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Scotland's national stadium has witnessed numerous historic moments throughout its long history since 1903. Add this match to the record. The Scottish extended wait is over. Steve Clarke, Andy Robertson, Scott McTominay, the playmaker; they will be at the World Cup. So too the defender, whose curling effort from distance looked like it had sealed victory in a five-goal thriller before the substitute delivered an still more spectacular fourth.

Nearly 30 years of disappointment, during which the Scottish men's team have observed men’s World Cups from a distance, were wiped away as Denmark suffered defeat in added time. Adult fans in kilts wept. The Danish qualification in the upcoming jamboree hinges on qualifiers. Clarke and a now ecstatic Scottish football community can begin planning solid plans.

PhD students could produce papers on how on earth Scotland accomplished this. They looked finished at times, as recently as Saturday when falling to a loss in Greece. It was like destiny had predetermined the Scots had waited quite enough for a place in the tournament. The interventions of Tierney and McLean were incredible.

The Night Kicks Off

The evening had reportedly opened in challenging fashion for Scotland. The defender, who had been due to play alongside the centre-back in defense, was hurt in the pregame. His replacement filled in. Any sense of problem was forgotten in the first few minutes.

This was some of the most amazing strikes delivered at Hampden in modern history.

Ben Gannon-Doak jinked and weaved on the right flank. The Bournemouth winger’s arched pass was expected to be tricky for the midfielder to control. He was with his back to the net, initially. Instead, McTominay catapulted himself into the sky and planted an bicycle kick beyond the reach of the goalkeeper. This historic old place erupted, not simply in recognition of the first goal but the special circumstances in which it came. Wow.

Game Contest

McTominay was performing like a player inspired. The young winger looked dynamic. Scottish threat resonated in attacking aggressively; the goalkeeper blocked from Rasmus Højlund after the Denmark forward was sent clean through. The assistant's flag was raised but Højlund may well have been onside a VAR review if it had been necessary. As Mikkel Damsgaard flashed a ball across the Scottish area and the defender blocked effectively from Victor Froholdt, the home side were in a fight to keep their advantage.

Gannon-Doak had rattled the Danish team with his pace. It felt a major setback to Clarke, at that point, as the Bournemouth man strained when attempting to block a cross. He departed the scene on a medical cart after just 20 minutes.

Højlund shortly had the ball in the goal but was penalised for a foul on the defender. By the half-hour, the team were living far too on the edge, a point further emphasised as Hanley deflected a midfielder shot narrowly off target. Yet Scotland reached the break still ahead. They were even denied of a golden opportunity of a second goal, Rasmus Kristensen cleverly taking out McGinn, receiving a booking, after the midfielder capitalised on opposition mistakes.

Final Period Drama

The attacker made the keeper into a sharp, low save within a minute and a half of the restart. If the Scots were going to succeed, the remainder would seem like the 27 years since World Cup participation. Given Denmark only required a tie, the flow of play from the onset of the half felt threatening for the home team. They were succeeding – to a point – in breaking up Denmark offensives but promptly giving the possession right back to those in the away kit.

When the tying goal came, it came with the whiff of controversy involved.

The referee originally noticed nothing wrong with the captain's tackle on the winger on the edge of the box. In fact, it appeared the player dived into the ground. After being instructed to check by the VAR, the referee pointed to the spot. Højlund blasted into the net. On the overall play, the equalizer was the least Denmark deserved but the hosts had reason to be upset about the circumstances.

Final Action

All this action-packed game lacked was a dismissal. It came on the 60-minute mark, Kristensen another infraction of the night on a marauding midfielder bringing another yellow card. Now the coach made a change by introducing the strikers Lawrence Shankland and another.

This decision was to pay dividends. The Danish marking of an inswinging Lewis Ferguson set piece was disorganized, allowing the striker to score. The Hearts frontman, brought on for his attacking prowess, demonstrated exactly that. The Danish head coach the coach, however, had reason to be upset at how simple 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 way inside the box from the net. This time the defense were too generous.

The striker directed a header off target. McGinn curling attempt narrowly went past the upright. Then came the defender and a goal capable of win any match. The substitute added gloss: from the center circle, indeed.