Scotland qualify for World Cup and end 28-year wait in dramatic Denmark win

Scotland faced Denmark in World Cup qualifying knowing a win would secure qualifcation and anything less would mean needing to qualify for the tournament in the United States via a play-off

Scotland have qualified for the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada after a dramatic evening at Hampden Park. Steve Clarke's side defeated Denmark 4-2 on Tuesday night, returning to the pinnacle of international football for the first time since 1998.

Kieran Tierney's stoppage-time stunner earned Scotland three points and a place in the World Cup. The Scotland star smashed it in from distance with a first-time effort. Bedlam unfolded in the stands at Glasgow for a landmark achievement.

And it wasn't to end there as Kenny Mclean lobbed Kasper Schmeichel for a fourth. The Norwich City star kept his composure in the final minute to spark jubilation from distance and left a nation in ecstasy.

Scott McTominay's magical overhead kick opened the night for Scotland in fantastic fashion, but VAR proved the first spoiler when Andy Robertson was judged to have brought down Gustav Isaksen in the area after review. Rasmus Hojlund scored from the spot to put Denmark back in the driving seat in the second period.

Substitute Lawrence Shankland looked to have scored a potential winner until Manchester United star Patrick Dorgu hit back. However, it only set the stage for Tierney to record an iconic moment.

Steve Clarke was able to crack a big smile after what is likely his greatest achievement as a coach. "Scott McTominay scored the best overhead kick I've ever seen and it might not have been the best goal of the night!" he said.

"It was a lot of emotions. High and low. At times, you're lookin for solutions and thinking how to change it. I knew at some stage we'd have to go two up front.

"I felt the Danes were dominating us a little. It seemed like a good time [to make the changes]. Whether they were 10 or 11 [men], we were going to do that.

"I spoke to Kieran [Tierney] before the first game. He's a key player for me, one of my men. I've got loads of them. 14 were involved in the play-off game.

"I said 'listen, Aaron Hickey can't do back-to-back games, I can see you coming on at right-back and doing very well for us'.

"I'm not sure I envisioned the goal... but when it was rolling back to him on his left foot, I knew he would score.

"When [Kenny] hit it, I thought 'what are you doing?!' but when I saw it in flight, I thought 'that's going to go in!'"

In the aftermath, former Scotland striker Billy Dodds said: "Forget Belarus, forget Greece. I've never sampled anything like this.

"I've been in big games, watched big games. The standard of goals, the timing of them, the emotion of it. It was all out of this world. Young, old. Man, woman, child. You'll never experience anything like this again."

James McFadden added: "We've just witnessed the three best goals in Scotland's history in one game."

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