The permutations Steve Clarke is so desperate to avoid are already dominating discussion among the Tartan Army. As Ismael Saibari smacked Morocco in front inside two minutes against Scotland, goal difference rose on the horizon of anyone wanting Clarke and his players to create history. Those in navy blue were clinging on in Boston.

What happened next can be considered a moral victory for Scotland. Morocco were wasteful for the remainder of the first half. Scotland improved markedly in the second period, even daring to control spells of the game. The 1-0 defeat returns their goal difference to zero rather than leaving them already staring at early elimination while on three points. The problem is, Brazil lie in wait next.

Scotland find themselves in strange territory. Should they avoid a heavy loss to Brazil – and the Morocco fixture proved that is feasible – they have at least a decent chance of progressing to the last 32. Not that anything can be said with certainty regarding stage-one outcomes; far too many matches are still to be played. Group B is problematic for Scotland, given a win for Bosnia and Herzegovina against Qatar would move three teams to at least four points. So, too, is Group D where Australia and Paraguay – both on three points already – face off in the final game. Mutual acceptable outcomes etc. A batch of teams who finish the group stage after Scotland will know precisely what they have to do. Clarke not unreasonably is unwilling to focus on possibilities or probabilities for qualification.

“Absolutely nothing,” said Scotland’s manager when asked what the group situation does for the mindset of his squad. “They will want to win the game. If they can’t win the game, they don’t want to lose it.”

There is a broader picture that it would be silly to ignore, especially if Scotland squeeze out of Group C largely thanks to the 1-0 win over Haiti. This marked only their fourth goal in what is now eight finals outings under Clarke. Two of them have been via huge deflections and one was a consolation during a 5-1 hammering by Germany. At this level, the Scots are painfully short of gamechanging talent. The technical level of attacking players at countries of comparable size – Norway are the perfect model – is streets ahead of what Clarke can call upon. Nobody doubts his Scotland team display a terrific attitude and have been an overwhelming success after decades in the international doldrums. They are, however, a hugely limited side and routinely a tricky watch.

It is a basic fact that Scotland will break new ground if they qualify for the last 32. Nonetheless, elevating the class of 2026 above that of, for example, 1974 would be ludicrous. Scottish fans light up tournament football. The team? Patently less so.

This is a Scottish football problem, not a Steve Clarke one. It should be acted upon while the going is good, specifically by way of incentivising clubs to develop homegrown players. This marks a third tournament qualification out of four. The average age of the starting XI against Morocco was closer to 30 than 29. Clarke has signed on for another four years with a stated aim of sourcing a new generation of squad members. His looks a highly invidious task. Tyler Fletcher, the latest poster boy for a brave new dawn, has spent as much time in the Scottish domestic football system as he has on the moon.

Clarke, his paymasters at the Scottish Football Association and the Scottish Professional Football League need a collaborative approach to raise standards markedly. The World Cup has merely emphasised this. During this transfer window Premiership clubs will welcome footballing also-rans from all over the world, diminishing the prospects of emerging Scottish talent.

Ben Gannon-Doak continues to provide hope. Clarke has a habit of playing down hype around the Bournemouth man, which from a manager is understandable. The 20-year-old is lightly raced in club football. External noise is also apposite; Scots yearn for a star, hence Gannon-Doak generates giddiness.

“He is a terrific player,” said Clarke after the former Liverpool man’s impact as a substitute against Morocco. “It took him a little bit of time to get into the game. Once he gets in there, you know Ben is going to give you unpredictability at that end of the pitch. He gives us a threat that is different. Ben does something different, we know that. Brazil is a different game and probably a different approach.”

There may be no need to overthink this. Nations short on resource, who have a player with Gannon-Doak’s pace and directness, would routinely just pick the player. There feels no need to protect him with Scotland crying out for a difference-maker. Clarke can remove one criticism, that he lacks ambition, by turning to Gannon-Doak.

Scotland cried foul after the Morocco clash from the belief that John McGinn and Scott McTominay should have been awarded penalties. Although a long way from ranting and raving, Clarke implied Morocco should have been reduced to 10 men. The refusal of video assistant referees to intervene in games looks a deliberate – and welcome – approach in this World Cup but it harmed Scotland on this occasion. This also, it must be noted, meant a penalty was not given against Grant Hanley for handball in the Haiti fixture.

Scotland exited Euro 2024 under stinging complaint towards a referee who did not award a spot-kick in their final group game against Hungary. It felt empty then and the same now. Scotland as a country has football issues, and stark ones, which on even loose inspection matter much more than acts of officialdom.

Scotland’s destiny is in their own hands. Draw with Brazil and the knockout phase should be a certainty. Lose and other, uncontrollable elements enter the fold.