Andy Robertson faces World Cup nightmare after Germany defeat

Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version from Liverpool.com or go back to LFC Live.

Liverpool FC NewsFeaturesAndy RobertsonAndy Robertson’s Scotland face a major setback in its World Cup hopes after Germany’s defeat to Ecuador leaves its knockout qualification hopes hanging in doubtAndy Robertson and Scotland saw their round of 32 hopes dashed after Ecuador beat Germany(Image: Getty Images)Andy Robertson’s hopes of reaching the World Cup knockout stages have taken a blow after Germany’s defeat to Ecuador.Germany made a perfect start after just two minutes, with Leroy Sane finishing clinically from Florian Wirtz’s clever pass inside the area to beat Ecuador goalkeeper Hernan Galindez. The South American side continued to press after the break and were rewarded 13 minutes from time, as Gonzalo Plata reacted quickest at a corner to bundle home what proved to be the winner and send Ecuador through to the round of 32 of the World Cup.The result also has implications in the wider group, dealing a setback to Scotland’s hopes of progressing as one of the best third-placed finishers.Scotland went into Wednesday’s final group game needing a result but were ultimately outclassed by Brazil.

With Alisson in goal, Robertson admitted he has rarely managed to score past him in training, warning that Scotland’s forwards would need to be clinical to have any chance.Despite registering five shots on target, Scotland was unable to find the net, while Brazil punished them at the other end, scoring three times past Angus Gunn to secure a comfortable victory.Head coach Steve Clarke opted to start Lawrence Shankland up front, dropping Che Adams as the Tartan Army continued to struggle for goals at the tournament. Aston Villa midfielder John McGinn remains their only scorer in the group stage, his deflected effort proving decisive in a 1-0 win over Haiti.Florian Wirtz and Germany suffered defeat to Ecuador(Image: Getty Images)A 1-0 defeat to Morocco earlier in the campaign also underlined Scotland’s attacking issues, with Clarke later introducing several changes, including giving former Liverpool winger Ben Gannon-Doak a start in search of more cutting edge.

While Scotland created occasional openings against Brazil, they were largely kept at arm’s length by a dominant defensive display.The defeat leaves Scotland nervously awaiting the final group standings, with their hopes of progression now dependent on being among the eight best third-placed teams. Four points is widely viewed as the safest threshold, making their qualification scenario increasingly uncertain.As it stands, a team finishing on three points with a -3 goal difference is estimated to have a 16% chance of reaching the knockout stages, leaving Scotland’s situation finely balanced.Robertson, 32 and now officially a Tottenham player, endured a difficult evening and was far from his best while dealing with Brazil’s Rayan in a challenging first half.