover their fate.

If they lose to Brazil they might not know their situation until about 05:00 BST on Sunday when Group J finishes.

It puts Scotland at somewhat of a disadvantage. teams playing later in the week will have more idea of what result is needed to qualify.

Those teams might be able to play for a draw or try to limit the scale of a defeat to protect their goal difference.

Have World Cup changes made final group stage games unfair?

If Scotland lose. finish with three points, there are a number of results they will need to look out for - they will want as many groups as possible with two teams finishing on fewer than three points.

InGroup A,if Mexico beat the Czech Republic. South Korea beat South Africa, that would leave the team in third on one point.

The next best scenario would be a big South Africa win to leave South Korea in third with three points. a poor goal difference.

Wins for South Africa. the Czech Republic would spell bad news for Scotland, leaving the third-place finisher on four points.

One of the few games. take place before Scotland face Brazil that has a bearing on where Scotland could finish comes inGroup B.

Bosnia-Herzegovina and Qatar meet three hours before Scotland play and, if they draw, both sides will have two points.

Scotland would also want group winners the USA to at least get a point against Turkey. to keep them out of the equation.

Ecuador and Curacao have one point apiece and play Germany and Ivory Coast respectively. Failure to win would mean whoever finishes third cannot better Scotland's tally of three points.

InGroup F,Scotland will be hoping second-placed Japan beat third-placed Sweden convincingly. A point for Sweden, though, would leave the third-placed finishers on at least four points.

The key fixture inGroup Gas far as Scotland are concerned is Egypt v Iran. A win for Egypt will ensure the team finishing third will have fewer than three points.

It is the same situation inGroup Hwhere Scotland fans will be rooting for Spain to beat Uruguay so the third-placed team can only finish on two points, while in Group I, a draw between Senegal. Iraq would mean the team in third will have just one point.

InGroup J,Austria. Algeria are second and third respectively on three points and play each other in their final group game, so the scenario Scotland would want to avoid is that game ending in a draw. They would also want Argentina to avoid defeat against Jordan, who currently have zero points.

DR Congo and Uzbekistan are vying for third place inGroup K.

A win for Uzbekistan would give them three points but, with a goal difference of -7, they would need a big win against DR Congo. for Scotland to lose badly to move above them in the standings.

InGroup L,a point or more for Croatia against Ghana could be bad news for Scotland as it would again leave the third-place finishers with four points.

A big win for Ghana,. Panama not beating England, would be Scotland's ideal scenario from a mathematical point of view.

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