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Scotland's national stadium has witnessed many historic events throughout its long history since 1903. Include this game to the list. Scotland's protracted wait is over. Steve Clarke, Andy Robertson, Scott McTominay, the playmaker; they will be at the World Cup. Along with them the defender, whose curling strike from outside the box seemed to have sealed the win in a high-scoring affair until Kenny McLean produced an even more spectacular fourth.

Almost three decades of frustration, during which the Scottish men's team have seen the World Cup from the sidelines, were wiped away as Denmark fell to defeat in added time. Adult fans in kilts wept. Denmark's chance in the next jamboree rests on playoff matches. The coach and a suddenly ecstatic country can start making definite arrangements.

Researchers could write papers on the manner in which the team achieved this. They looked down and out at points, no more recently than the weekend when suffering a loss in Athens. It was like fate had decided the Scots had waited quite enough for a place in the tournament. The actions of Tierney and McLean were remarkable.

The Game Kicks Off

The night had reportedly started in challenging fashion for Scotland. John Souttar, who had been scheduled to partner the centre-back in defense, was hurt in the warm-up. Grant Hanley stepped in. Any sense of setback was banished in the opening moments.

This was some of the most wondrous finishes produced at Hampden in living memory.

Ben Gannon-Doak dribbled and dodged on the right. His floated cross should have been challenging for McTominay to control. He was with his back to goal, to begin with. Rather, he propelled himself into the air and executed an bicycle kick beyond the reach of the goalkeeper. This historic venue erupted, not just in appreciation of the first goal but the special situation in which it arrived. Wow.

Midfield Battle

McTominay was performing like a driven individual. Gannon-Doak looked dynamic. The home team's threat shone in going on the offensive aggressively; the goalkeeper denied from the Danish striker after the opposition forward was in alone. The offside flag was up but Højlund could have been onside a further inspection were it required. As a Danish player sent a ball across the Scottish goal and McKenna blocked effectively from another attacker, the Scots were in a fight to maintain their advantage.

The winger had rattled the Danes with his pace. It felt a significant loss to the manager, at that point, as the player overstretched when trying to block a pass. He left the field on a stretcher after just 20 minutes.

The striker shortly had the goal in the net but was penalised for a foul on the defender. By the half-hour, the team were living far too dangerously, a fact highlighted as Hanley turned a midfielder shot just off target. Yet they reached the halftime still ahead. They were also robbed of a great chance of a second goal, Rasmus Kristensen cleverly fouling the midfielder, earning a booking, after the player took advantage of opposition slackness.

Final Period Excitement

Højlund made the keeper into a sharp, low stop within a minute and a half of the second half. If the Scots were going to succeed, 45 minutes would seem like the long wait since the tournament. Given Denmark only required a draw, the flow of attacks from the onset of the half felt ominous for the hosts. Scotland were managing – somewhat – in disrupting Danish offensives but promptly handing the ball right back to those in the away kit.

As the tying goal came, it came with the scent of cordite involved.

The official originally noticed nothing wrong with Robertson challenge on the winger on the angle of the box. In fact, it seemed Isaksen flung himself into the ground. After being advised to look again by the video assistant referee, the referee awarded the penalty spot. The striker drilled into the net. On the run of play, parity was the minimum the away side merited but the hosts had cause to be angry about the decision.

Final Heroics

The only thing exciting match was missing was a dismissal. It came on the hour, the defender's another infraction of the night on a attacking midfielder earning another caution. Now the coach made a change by throwing on the strikers one substitute and Che Adams.

The move was to pay dividends. The Danish marking of an inswinging midfielder set piece was disorganized, letting Shankland to score. The substitute, brought on for his attacking prowess, demonstrated precisely that. The Danish head coach Brian Riemer, though, had cause to be upset at how simple it was.

Scotland had no time to build on their advantage. Within three minutes, Patrick Dorgu placed into the net after Andreas Christensen laid into his way inside the box from the net. On this occasion Scotland were too lenient.

The striker flicked a header wide. McGinn bending attempt just missed the upright. Then came Tierney and a moment fit to win the game. The substitute provided the finish: from the halfway line, at that.