Scotland’s campaign ended 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 hope a rival lost, all to end up as a third‑placed team. The required win was against a traditional foe, the draw had to come in a different game, and a competitor was forced to slip up. None of those results came through.
The squad will return to Britain with no spot in the knockout rounds. Their World Cup tally will not grow this summer. Scotland now shifts its attention to rebuilding for Euro 2028.