Scotland went down 1-0 to Morocco on Saturday (AEST), leaving it third in Group C.

It takes on five-time world champion Brazil on Thursday (AEST). Victory would be enough to see Scotland through to the Round of 32, while a draw may well do the job, too.

Scotland has never progressed beyond the group stage at a FIFA World Cup, and McGinn feels it will need to be better when it comes to stamping its authority on proceedings against Brazil than it was in defeat to Morocco.

"We have come a long way as a country and as a group," McGinn said.

"They [Morocco] are filled with elite players, but we've got some elite players in there as well, so we need to start showing more of our personality, but we've got to be proud of how we reacted.

"We could have folded, but in the second half we showed a lot more character and intent and we could have easily on another day drawn that game or even won.

"We know what we need to do and we're excited for it.

"It will be different conditions, but conditions we've prepared for. Looking forward to the game, a big occasion for us.

"Brazil are a famous football nation, filled with players playing at a high level, so we'll have to be at our best to get something from the game, but we're excited by the challenge."

Scotland only had six attempts against Morocco, failing to put any of them on target, but it did have two penalty appeals turned down.

"We don't make the decisions, but I certainly think the big, big moments haven't gone our way," McGinn said.

"Second half, I think we showed a lot more intent, a lot more bravery to go and hurt them.

"But when you're not creating clear chances in open play, you need certain breaks to go for you against the top teams.

"We could have crumbled after the goal, we didn't.

"Did we play amazing? No, but they are a top side and they'll limit you to very little at all, so when you get those opportunities and they make mistakes – fouling someone in the box is a mistake – and they've not been punished for it, it's just football and you take the hit, keep your chin up and be ready for Wednesday [Thursday AEST]."

Morocco's Mohamed Ouahbi hailed the control his team had.

"I see ​it as progress compared to the first game. So in the end, we are happy with the result; ​we wanted three points, and we got them. That was the main objective," he said.

"I believe we controlled the game, but when you ⁠don't score a ​second goal, obviously, we have to defend because Scotland had a very intense approach with very long balls. But I couldn't be happier with the performance."