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Hampden Park has hosted numerous unforgettable events over its rich history dating back to 1903. Add this one to the record. Scotland's long absence has ended. Steve Clarke, the captain, the midfielder, the playmaker; they are headed to the tournament. Along with them the defender, whose bending strike from outside the box seemed to have secured success in a high-scoring affair before Kenny McLean produced an even more stunning clincher.

Nearly 30 years of frustration, during which the Scottish men's team have seen the global tournament from the sidelines, were erased as the Danish team suffered a loss in added time. Grown men in traditional dress shed tears. The Danish participation in the next jamboree rests on March playoffs. Clarke and a suddenly giddy Scottish football community can prepare solid plans.

PhD students could develop studies on how on earth the team accomplished this. They looked down and out at points, no more recently than Saturday when suffering defeat in Athens. It was as though destiny had decided the Scottish team had waited quite enough for a place in the tournament. The interventions of the defender and McLean were incredible.

The Game Unfolds

The match had reportedly opened in challenging fashion for the home side. John Souttar, who had been scheduled to partner Scott McKenna in the back line, was injured in the warmup. His replacement filled in. All setback was forgotten within three minutes.

This was some of the most amazing strikes scored at Hampden in recent times.

The winger jinked and weaved on the right. His lofted pass was expected to be tricky for McTominay to navigate. He was with his back to goal, initially. Rather, he catapulted himself into the sky and planted an overhead kick beyond the reach of Kasper Schmeichel. This renowned old place exploded, not simply in appreciation of the opening goal but the remarkable situation in which it occurred. Amazing.

Midfield Battle

The Scottish midfielder was performing like a player inspired. The young winger appeared dynamic. The home team's danger was evident in attacking with great intensity; Craig Gordon blocked from Rasmus Højlund after the Denmark forward was in alone. The offside flag was up but Højlund could have been onside a VAR review were it required. As a Danish player sent a cross across the Scotland goal and the defender blocked effectively from Victor Froholdt, the Scots were in a fight to hold their lead.

The winger had panicked the Danish team with his speed. It felt a big loss to Clarke, then, as the Bournemouth man overstretched when attempting to block a pass. He left the field on a medical cart after just 20 minutes.

The striker soon had the ball in the net but was flagged for a foul on Aaron Hickey. By the 30-minute mark, the team were playing extremely on the edge, a fact underscored as Hanley turned a midfielder drive narrowly off target. But Scotland reached the break without conceding. They were also robbed of a great opportunity of a second goal, Rasmus Kristensen smartly fouling McGinn, earning a booking, after the midfielder capitalised on opposition mistakes.

Final Period Action

The attacker forced Gordon into a sharp, low stop within the opening moments of the second half. If the Scots were going to do this, 45 minutes would feel like the decades since World Cup participation. Considering Denmark only needed a draw, the direction of traffic right from the onset of the half felt ominous for the hosts. Scotland were managing – somewhat – in disrupting Danish attacks but promptly handing the ball right back to those in the away kit.

When the equaliser came, it came with the whiff of dispute attached.

The official initially noticed no foul with Robertson challenge on Gustav Isaksen on the edge of the box. Indeed, it seemed the player went down into the ground. After being advised to review by the VAR, the referee awarded the penalty spot. Højlund smashed home. On the overall play, parity was the minimum the away side deserved but the hosts had cause to be upset about the decision.

Final Heroics

All this action-packed match was missing was a sending off. It came on the hour, Kristensen another infraction of the night on a attacking midfielder earning a second yellow card. Now the coach twisted by bringing on the forwards Lawrence Shankland and Che Adams.

This decision was to work out. The Danish defending of an inswinging midfielder corner was disorganized, allowing the striker to strike. The substitute, brought on for his attacking prowess, demonstrated precisely that. The Danish head coach Brian Riemer, however, had cause to be upset at how easy it was.

The home team had little time to extend their advantage. Within three minutes, a Danish player slotted into the net after a teammate laid into his path from close range from the net. On this occasion the defense were too careless.

The striker flicked a shot off target. The midfielder's bending shot just missed the post. Enter the defender and a moment worthy to deciding the contest. The substitute provided the finish: from the midfield, indeed.