🔗 Share this article

Scotland's national stadium has hosted many historic events over its long history dating back to 1903. Add this game to the record. Scotland's extended drought has ended. The manager, Andy Robertson, the midfielder, the playmaker; they are headed to the tournament. So too Kieran Tierney, whose curling shot from outside the box looked like it had sealed success in a high-scoring affair until the substitute produced an more spectacular final goal.

Nearly 30 years of disappointment, during which Scotland have watched the global tournament from afar, were obliterated as the Danish team fell to defeat in injury time. Adult fans in traditional dress shed tears. The Danish qualification in the upcoming event depends on playoff matches. The coach and a now jubilant football nation can start making solid arrangements.

PhD students could develop papers on the manner in which Scotland achieved this. They looked finished at times, just days before the weekend when falling to defeat in Athens. It was like someone, somewhere had predetermined the Scottish team had waited quite enough for a return to the World Cup. The interventions of Tierney and the midfielder were extraordinary.

The Game Begins

The match had apparently opened in difficult fashion for the home side. The defender, who had been due to play alongside the centre-back in the back line, was injured in the warm-up. Grant Hanley filled in. All disruption was banished in the opening moments.

This was some of the most spectacular finishes delivered at the stadium in recent times.

Ben Gannon-Doak dribbled and dodged on the right flank. The Bournemouth winger’s arched delivery should have been tricky for the midfielder to navigate. He was facing away from goal, initially. Instead, he launched himself into the air and executed an bicycle kick past the reach of Kasper Schmeichel. This renowned venue exploded, not just in appreciation of the opening goal but the unique context in which it came. Incredible.

Midfield Struggle

McTominay was playing like a man possessed. The young winger looked dynamic. The home team's threat resonated in attacking too ferociously; the goalkeeper blocked from the Danish striker after the Denmark striker was sent clean through. The offside flag was raised but Højlund could have survived a second check if needed. As Mikkel Damsgaard sent a ball across the Scottish goal and the defender deflected well from Victor Froholdt, the Scots were in a battle to hold their advantage.

Gannon-Doak had panicked the Danes with his quickness. It felt a significant loss to the manager, then, as the Bournemouth man strained when attempting to block a cross. He departed the field on a medical cart after just the first half.

The striker soon had the goal in the net but was called for a foul on the defender. By the half-hour, Scotland were playing extremely on the edge, a point further emphasised as the defender deflected a Pierre‑Emile Højbjerg drive narrowly off target. But Scotland reached the break still ahead. They were also robbed of a great opportunity of a additional goal, Rasmus Kristensen smartly taking out McGinn, receiving a yellow card, after the player took advantage of opposition mistakes.

Second Half Excitement

Højlund made the keeper into a sharp, low save within the opening moments of the second half. If the Scots were going to do this, 45 minutes would seem like the 27 years since World Cup participation. Given the visitors only required a tie, the direction of play right from the onset of the half felt worrying for the hosts. Scotland were succeeding – to a point – in breaking up Danish attacks but immediately handing the ball right back to those in the away kit.

When the equaliser was scored, it came with the hint of cordite attached.

The official initially noticed no foul with Robertson tackle on Gustav Isaksen on the edge of the box. In fact, it seemed Isaksen went down into the ground. After being instructed to check by the VAR, the referee awarded the penalty spot. The striker drilled home. On the balance, the equalizer was the least the away side deserved but Scotland had reason to be sore about the circumstances.

Final Action

All this exciting encounter was missing was a dismissal. It arrived on the 60-minute mark, the defender's second foul of the night on a attacking McGinn earning a second yellow card. Then Clarke twisted by throwing on the strikers Lawrence Shankland and another.

The move was to work out. Denmark's defending of an inswinging Lewis Ferguson set piece was poor, letting the striker to score. The Hearts frontman, brought on for his predatory instinct, showed precisely that. The Danish head coach Brian Riemer, however, had cause to be upset at how easy it was.

Scotland had little time to build on their lead. In moments, Patrick Dorgu stroked into the net after a teammate laid into his path 12 yards from the net. This time Scotland were too careless.

The striker directed a shot off target. McGinn bending attempt just went past the upright. Enter the defender and a strike worthy to win the game. McLean added gloss: from the midfield, indeed.