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Hampden Park has been the stage for countless memorable occasions throughout its rich history since 1903. Add this match to the annals. Scotland's long wait has concluded. The manager, the captain, the midfielder, John McGinn; they will be at the World Cup. Along with them the defender, whose curling shot from outside the box looked like it had secured victory in a five-goal thriller until Kenny McLean produced an more spectacular fourth.

Nearly 30 years of heartache, during which the Scottish men's team have watched the World Cup from afar, were erased as the Danish team suffered a loss in added time. Adult fans in kilts wept. The Danish qualification in next summer’s jamboree rests on qualifiers. Clarke and a now giddy country can prepare solid arrangements.

PhD students could produce papers on how exactly the team pulled off this. They seemed finished at moments, just days before the weekend when suffering defeat in Greece. It was as though someone, somewhere had decreed the Scots had waited long enough for a return to the World Cup. The contributions of Tierney and the midfielder were remarkable.

The Game Begins

The match had reportedly started in difficult fashion for Scotland. The defender, who had been due to play alongside the centre-back in central defence, was hurt in the warmup. His replacement stepped in. All disruption was banished in three minutes.

It was one of the most amazing strikes delivered at Hampden in modern history.

The winger dribbled and dodged on the wing. His floated delivery was expected to be tricky for the midfielder to navigate. He was with his back to the net, to begin with. Instead, he catapulted himself into the air and executed an bicycle kick past the reach of the goalkeeper. This historic venue exploded, not simply in recognition of the first goal but the remarkable circumstances in which it came. Incredible.

Midfield Battle

The Scottish midfielder was playing like a driven individual. Gannon-Doak seemed electric. Scottish threat was evident in pushing forward aggressively; the goalkeeper blocked from Rasmus Højlund after the opposition striker was through on goal. The assistant's flag was up but he might have survived a second check if needed. As Mikkel Damsgaard sent a ball across the Scotland goal and McKenna deflected well from Victor Froholdt, the home side were in a battle to maintain their lead.

The winger had unnerved the Danes with his quickness. It felt a significant setback to the manager, at that point, as the player overstretched when trying to stop a cross. He departed the scene on a stretcher after only 20 minutes.

The striker shortly had the goal in the net but was flagged for a push on Aaron Hickey. By the half-hour, Scotland were living extremely dangerously, a fact further emphasised as the defender deflected a midfielder shot just wide. But Scotland reached the halftime without conceding. They were even denied of a excellent chance of a additional goal, Rasmus Kristensen cleverly taking out the midfielder, receiving a yellow card, after the player capitalised on opposition mistakes.

Final Period Drama

The attacker forced Gordon into a quick, down save within a minute and a half of the second half. If the Scots were going to do this, 45 minutes would feel like the decades since the tournament. Considering Denmark only needed a draw, the direction of attacks from the onset of the second period felt worrying for the hosts. Scotland were succeeding – somewhat – in breaking up Denmark attacks but immediately handing the ball right back to the players in the away kit.

When the equaliser came, it came with the whiff of cordite involved.

The official initially saw nothing wrong with Robertson challenge on the winger on the edge of the penalty area. In fact, it appeared the player dived into the air. After being advised to review by the video assistant referee, the referee awarded the spot. The striker smashed into the net. On the balance, the equalizer was the minimum Denmark merited but Scotland had reason to be angry about the decision.

Final Action

All this exciting match lacked was a red card. It came on the 60-minute mark, Kristensen second foul of the match on a marauding McGinn bringing another yellow card. Now the coach made a change by throwing on the forwards Lawrence Shankland and Che Adams.

This decision was to prove effective. Denmark's marking of an inswinging midfielder corner was shambolic, allowing the striker to finish. The Hearts frontman, brought on for his predatory instinct, produced precisely that. The opposition manager Brian Riemer, though, had reason to be furious at how straightforward it was.

Scotland had no time to build on their lead. In moments, a Danish player placed into the net after Andreas Christensen passed into his way from close range from the net. This time the defense were too careless.

Adams flicked a header off target. McGinn bending shot just missed the upright. Then came Tierney and a strike fit to win the contest. The substitute provided the finish: from the midfield, no less.