what has to happen for scotland to advance

Scotland can still advance, but they need results elsewhere to go their way because their own group-stage games are already done. Based on the current reports, they must finish among the best eight third-placed teams , which means at least four other third-place teams need to end with fewer points or a worse goal difference than Scotland’s.

What that means

• Scotland finished third in Group C with 3 points and a -3 goal difference.

• If they had 4 points , they would be in much safer shape, but with 3 points they are depending on other groups.

• Their survival chances also depend on whether enough third-place teams across the other groups fail to beat their record.

Results they need

The reports say Scotland need roughly four favorable results elsewhere, such as:

• Japan beating Sweden by a large enough margin.

• Australia beating Paraguay by two goals.

• A draw or narrow Iraq win against Senegal.

• Spain beating Uruguay.

• Egypt beating Iran.

• Croatia losing heavily to Ghana, or other combinations that keep third-place teams below Scotland.

Simple version

In plain terms: Scotland advance if enough other third-place teams finish worse than them.

Right now, they are alive, but they are waiting on a chain of outside results rather than controlling their own fate.

TL;DR

Scotland need to stay in the top eight third-place spots, which likely means at least four favorable results in other groups and several third-place teams finishing below 3 points or with worse goal difference.