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Hampden Park has been the stage for countless historic events over its long history since 1903. Include this match to the annals. Scotland's protracted drought is over. The manager, Andy Robertson, Scott McTominay, the playmaker; they are headed to the tournament. So too Kieran Tierney, whose bending shot from distance seemed to have clinched success by the odd goal in five until the substitute delivered an even more breathtaking clincher.

Nearly 27 years of frustration, during which Scotland have observed men’s World Cups from the sidelines, were obliterated as the Danish team suffered a loss in injury time. Grown men in kilts wept. Denmark's chance in the upcoming jamboree depends on playoff matches. Clarke and a suddenly giddy country can prepare definite arrangements.

Researchers could produce work on how on earth Scotland achieved this. They looked finished at times, no more recently than the weekend when suffering a loss in Greece. It was almost as if fate had decreed the Scottish team had waited quite enough for a return to the World Cup. The actions of the defender and McLean were remarkable.

The Game Begins

The evening had reportedly started in difficult fashion for the home side. The defender, who had been due to play alongside Scott McKenna in defense, was injured in the warm-up. His replacement stepped in. All problem was banished in the first few minutes.

This was among the most amazing strikes delivered at the stadium in modern history.

The winger maneuvered on the right. The Bournemouth winger’s lofted pass should have been challenging for the midfielder to handle. He was facing away from goal, to begin with. Instead, he catapulted himself into the air and landed an bicycle kick past the grasp of Kasper Schmeichel. This renowned stadium erupted, not just in acknowledgment of the opening goal but the unique context in which it came. Wow.

Game Struggle

The Scottish midfielder was playing like a driven individual. Gannon-Doak seemed explosive. Scottish offense resonated in attacking with great intensity; Craig Gordon blocked from the Danish striker after the Denmark forward was through on goal. The assistant's flag was up but Højlund might have been onside a second check if it had been necessary. As Mikkel Damsgaard flashed a cross across the Scotland area and the defender blocked well from Victor Froholdt, the Scots were in a battle to keep their lead.

The winger had rattled the Danish team with his quickness. It felt a significant loss to Clarke, at that point, as the player strained when trying to block a pass. He left the field on a medical cart after just the first half.

The striker shortly had the ball in the goal but was called for a push on the defender. By the 30-minute mark, Scotland were living extremely on the edge, a point highlighted as the defender turned a midfielder shot just off target. But they reached the break still ahead. They were also denied of a excellent chance of a second goal, Rasmus Kristensen cleverly fouling the midfielder, receiving a booking, after the midfielder capitalised on Danish mistakes.

Final Period Drama

The attacker made Gordon into a sharp, down stop within the opening moments of the second half. If Scotland were going to qualify, the half would be like the 27 years since their last World Cup. Given Denmark only required a tie, the flow of traffic right from the start of the half felt worrying for the home team. Scotland were managing – somewhat – in breaking up Danish attacks but immediately giving the ball back to the players in red.

When the equaliser arrived, it came with the hint of controversy involved.

The referee initially saw no infringement with Robertson tackle on the winger on the edge of the box. In fact, it seemed the player flung himself into the air. After being instructed to look again by the VAR, the referee awarded the penalty spot. Højlund blasted home. On the overall play, parity was the least the away side deserved but the hosts had cause to be angry about the call.

Final Drama

The only thing action-packed game was missing was a dismissal. It came on the 60-minute mark, the defender's another infraction of the match on a attacking midfielder earning another caution. Then Clarke made a change by introducing the forwards Lawrence Shankland and Che Adams.

The move was to work out. Denmark's marking of an inswinging Lewis Ferguson corner was poor, allowing Shankland to strike. The substitute, brought on for his attacking prowess, showed exactly that. The opposition manager Brian Riemer, though, had reason to be upset at how simple it was.

Scotland had no time to build on their lead. In a short time, a Danish player placed into the net after a teammate passed into his way inside the box from goal. This time Scotland were overly lenient.

Adams flicked a header off target. The midfielder's curling shot just missed the post. Then came Tierney and a moment worthy to deciding the contest. McLean sealed it: from the midfield, no less.