Charlie Adam backs Shankland to start vs Brazil, names Scotland XI and delivers prediction

'We can’t go there thinking we are lucky to be at a World Cup'

"As a Scotland fan, playing Brazil at the World Cup in Miami is something special. We must look at a game plan where we can try and nullify the Brazilians and try and seize an opportunity to even get a draw. It’s a tough ask.

We can’t go there thinking we are lucky to be at a World Cup. That’s not the mindset or mentality to have. The last two tournaments we were at we were poor, so there is pressure on. We have to go there and compete. We need to try and improve and make an impact in the game. We never made that sort of dent or that punch against Morocco to really create something and that will need to improve. Brazil are even tougher opposition and now it's time for us to really consolidate."

'I think Aaron Hickey will come back into the right-back position again'

"I think Steve [Clarke] might make a couple of changes to the starting XI. I think the goalkeeper will stay the same. I don't think Angus Gunn's done too bad. I don't think he could have done anything with that shot the other night from Saibari; it was a wonderful finish. I think Aaron Hickey will come back into the right-back position again. He had a few injuries this year and I think that's why Steve maybe left him out of the team against Morocco. I think Grant Hanley and Jack Hendry will play again as the two centre-backs.

Andy Robertson will play as the left back and then I think we'll go with five in midfield. Ben Gannon-Doak will come straight back in for me. He’s coming back from an injury that he'd picked up against Denmark for Scotland. He’ll probably come back in that right-hand side, and then I'm looking at Lewis Ferguson and Scott McTominay in midfield with Christie. I think they've got a big debate in terms of who we put in that left-hand side. Is it John McGinn or is it a Findlay Curtis who would give us real athleticism to get up the pitch…something we're going to need. It’s a big decision; however, I think they'll go with the experience of McGinn. For me, I think we play with Lawrence Shankland. He is one who will probably not have a lot of the ball, but when we win it, it'll give us an opportunity to secure it and get us up the pitch a little bit better than we have done."

'Shankland might get the opportunity to play as the number nine'

"But it's not just the striker. I think the whole team need to be better with the ball. I think we've been poor with the ball at times. Che Adams did alright the other night in terms of being able to stretch the pitch, but we didn't have that in the wider areas. I think with Doak coming in behind on the right-hand side, Shankland might get the opportunity to play as the number nine. He's obviously scored 20 plus goals for Hearts last year, and a couple of goals in the friendlies, so I would go with him as my number nine."

Charlie Adam's Scotland XI vs Brazil (4-5-1): Gunn / Hickey, Hanley, Hendry, Robertson / Gannon-Doak, McTominay, Ferguson, Christie, McGinn / Shankland

Charlie Adam's Scotland v Brazil Prediction: 0-2

"I do think we'll lose the game…not by three or four goals, but perhaps two nil which I think could be enough for us to qualify and then to get another game would be really special.

We'll try to get into the last 32 and then opponents will dictate the rest. You'll play one of the group winners, which is going to be extremely tough but it's important that we just take this Brazil game as it comes and we do the job that we can do. And hopefully we can get that opportunity to qualify."

'I think the Scotland fans have done that brilliantly and done us proud'

"The Tartan Army and the Irish are both quite similar…they enjoy themselves, don't they? In the right manner as well. They bring the party feel, they bring the atmosphere, they bring the music, and the bagpipes have been playing. I think they've respected where they are and looking after Boston, in terms of picking up the rubbish, they have done a brilliant job.

The tradition is normally to put a cone on the head of something famous around the city and they've done that too! It’ll be interesting to see how it goes in Miami because there are a lot of Brazilians in town as well, which will make for a brilliant atmosphere.

People spend a lot of money to go to these tournaments, and they've got the right to enjoy themselves, but also in the right manner and I think the Scotland fans have done that brilliantly and done us proud."

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