Scotland booked their first appearance at the men’s World Cup since 1998 with a dramatic 4-2 win over Denmark at Hampden Park on Tuesday night. Stoppage time goals from Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean sparked jubilant celebrations in Glasgow as Scotland overcame a tenacious Denmark side who played with ten men for much of the second half.
The result ensures Scotland will bypass the play-offs and qualify directly for next year’s World Cup finals in North America, ending a 28-year wait. Denmark, who only needed a draw to progress, must now fight their way into the play-offs after surrendering key points at the end of the campaign.
In a night marked by tension and momentum swings, Scotland both led and pulled ahead before settling the game in dramatic fashion. Tierney’s left-footed strike in the third minute of stoppage time restored Scotland’s advantage before McLean sealed the result with a long-range finish into an empty net after Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel got through in search of an equaliser. The stadium erupted as 50,000 fans celebrated one of the most memorable nights in recent Scottish football history.
Scotland got off to a dream start when Scott McTominay scored with an acrobatic overhead kick in the third minute. Lawrence Shankland, introduced from the bench, later restored Scotland’s lead in the 81st minute and set the stage for the late drama that followed. Stoppage-time contributions from Tierney and McLean proved decisive, showing composure and awareness under heavy pressure.
Denmark’s first equalizer came in the 57th minute when Rasmus H¸jlund converted a penalty after a lengthy VAR review ruled that Andy Robertson had committed a foul in the area. Moments later, Denmark were reduced to ten men when Rasmus Kristensen received a second yellow card. Patrick Dorgu then equalized for the visitors in the 81st minute, but Scotland responded almost immediately with Shankland’s header to ensure the game remained level until a thrilling finale.
Tactically, Scotland manager Steve Clarke’s decision to introduce attack-minded substitutes paid off in the closing stages. Denmark’s aggressive push for a late winner left considerable space at the back, which Scotland took advantage of on the counter-attack. Kristensen’s dismissal shifted the balance even further, forcing Denmark into a more defensive shape as Scotland upped the ante.
The game featured six goals, two stoppage-time strikes and a red card, underscoring his frenetic pace and unpredictability. Scotland were clinical in transition and dangerous from set-pieces, while Denmark dominated possession but struggled to convert their chances, including having an earlier goal ruled out for a foul.
Captain Andy Robertson praised Scotland’s fighting spirit after the match, saying: “That just sums up this team. Never say die. We just keep going until the end. We’ve done the country but I’m sure it’s worth it. We’re going to the World Cup.”
John McGinn added: “I thought we were pretty rubbish to be honest, but who cares?” Clarke admitted he felt different the morning before the game, recalling: “As a manager you normally wake up with that knot in your stomach. I didn’t have it today and I thought, ‘This is strange’. But that’s because I believe in my players so much.”
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Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
November 19, 2025
