Everton’s Nathan Patterson started Scotland’s 3-0 defeat to Brazil in Miami, a result that leaves Steve Clarke’s side facing an anxious wait to discover whether they have reached the World Cup knockout stages for the first time.
We rate how the Toffees full-back fared.
If this was supposed to be the night Patterson cemented his place as Scotland’s first-choice right-back heading into the closing weeks of the World Cup, it didn’t happen.
As we discussed yesterday, it was always destined to be his toughest assignment of the tournament, and he wasn’t to be disappointed.
Vinícius Jr set the tone inside seven minutes, pouncing on a loose touch from Scott McKenna to round Angus Gunn and open the scoring. Patterson, deployed at right-back, found himself repeatedly dragged out of position as Brazil probed down both flanks, and the warning signs from his earlier outing against Morocco — where he was similarly tested early and often — resurfaced.
The moment that summed up a tough night came at the end of the first half. Bruno Guimarães picked out a pinpoint cross to the back post, and Vinícius arrived unmarked to nod Brazil two goals clear.
Only flickers of resistance
It was Patterson, along with Gunn, who watched as the ball hit the net. As ESPN’s report on the match put it, both missed the runner at the far post, gifting Vinícius a free header to make it 2-0 going into the break.
There were flickers of resistance after the interval. Scotland came out with more purpose. Kieran Tierney – who replaced the injured Andy Robertson at half-time – forced a smart save from Alisson, and McTominay headed straight at the Brazilian keeper when a leveller might just have changed the complexion of the game.
But the defensive struggles continued. Matheus Cunha added a third on the hour mark after Kenny McLean was bullied off the ball, and by then Patterson’s evening had long since turned into one of containment.
Sky Sports’ match report summed up the wider problem: lapses in concentration combined with Brazil’s brilliance proved costly, and Patterson’s struggles were very much part of that.
He was withdrawn in the 82nd minute for Anthony Ralston, by which point the result was long since decided, Scotland’s goal difference was sitting at minus-3, and their place in the last 32 out of their own hands.
It’s a difficult evening to assess fairly in isolation. Patterson was up against arguably the most dangerous attacking player at this World Cup, and he was far from alone in struggling to cope – McKenna, Hendry and McLean all had moments to forget.
Tough night for Patterson
But for a player who, as we’ve tracked throughout this tournament, is using this summer as a platform to rebuild momentum after a stop-start few years on Merseyside, it wasn’t a night to strengthen his case heading into pre-season.
David Moyes is looking for a right-back, and Patterson’s performance will have done nothing to change his mind. He showed energy and was willing to get forward when the game allowed it, but the defensive uncertainty was hard to ignore.
Whether he keeps his place for whatever comes next in Scotland’s campaign, or whether Aaron Hickey is recalled, the conversation around Patterson’s long-term role at Everton is unlikely to go away.
For now, Scotland wait on Sunday’s results to learn their fate. For Patterson, the verdict is clearer – a chastening night against the best, and a reminder of how far there still is to go.
