Scotlands World Cup hopes are on the brink after finishing third in Group C following a 3-0 defeat to Brazil - and their fate is out of their hands. Steve Clarkes side defeated Haiti in their opening match before a slim 1-0 loss to Morocco. A dispiriting defeat to Brazil left them with just three points and a goal difference of -3, as well as an agonising wait to determine if theyll make it into the knockout rounds. From 12 groups only the best eight third placed finishers will progress meaning Scotland need four teams to finish third with fewer than three points or a worse goal difference than them (-3) to qualify. The Scots may not know their fate until the final group stage matches have been played meaning a wait until Sunday and the conclusion of Group Js fixtures. South Africas victory over South Korea in Group A is already a significant blow. How can Scotland qualify for the knockout rounds? Following their defeat to Brazil, Scotlands progress to the next stage of the tournament - which would put them in the knockout rounds for the very first time - is out of their hands. Over the next few day, certain results will need to fall in their favour in order for them to book a spot in the last-32, but what scenarios from each group will hand the Scots a place in the next stage of the competition? Here is how the third-placed sides currently stand:Thursday 25 JuneFixturesCuracao vs Ivory Coast (Group E) 9pm BST Ecuador vs Germany (Group E) 9pm BST Japan vs Sweden (Group F) - 12am BST Tunisia vs Netherlands (Group F) - 12am BST Paraguay vs Australia (Group D) - 3am BST Turkey vs USA (Group D) - 3am BSTWhat Scotland need: In Group E, Ecuador and Curacao have one point apiece and play Germany and Ivory Coast respectively. Failure to win would mean whoever finishes third would have a lower total than Scotland's three points. Scotland require wins for Germany and Ivory Coast. In Group F, the current third placed team, Sweden, have three points and face Japan who are second with four. Japan need to win that match and to such an extent that Swedens goal difference (currently 0) is worse than Scotlands (-3). Sweden would still have the advantage on goals scored, though, so Scotland require a four-goal Japan victory. In Group D, Australia and Paraguay are second and third but meet in their final game. The losers of that match would end the group with three points, while a draw would leave both sides on four and ahead of Scotland. The Tartan Army therefore need Australia to win by two goals. Scott McKenna was caught in possession leading to Brazils opening goal (PA)Friday 25 JuneFixturesNorway vs France (Group I) 8pm BST Senegal vs Iraq (Group I) 8pm BST Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia (Group H) - 1am BSTUruguay vs Spain (Group H) 1am BSTEgypt vs Iran (Group G) 4am BST New Zealand vs Belgium (Group G) 4am BSTWhat Scotland needIn Group I, a draw between Senegal and Iraq would be the ideal result. Iraq would need to win 3-0 to qualify while for Senegal, even a one-goal win would be enough. Scotland require a draw between Senegal and Iraq, or a narrow Iraq win. In Group H, while at least one of Cape Verde or Saudi Arabia are guaranteed to better Scotlands total, a victory for Spain against Uruguay would result in the third-placed team only finishing on two points. Scotland require a Spain win. Group G sees the crucial match played between Egypt v Iran. A win for Egypt means the team finishing third, either Iran or Belgium, will have fewer than Scotlands three points. Scotland require an Egypt win. Saturday 26 June FixturesCroatia vs Ghana (Group L) 10pm BSTPanama vs England (Group L) 10pm BST Colombia vs Portugal (Group K) 12.30am BSTDR Congo vs Uzbekistan (Group K) 12.30am BSTAlgeria vs Austria (Group J) 3am BST Jordan vs Argentina (Group J) 3am BST What Scotland need: In Group J, Austria and Algeria sit second and third respectively and both have three points. Algeria have the worse goal difference heading into their meeting so Scotland need an Austria win, and by two goals. Group K sees DR Congo and Uzbekistan face off for third place. A draw would be ideal or a narrow win for Uzbekistan who have a goal difference of -7. If DR Congo win they will finish third with four points. Scotland need DR Congo to fail to win. Finally, England may need to do Scotland a favour in Group L. Should Croatia earn a point or better against Ghana then the third-place finisher would have more points than Scotland. A big win for Ghana, and Panama not beating England, would be Scotland's ideal scenario.Scotland fans now face a nervous wait to see if their side will qualify for the knockout rounds (Reuters)Who will Scotland play in the knockout rounds if they advance? There are still plenty of scenarios and results which will influence Scotlands route through the knockout rounds should they get there. But, having finished third in Group C, they are set to face Group A winners Mexico in the last-32. If Steve Clarkes men win that tie they could then face England in the round of 16, providing Thomas Tuchels men finish top of Group L and then defeat Algeria in the last-32. If the Scots defeat their old enemy, then a rematch against Brazil could be on the cards otherwise they could face one of Japan, Ivory Coast or Norway in the quarter-finals as things stand.