Scotland step into Wednesday’s clash in Miami knowing this is, without question, the most significant match most of this squad will ever play.
It has been 60 years since Scotland first faced Brazil, with Stevie Chalmers opening the scoring after just a minute before it finished 1-1.
That proud history is both a comfort and a burden as Steve Clarke’s side prepare to face the Selecao in the blistering Florida humidity.
The pain of previous Brazil encounters still lingers for Scottish football supporters, particularly Tom Boyd’s cruel own goal in Paris in 1998, which settled a 2-1 defeat.
Billy Bremner’s agonising near-miss from yards out in Frankfurt in 1974 remains another haunting memory, with Scotland going out on goal difference despite remaining undefeated.
Goal difference is once again a factor now, more than half a century on, creating one of football’s stranger situations.
Scotland know that even a narrow defeat could potentially be enough to see them reach the knockout round for the first time in their history.
Andy Robertson said on Tuesday that he did not give a damn about permutations, but his sole obsession remains delivering the kind of result that powers Scotland forward.
Brazil are far from the imperious force of World Cup legend, having qualified with a record of played 18, won eight, drew four and lost six.
Of their qualifying victories, they needed until the 89th minute to beat Chile, the 90th to beat Peru and the 99th to beat Colombia, hardly the form of genuine contenders.
This game could also see the return of Neymar after an absence of two-and-a-half years, with Brazilian media obsessing over his involvement and a false nine role appearing to be the consensus.
Vinicius Junior remains the primary threat, and the question of who lines up at right-back against his terrifying pace and trickery is one of Clarke’s most pressing selection headaches.
The news on Aaron Hickey is not good, leaving Nathan Patterson, Anthony Ralston, or even Kieran Tierney as options for that unenviable task.
Scotland have managed just two shots on target across their two games in America so far, a statistic nobody in the camp is hiding from.
Clarke must construct a hybrid game plan that keeps things tight defensively while still asking questions of Brazil and picking away at their self-belief.
Ben Gannon-Doak is expected to start on Wednesday after being used from the bench against Morocco, with Clarke believing he can make a genuine difference.
Scott McTominay has not been at his best in either game, but his energy, physicality and finishing ability always carry the threat of him sparking dramatically to life.
Scotland’s strength has always been their endeavour and passion, but those qualities alone will not be enough against opponents of this calibre in a World Cup knockout race.
It is a racing certainty that the Tartan Army, who were adopted so warmly in Boston, have extra gears available when the occasion demands it.
The great hope now is that Clarke and his players, in their pursuit of history, have a whole lot more to show in what could genuinely be the game of their lives.
