Scotland vs Denmark live: Steve Clarke’s history-makers book place at 2026 World Cup | OneFootball

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Andy Robertson fights back tears remembering Diogo Jota's World Cup dream after Scotland qualify

Scotland have sealed a first World Cup appearance since 1998 in awe-inspiring fashion after two stoppage-time goals helped them overcome Denmark in the deciding qualifier.

Scott McTominay set the tone for what would be a thrilling night at Hampden Park, scoring a bicycle kick in the third minute to break the deadlock for the hosts.

Denmark turned up the pressure and got their equaliser through a Rasmus Hojlund penalty, before Lawrence Shankland and Patrick Dorgu traded goals to leave the score level going into additional time.

With automatic qualification looking like it was slipping away, Kieran Tierney curled home a beauty to put Scotland back in control, before Kenny McLean lobbed Kasper Schmeichel from halfway in the 98th minute to rubber stamp Scotland’s qualification.

How Scotland combined the sublime and ridiculous to make World Cup history

Ah, lads. My guys. Scotland’s men have qualified for a first World Cup in 28 years, most of my lifetime, and all I can think is how, how have you done it in this way? In the history of Hampden Park, never before have there been the scenes that greeted Kenny McLean’s strike from the halfway line, or Kieran Tierney’s left-footed curler that sent a deprived nation through its most glorious night in a generation.

How Scotland combined the sublime and ridiculous to make World Cup history

Steve Clarke’s band of brothers scored three of the greatest goals in Scotland’s history to reach a first men’s World Cup in 28 years

Jamie Braidwood19 November 2025 10:28

Scotland's first World Cup in nearly three decades awaits

Wow, what a night. Scotland are going to their first World Cup since 1998. The play-off draw takes place on Thursday, but it’s the one in December that will be the concern of the Tartan Army. Goodnight!

(REUTERS)

(AFP via Getty Images)

(Jane Barlow/PA Wire)

Will Castle19 November 2025 01:00

John McGinn reacts to Scotland reaching World Cup: ‘We were rubbish but who cares?’

John McGinn asserted that Scotland were “rubbish” but couldn’t care less as his country sealed their first World Cup appearance in 28 years with a dramatic 4-2 win over Denmark.

"I thought we were pretty rubbish to be honest, but who cares?" McGinn told BBC Scotland. "To get over the line was such an amazing feeling. The gaffer's team talk was exceptional.

"Denmark looked more assured but we've had a lot of trauma as a Scotland team and a lot of hits. To get over the line tonight was an amazing feeling.

"It was absolutely horrible. You think that's it, glorious failure, another blow. I was thinking about the playoffs in the 91st minute. What a hit from KT - I will never feel like that in a football stadium ever again."

John McGinn reacts to Scotland reaching World Cup: ‘We were rubbish but who cares?’

Scotland sealed their first World Cup appearance since 1998 with victory over Denmark

Will Castle19 November 2025 00:40

Tearful Andy Robertson reveals Diogo Jota inspiration after Scotland qualify for World Cup 2026

Andy Robertson has revealed how the late Diogo Jota helped inspire him to qualify for the 2026 World Cup with Scotland.

“It sums up this squad, never say die, we just keep going to the end, one of the craziest games of football, we put the country through it, but it’s worth it, we’re going to the World Cup, I can’t believe it,” Robertson told BBC Sport.

“It’s different [to achievements with Liverpool], today I’m in bits, the age I’m at, this is my last chance of a World Cup, I couldn’t get my mate, Diogo Jota, out of my head today, we spoke so much about the World Cup.

“When he missed out in Qatar due to injury, I missed out, because Scotland never went, we always discussed what it would be like to go to this World Cup, I know he’ll be somewhere smiling over me tonight, I couldn’t get him out of my head all day. I was in a bit of trouble in my room earlier, and I hid it well from the boys.”

Tearful Robertson reveals Jota inspiration after Scotland qualify for World Cup 2026

The Scotland captain revealed how a special moment shared with his former Liverpool teammate inspired his push to reach the 2026 World Cup following a dramatic win over Denmark

Will Castle19 November 2025 00:20

Steve Clarke hails quality of Scotland’s goals which helped seal World Cup berth

“Scott McTominay scored the best overhead kick I’ve ever seen and it might not have been the best goal of the night!” Clarke told BBC Scotland.

“It was a lot of emotions. High and low. At times, you’re looking for solutions and thinking how to change it. I knew at some stage we’d have to go two up front.

“I felt the Danes were dominating us a little. It seemed like a good time [to make the changes]. Whether they were 10 or 11 [men], we were going to do that.

“I spoke to Kieran before the first game. He’s a key player for me, one of my men. I’ve got loads of them. Fourteen were involved in the play-off game.

“I said ‘listen, Aaron Hickey can’t do back-to-back games, I can see you coming on at right-back and doing very well for us’.

“I’m not sure I envisioned the goal… but when it was rolling back to him on his left foot, I knew he would score.

“When Kenny hit it, I thought ‘what are you doing?!’ but when I saw it in flight, I thought ‘that’s going to go in!'”

Steve Clarke hails quality of Scotland’s goals which helped seal World Cup berth

Scott McTominay scored a sensational overhead kick early on before Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean sealed a famous win at Hampden

Will Castle19 November 2025 00:00

Craig Gordon, 42, says reaching the World Cup is 'everything'

"It's emotional," Gordon told BBC Scotland after the dramatic 4-2 win over the Danes.

"It's been an awful long time coming, 20-odd years in this camp, trying to get there, some failures along the way, some bad nights out there, but I don't think I'll ever get one as good as that to be a part of.

"Incredible to be part of that. It's going to take a while to sink in before I can really think about the next step. I nearly retired in the summer.

"Steve Clarke was the one that told me to give it one more year, he might need me. I could have given all that up. That one moment there tonight, that is worth everything, all the disappointments, all the hard work, all the years that I've been trying.

"Seven hundred, 800 games, whatever I've played, for that one moment."

Scotland’s Gordon, 42, says it’s ‘worth everything’ to reach World Cup

Hearts number one Gordon will be 43 by the time next summer’s finals kick off

Will Castle18 November 2025 23:45

Report: Scotland book place at 2026 World Cup after dramatic Hampden Park finale

Scotland have secured their place at the World Cup finals for the first time since 1998 after a dramatic 4-2 victory over Denmark, sealed by stunning second-half stoppage-time goals from substitutes Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean.

Scott McTominay opened proceedings in the third minute with a glorious 12-yard overhead kick, but Steve Clarke’s side then faced intense pressure from the visitors in a fiercely contested encounter marked by numerous challenges.

Scotland centre-back John Souttar came off with a warm-up injury, and Ben Gannon-Doak was stretchered off after 21 minutes. Rasmus Hojlund then equalised from the spot in the 57th minute, momentarily quieting the Tartan Army.

His team-mate Rasmus Kristensen was sent packing in the 61st minute for picking up the second of two yellow cards and as the game took yet another twist, substitute Lawrence Shankland restored Scotland’s lead in the 78th minute only for Patrick Dorgu to level three minutes later.

However, in six minutes of added time, Tierney fired in from 25 yards with McLean scoring from the halfway line to top Group C in one of the great nights in Scotland’s history.

Will Castle18 November 2025 23:00