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Hampden Park has been the stage for numerous unforgettable occasions over its long history since 1903. Remember this game to the annals. Scotland's extended absence has concluded. Steve Clarke, Andy Robertson, Scott McTominay, John McGinn; they are headed to the tournament. So too Kieran Tierney, whose swerving strike from distance seemed to have clinched success by the odd goal in five until Kenny McLean produced an even more breathtaking fourth.

Nearly 30 years of disappointment, during which the Scottish men's team have seen the global tournament from the sidelines, were obliterated as Denmark fell to defeat in stoppage time. Adult fans in kilts cried. Denmark's chance in the next tournament rests on playoff matches. The coach and a suddenly giddy Scottish football community can start making concrete arrangements.

PhD students could develop papers on how on earth Scotland pulled off this. They looked finished at points, no more recently than Saturday when suffering a loss in Greece. It was like someone, somewhere had predetermined the Scottish team had waited quite enough for a return to the World Cup. The contributions of the defender and the midfielder were incredible.

The Match Kicks Off

The night had reportedly started in difficult circumstances for Scotland. John Souttar, who had been scheduled to play alongside the centre-back in central defence, was injured in the warm-up. His replacement filled in. Any sense of setback was forgotten within the first few minutes.

It was some of the most wondrous finishes scored at Hampden in recent times.

Ben Gannon-Doak jinked and weaved on the right flank. The Bournemouth winger’s arched delivery was expected to be challenging for McTominay to navigate. He was facing away from goal, for starters. Rather, he launched himself into the air and landed an overhead kick past the reach of the goalkeeper. This historic venue erupted, not simply in acknowledgment of the early lead but the remarkable circumstances in which it arrived. Amazing.

Game Contest

McTominay was playing like a man possessed. The young winger appeared electric. The home team's threat resonated in going on the offensive aggressively; the goalkeeper saved from Rasmus Højlund after the opposition forward was in alone. The assistant's flag was up but Højlund could have survived a VAR review if it had been necessary. As Mikkel Damsgaard sent a cross across the Scottish area and the defender deflected well from another attacker, the Scots were in a contest to keep their lead.

Gannon-Doak had unnerved the Danish team with his pace. It felt a major loss to Clarke, then, as the Bournemouth man strained when attempting to stop a cross. He left the scene on a medical cart after only the opening period.

The striker soon had the goal in the goal but was flagged for a push on Aaron Hickey. By the half-hour, the team were living far too on the edge, a fact underscored as the defender turned a midfielder shot narrowly wide. Yet Scotland reached the break unscathed. They were also denied of a great chance of a additional goal, a Danish defender smartly taking out the midfielder, receiving a booking, after the midfielder capitalised on Danish slackness.

Second Half Action

The attacker forced the keeper into a quick, down save within the opening moments of the second half. If Scotland were going to succeed, the half would feel like the 27 years since their last World Cup. Considering Denmark only required a draw, the direction of attacks from the start of the second period felt threatening for the home team. They were succeeding – somewhat – in stopping Denmark offensives but promptly handing the possession right back to those in red.

When the tying goal was scored, it came with the whiff of cordite involved.

The referee originally saw no infringement with Robertson challenge on the winger on the edge of the box. Indeed, it appeared the player went down into the ground. After being instructed to look again by the VAR, Szymon Marciniak awarded the penalty spot. Højlund drilled home. On the run of play, the equalizer was the least Denmark deserved but Scotland had cause to be angry about the decision.

Late Heroics

All this exciting game lacked was a sending off. It came on the hour, Kristensen second foul of the match on a marauding McGinn earning a second yellow card. Now Clarke twisted by introducing the strikers Lawrence Shankland and another.

The move was to work out. The Danish defending of an curling Lewis Ferguson corner was poor, allowing the striker to score. The Hearts frontman, introduced for his predatory instinct, produced exactly that. The opposition manager the coach, however, had reason to be angry at how easy it was.

Scotland had no time to build on their lead. Within moments, a Danish player stroked home after Andreas Christensen laid into his path from close range from the net. On this occasion Scotland were overly careless.

Adams directed a shot wide. McGinn bending attempt just missed the upright. Enter Tierney and a goal capable of win the game. The substitute provided the finish: from the halfway line, no less.