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Hampden Park has hosted numerous memorable events throughout its rich history dating back to 1903. Remember this game to the annals. Scotland's long wait is over. Steve Clarke, the captain, Scott McTominay, the playmaker; they are headed to the tournament. So too Kieran Tierney, whose curling strike from outside the box seemed to have clinched victory by the odd goal in five before Kenny McLean executed an still more spectacular final goal.

Almost three decades of frustration, during which Scotland have seen men’s World Cups from afar, were obliterated as the Danish team suffered defeat in added time. Grown men in traditional dress cried. The Danish qualification in next summer’s event hinges on qualifiers. The coach and a now giddy Scottish football community can prepare concrete plans.

PhD students could develop work on the manner in which the team achieved this. They seemed defeated at times, no more recently than Saturday when falling to defeat in Athens. It was almost as if destiny had decided the Scottish team had endured sufficient for a place in the tournament. The actions of the defender and the midfielder were remarkable.

The Game Kicks Off

The match had apparently started in difficult fashion for Scotland. The defender, who had been set to play alongside the centre-back in defense, was hurt in the warmup. Grant Hanley filled in. Any sense of setback was dispelled within the first few minutes.

This was some of the most spectacular strikes produced at the stadium in living memory.

The winger dribbled and dodged on the wing. His arched pass ought to have been tricky for McTominay to navigate. He was with his back to the net, for starters. Rather, McTominay launched himself into the air and executed an overhead kick beyond the reach of Kasper Schmeichel. This historic old place erupted, not simply in appreciation of the first goal but the unique situation in which it came. Amazing.

Midfield Struggle

McTominay was playing like a man possessed. The young winger appeared electric. The home team's threat resonated in attacking with great intensity; the goalkeeper blocked from Rasmus Højlund after the Denmark striker was sent clean through. The assistant's flag was up but Højlund might have survived a VAR review were it required. As Mikkel Damsgaard flashed a cross across the Scotland area and the defender blocked effectively from Victor Froholdt, the home side were in a contest to keep their advantage.

The winger had panicked the Danish team with his speed. It felt a major loss to the manager, at that point, as the Bournemouth man overstretched when attempting to stop a cross. He departed the pitch on a stretcher after just the opening period.

The striker shortly had the goal in the goal but was flagged for a foul on the defender. By the 30-minute mark, the team were playing far too dangerously, a fact further emphasised as Hanley turned a Pierre‑Emile Højbjerg drive narrowly off target. But they reached the halftime unscathed. They were also denied of a great opportunity of a second goal, Rasmus Kristensen smartly fouling McGinn, receiving a yellow card, after the player capitalised on opposition slackness.

Second Half Excitement

The attacker made the keeper into a smart, low save within the opening moments of the second half. If Scotland were going to do this, the remainder would be like the decades since World Cup participation. Considering the visitors only needed a tie, the direction of traffic right from the onset of the half felt threatening for the home team. Scotland were succeeding – partially – in disrupting Danish offensives but immediately handing the possession right back to those in red.

As the equaliser was scored, it came with the hint of cordite attached.

The official originally saw no infringement with the captain's tackle on Gustav Isaksen on the edge of the penalty area. Indeed, it seemed Isaksen flung himself into the air. After being advised to review by the VAR, the referee awarded the penalty spot. The striker drilled into the net. On the balance, the equalizer was the least Denmark merited but Scotland had reason to be upset about the decision.

Late Heroics

The only thing action-packed game was missing was a red card. It came on the 60-minute mark, the defender's another infraction of the match on a marauding midfielder earning a second caution. Now Clarke made a change by throwing on the strikers Lawrence Shankland and another.

This decision was to prove effective. The Danish marking of an inswinging Lewis Ferguson corner was disorganized, allowing Shankland to finish. The Hearts frontman, brought on for his predatory instinct, produced precisely that. The opposition manager Brian Riemer, however, had cause to be furious at how straightforward it was.

Scotland had little time to extend their lead. Within a short time, a Danish player placed home after a teammate laid into his path from close range from goal. This time the defense were overly generous.

The striker flicked a shot off target. McGinn curling shot narrowly went past the upright. Enter Tierney and a goal fit to win the game. McLean provided the finish: from the midfield, at that.