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Hampden Park has hosted countless unforgettable occasions over its rich history since 1903. Add this one to the record. Scotland's protracted absence is over. Steve Clarke, the captain, the midfielder, the playmaker; they are headed to the tournament. So too the defender, whose bending effort from distance appeared to clinched success in a high-scoring affair before Kenny McLean executed an still more stunning fourth.

Nearly three decades of disappointment, during which the Scottish men's team have watched the global tournament from afar, were obliterated as the Danish team suffered defeat in stoppage time. Supporters in traditional dress shed tears. The Danish participation in the next jamboree depends on March playoffs. The coach and a now giddy football nation can begin planning concrete plans.

PhD students could produce studies on how exactly Scotland accomplished this. They appeared down and out at times, just days before the weekend when suffering defeat in Greece. It was like someone, somewhere had decided the Scottish team had waited quite enough for a return to the World Cup. The interventions of Tierney and McLean were remarkable.

The Match Kicks Off

The evening had reportedly opened in challenging circumstances for the home side. John Souttar, who had been scheduled to partner Scott McKenna in defense, was injured in the pregame. Grant Hanley took his place. Any sense of setback was forgotten within the opening moments.

It was among the most amazing strikes delivered at Hampden in living memory.

Ben Gannon-Doak maneuvered on the right flank. His lofted delivery was expected to be challenging for McTominay to control. He was facing away from the net, for starters. Instead, McTominay catapulted himself into the sky and landed an bicycle kick past the grasp of Kasper Schmeichel. This renowned old place roared, not just in appreciation of the early lead but the remarkable context in which it arrived. Wow.

Game Struggle

The Scottish midfielder was playing like a driven individual. The young winger seemed electric. The home team's threat was evident in pushing forward with great intensity; Craig Gordon blocked from the Danish striker after the opposition striker was sent clean through. The assistant's flag was raised but Højlund might have been onside a VAR review if it had been necessary. As Mikkel Damsgaard sent a cross across the Scotland goal and the defender deflected well from another attacker, the Scots were in a contest to keep their lead.

Gannon-Doak had panicked the Danish team with his quickness. It felt a major loss to Clarke, then, as the player overstretched when attempting to block a pass. He left the scene on a medical cart after only the opening period.

The striker soon had the goal in the net but was penalised for a foul on Aaron Hickey. By the 30-minute mark, Scotland were playing extremely dangerously, a point highlighted as the defender turned a midfielder drive narrowly off target. But Scotland made it to the break still ahead. They were even robbed of a excellent opportunity of a additional goal, Rasmus Kristensen smartly fouling the midfielder, receiving a yellow card, after the midfielder capitalised on Danish mistakes.

Second Half Excitement

The attacker forced the keeper into a quick, low stop within a minute and a half of the second half. If the Scots were going to qualify, the remainder would feel like the decades since World Cup participation. Given the visitors only required a tie, the direction of play from the onset of the second period felt worrying for the home team. Scotland were managing – somewhat – in stopping Denmark attacks but immediately handing the ball right back to the players in the away kit.

As the equaliser arrived, it came with the scent of controversy associated.

The referee initially noticed nothing wrong with Robertson challenge on Gustav Isaksen on the angle of the box. In fact, it seemed the player went down into the ground. After being instructed to look again by the video assistant referee, the referee awarded the penalty spot. The striker smashed home. On the overall play, parity was the minimum the away side earned but the hosts had cause to be upset about the circumstances.

Late Drama

The only thing thrilling encounter lacked was a red card. It came on the 60-minute mark, Kristensen another infraction of the night on a marauding midfielder bringing a second caution. Then the coach twisted by introducing the forwards one substitute and another.

This decision was to prove effective. The Danish marking of an curling midfielder corner was shambolic, letting Shankland to strike. The substitute, introduced for his attacking prowess, produced exactly that. The Danish head coach Brian Riemer, though, had reason to be upset at how straightforward it was.

The home team had little time to extend their advantage. In a short time, a Danish player stroked home after Andreas Christensen laid into his path from close range from the net. This time the defense were too generous.

The striker flicked a header off target. McGinn curling shot just missed the post. Then came the defender and a goal fit to deciding the game. McLean added gloss: from the midfield, no less.