Samba stars not invincible in crucial tie

THE sight of the famous yellow shirt might have been daunting for the Scotland players as they watched Brazil line up on Wednesday night.

South America’s next batch of rising stars took to the field in the Stade d’Honneur shortly after Scotland had suffered a 3-2 defeat to the Czech Republic in their Toulon Tournament opener.

The Scotland players returned to their base in Aix-en-Provence just as Brazil were getting underway against Indonesia.

However, had they been allowed to stick around to take in the second game in Group C they would have discovered they have nothing to fear today.

Taking on Brazil at any level might be a frightening prospect but the Czech Republic side Scotland lost to look to be better on the evidence of the opening two games in Toulon.

Under-20s manager Scot Gemmill, assistant Peter Grant and SFA performance director Malky Mackay did take in the Brazil game but it was the Czechs who impressed them.

Brazil’s name and that famous yellow shirt can go before them.

But the current crop, albeit largely an Under-18 side, didn’t produce a vintage display when they faced Indonesia.

Even allowing time to acclimate after a long journey, the eight-time Toulon winners struggled and only a mistake from Indonesian goalkeeper Muhammad Riyandi led to Gabriel Novaes grabbing the winner.

Scotland have made a welcome return to the illustrious tournament after a 20-year absence and Brazil have missed the last two years.

In years gone by the annual competition has provided a platform for Samba stars who have gone on to conquer the world – the likes of Taffarel, Cafu, Leonardo, Roberto Carlos, Jorginho, Mazinho, Kaka and former captain and manager Dunga.

Manager Carlos Amadeu’s current squad is considered to be weak – Sau Paulo winger Marquinhos Cipriano is the pick of the bunch – but that doesn’t mean Scotland would celebrate a victory over football’s most decorated nation any less.

The Scots have never managed a victory in 10 attempts against Brazil, the last opportunity coming when Craig Levein’s men suffered a 2-0 defeat to a Neymarinspired side six years ago at the Emirates.

But with captain Oliver Burke in the kind of form he showed against the Czechs, they have a chance in Fos-sur-Mer.

Wins in their remaining two games would give Gemmill’s kids a chance of progressing to the semi-finals.

However, history tells us that while Brazil are unlikely to hold any fears, the name Indonesia is

Scotland’s players would have discovered they have nothing to fear

already sending shivers down the spine.

It would be typical of Scotland to put one over the Samba stars to give themselves a chance of reaching the last four – only to then fail to beat the minnows.

Peru, Iran, Costa Rica and the Faroe Islands – we have seen it all before. Let’s hope Indonesia are not a nation to be added to the list.

Indonesian manager Indra Sjafri took the unusual step of gathering his squad together a month in advance to leave no stone unturned in preparation for their Toulon debut.

He led his nation to the Under-19 Asian Cup four years ago and has put together a tidy side for this competition.

But that will count for very little if Scotland don’t round off their group campaign with a victory.