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Hampden Park has hosted countless historic occasions throughout its illustrious history dating back to 1903. Add this one to the list. Scotland's extended wait has concluded. The manager, Andy Robertson, Scott McTominay, John McGinn; they will be at the World Cup. So too the defender, whose bending strike from 22 yards seemed to have clinched success by the odd goal in five before Kenny McLean delivered an more breathtaking fourth.

Nearly three decades of disappointment, during which the Scottish men's team have watched the World Cup from a distance, were obliterated as the Danish team suffered defeat in injury time. Grown men in traditional dress shed tears. Denmark's chance in next summer’s event depends on qualifiers. Clarke and a now giddy football nation can prepare solid plans.

PhD students could produce work on the manner in which Scotland accomplished this. They looked defeated at moments, no more recently than Saturday when falling to defeat in Athens. It was as though destiny had decided the Scottish team had waited quite enough for a return to the World Cup. The actions of the defender and McLean were remarkable.

The Game Kicks Off

The evening had apparently started in challenging circumstances for the home side. The defender, who had been scheduled to play alongside the centre-back in the back line, was injured in the warm-up. Grant Hanley stepped in. Any sense of problem was banished in three minutes.

This was some of the most spectacular strikes produced at Hampden in modern history.

The winger jinked and weaved on the right. The Bournemouth winger’s floated pass should have been tricky for McTominay to control. He was facing away from goal, initially. Rather, he launched himself into the air and planted an scissor kick beyond the reach of Kasper Schmeichel. This famous old place roared, not simply in appreciation of the early lead but the remarkable circumstances in which it occurred. Amazing.

Game Struggle

The Scottish midfielder was performing like a driven individual. Gannon-Doak appeared explosive. Scottish offense resonated in attacking too ferociously; the goalkeeper blocked from the Danish striker after the Denmark forward was through on goal. The assistant's flag was raised but he might have survived a VAR review were it required. As a Danish player flashed a ball across the Scottish area and McKenna deflected well from Victor Froholdt, the home side were in a battle to maintain their advantage.

The winger had unnerved the Danes with his pace. It felt a significant setback to Clarke, then, as the Bournemouth man strained when attempting to block a pass. He departed the scene on a medical cart after just the first half.

The striker shortly had the goal in the net but was called for a push on Aaron Hickey. By the 30-minute mark, the team were living far too on the edge, a fact further emphasised as the defender deflected a Pierre‑Emile Højbjerg drive narrowly wide. But Scotland reached the break without conceding. They were also denied of a excellent chance of a two-goal lead, a Danish defender smartly taking out the midfielder, earning a yellow card, after the midfielder took advantage of Danish mistakes.

Second Half Action

The attacker forced Gordon into a smart, low save in a minute and a half of the restart. If Scotland were going to succeed, 45 minutes would feel like the 27 years since the tournament. Given the visitors only required a draw, the flow of play right from the start of the second period felt worrying for the home team. They were succeeding – somewhat – in disrupting Danish attacks but promptly giving the possession back to those in red.

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

The referee initially saw no foul with Robertson tackle on Gustav Isaksen on the edge of the box. Indeed, it appeared Isaksen dived into the ground. After being advised to look again by the VAR, the referee awarded the penalty spot. Højlund blasted home. On the run of play, the equalizer was the least Denmark deserved but the hosts had cause to be angry about the decision.

Late Drama

All this exciting match was missing was a dismissal. It came on the 60-minute mark, Kristensen another infraction of the match on a marauding McGinn earning another caution. Now the coach made a change by throwing on the forwards one substitute and another.

The move was to pay dividends. The Danish marking of an curling midfielder corner was shambolic, letting the striker to strike. The Hearts frontman, introduced for his attacking prowess, demonstrated precisely that. The opposition manager the coach, however, had reason to be upset at how straightforward it was.

The home team had no time to build on their lead. Within three minutes, a Danish player placed home after Andreas Christensen passed into his way from close range from goal. This time the defense were overly lenient.

The striker directed a header off target. McGinn bending attempt narrowly missed the post. Then came the defender and a goal worthy to win the contest. McLean added gloss: from the center circle, at that.