Denmark wanted only a draw for automated qualification. Now they have to battle for a spot by means of playoffs.
Printed On 19 Nov 2025
Scotland has certified for the World Cup finals for the primary time since 1998 after a hair-raising match towards Denmark that noticed the Scottish facet safe a memorable 4-2 victory with many of the motion happening within the remaining minutes.
Expectations hung heavy within the night time air lengthy earlier than kickoff on Tuesday in Glasgow as Scotland’s date with future loomed.
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Regardless of qualifying for the final two European Championships, World Cup qualification has proved out of attain for Scotland since France 1998.
But the Scottish facet beat a 10-man Danish facet 4-2 in a winner- takes-all match in Group C with Scott McTominay scoring with a bicycle kick simply three minutes into the match, sending Scotland’s supporters at Hampden Park into raptures.
The early cheers of the Scottish followers had been dampened when Denmark’s Rasmus Hojlund levelled the rating.
Scotland’s Lawrence Shankland then put the house staff forward once more, however that too was equalised by the Danes’ Patrick Dorgu within the 82nd minute.
A draw within the recreation would have given Denmark the group win, and the Danes had been in place to attain that end result earlier than Kieran Tierney put the Scottish facet forward once more three minutes into added time.
Kenny McLean then sealed Scotland’s World Cup qualification eight minutes into stoppage time when he chipped a shot over Danish goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel from the midway line.
“You wouldn’t imagine it,” one match commentator mentioned when Scotland scored their fourth purpose, sending followers into delirium and making certain the sport will grow to be a part of the fabled folklore of Scottish soccer.
“We’ve been on a journey. I spoke to them about it pre-match, about how that is the chance we’ve waited for,” Scotland coach Steve Clarke mentioned after the sport.
“This was the prospect, one recreation. This was like a playoff remaining. We put all the things on the road. There’s at all times one final step, and it’s at all times the toughest,” he mentioned.
Denmark, which noticed Rasmus Kristensen despatched off within the 62nd minute, completed second within the group, two factors behind Scotland.
For a lot of the sport, Denmark gave the impression to be the superior staff. However after an already roller-coaster World Cup qualifying marketing campaign for the Scots, together with a 3-2 defeat in Greece on Saturday, the largest twist was saved to the very finish as the 2 targets in stoppage time sparked the loudest social gathering the town of Glasgow has seen for years.
“That simply sums up this squad – by no means say die. We simply hold going proper to the top in one of many craziest video games,” Scotland captain Andy Robertson mentioned.
“We put the nation by means of it, however I’m positive it’s value it. We’re going to the World Cup,” he mentioned.
Denmark, who solely wanted to keep away from defeat to verify of their third successive World Cup finals look, had been left crestfallen. They may now be part of 11 different groups that completed second of their teams in a playoff competitors: Solely 4 of those 12 groups will qualify for the World Cup.
