🔗 Share this article

Scotland's national stadium has hosted many unforgettable moments throughout its long history since 1903. Add this match to the record. Scotland's protracted drought is over. Steve Clarke, Andy Robertson, the midfielder, John McGinn; they are headed to the tournament. So too the defender, whose curling effort from distance seemed to have secured the win by the odd goal in five before Kenny McLean delivered an more breathtaking fourth.

Almost three decades of heartache, during which the Scottish men's team have seen men’s World Cups from the sidelines, were wiped away as Denmark fell to defeat in added time. Grown men in traditional dress wept. Denmark's participation in the next tournament rests on March playoffs. Clarke and a now giddy football nation can start making definite plans.

Academics could write papers on how on earth the team accomplished this. They looked defeated at times, as recently as Saturday when falling to defeat in Greece. It was like fate had decreed the Scots had waited long enough for a World Cup return. The contributions of Tierney and McLean were incredible.

The Match Kicks Off

The night had reportedly opened in tough fashion for Scotland. The defender, who had been due to play alongside the centre-back in the back line, was injured in the warm-up. His replacement filled in. Any sense of disruption was forgotten in the first few minutes.

This was among the most wondrous strikes delivered at the stadium in recent times.

The winger dribbled and dodged on the wing. The Bournemouth winger’s floated delivery was expected to be tricky for the midfielder to control. He was facing away from goal, to begin with. Instead, McTominay launched himself into the sky and landed an bicycle kick past the grasp of the goalkeeper. This famous old place roared, not just in acknowledgment of the early lead but the special context in which it arrived. Incredible.

Midfield Battle

The Scottish midfielder was playing like a driven individual. Gannon-Doak seemed explosive. The home team's offense resonated in going on the offensive aggressively; Craig Gordon blocked from Rasmus Højlund after the Denmark forward was in alone. The offside flag was raised but he could have been onside a second check were it required. As Mikkel Damsgaard sent a cross across the Scotland area and McKenna deflected well from Victor Froholdt, the Scots were in a fight to hold their advantage.

Gannon-Doak had rattled the Danish team with his speed. It felt a significant loss to Clarke, at that point, as the player overstretched when trying to stop a pass. He left the pitch on a medical cart after only the opening period.

The striker shortly had the goal in the net but was called for a push on Aaron Hickey. By the half-hour, the team were playing far too on the edge, a fact highlighted as the defender deflected a midfielder drive just wide. But they reached the break still ahead. They were also robbed of a golden chance of a second goal, a Danish defender smartly taking out the midfielder, receiving a yellow card, after the player took advantage of Danish carelessness.

Second Half Excitement

The attacker made the keeper into a sharp, down save within 90 seconds of the restart. If the Scots were going to do this, 45 minutes would feel like the long wait since World Cup participation. Given Denmark only required a tie, the direction of play right from the start of the half felt worrying for the home team. They were managing – to a point – in stopping Denmark attacks but immediately handing the ball right back to those in the away kit.

As the tying goal came, it came with the hint of dispute associated.

The referee originally noticed nothing wrong with the captain's challenge on Gustav Isaksen on the edge of the penalty area. In fact, it appeared Isaksen flung himself into the air. After being advised to check by the video assistant referee, the referee awarded the penalty spot. Højlund blasted home. On the overall play, the equalizer was the minimum Denmark earned but Scotland had reason to be angry about the call.

Final Heroics

The only thing thrilling game was missing was a sending off. It came on the 60-minute mark, the defender's another infraction of the night on a attacking McGinn earning a second yellow card. Now Clarke twisted by bringing on the forwards one substitute and another.

The move was to prove effective. Denmark's defending of an inswinging midfielder corner was disorganized, allowing Shankland to strike. The Hearts frontman, brought on for his predatory instinct, showed exactly that. The Danish head coach the coach, though, had cause to be furious at how straightforward it was.

Scotland had little time to build on their lead. Within three minutes, Patrick Dorgu stroked home after a teammate laid into his path from close range from goal. On this occasion Scotland were too generous.

The striker flicked a shot off target. McGinn bending shot just went past the post. Enter Tierney and a strike fit to win the contest. The substitute sealed it: from the midfield, no less.