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Hampden Park has been the stage for countless historic moments throughout its rich history since 1903. Include this one to the annals. The Scottish extended drought has concluded. The manager, the captain, the midfielder, the playmaker; you shall go to the ball. Along with them the defender, whose curling shot from 22 yards seemed to have sealed the win by the odd goal in five until the substitute produced an still more spectacular clincher.

Almost 27 years of heartache, during which the Scottish men's team have watched the global tournament from a distance, were erased as Denmark suffered a loss in added time. Supporters in kilts shed tears. Denmark's chance in next summer’s event depends on playoff matches. Clarke and a suddenly jubilant country can begin planning definite plans.

Academics could produce studies on how exactly the team achieved this. They seemed down and out at moments, as recently as the weekend when suffering a loss in Greece. It was almost as if destiny had decreed the Scottish team had waited long enough for a return to the World Cup. The actions of the defender and the midfielder were incredible.

The Night Kicks Off

The night had reportedly started in difficult fashion for Scotland. John Souttar, who had been due to play alongside the centre-back in central defence, was injured in the warmup. His replacement filled in. Any sense of problem was dispelled in the opening moments.

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

The winger jinked and weaved on the wing. His lofted delivery was expected to be difficult for McTominay to control. He was facing away from the net, for starters. Instead, he catapulted himself into the air and executed an overhead kick beyond the grasp of the goalkeeper. This historic stadium exploded, not simply in recognition of the opening goal but the remarkable context in which it arrived. Incredible.

Midfield Struggle

McTominay was performing like a man possessed. Gannon-Doak seemed explosive. The home team's offense was evident in attacking with great intensity; the goalkeeper blocked from the Danish striker after the opposition forward was in alone. The assistant's flag was up but Højlund may well have survived a second check if it had been necessary. As a Danish player sent a ball across the Scotland goal and McKenna deflected well from Victor Froholdt, the Scots were in a contest to keep their advantage.

Gannon-Doak had panicked the Danish team with his quickness. It felt a major blow to the manager, at that point, as the Bournemouth man strained when trying to block a pass. He left the field on a stretcher after just the first half.

Højlund shortly had the ball in the goal but was penalised for a push on Aaron Hickey. By the half-hour, the team were living far too dangerously, a fact further emphasised as Hanley turned a midfielder shot just wide. But they reached the break without conceding. They were also denied of a great chance of a second goal, a Danish defender cleverly fouling McGinn, earning a booking, after the midfielder took advantage of Danish mistakes.

Final Period Action

The attacker made Gordon into a quick, low save within 90 seconds of the second half. If Scotland were going to qualify, the half would be like the decades since World Cup participation. Considering the visitors only needed a draw, the flow of traffic right from the start of the second period felt threatening for the home team. Scotland were succeeding – to a point – in stopping Denmark attacks but promptly handing the possession back to the players in the away kit.

As the equaliser was scored, it came with the whiff of cordite attached.

The official initially saw no infringement with the captain's tackle on the winger on the edge of the penalty area. Indeed, it seemed the player flung himself into the air. After being advised to review by the VAR, Szymon Marciniak pointed to the spot. Højlund smashed into the net. On the run of play, the equalizer was the minimum the away side deserved but the hosts had reason to be angry about the circumstances.

Late Heroics

All this thrilling encounter lacked was a dismissal. It arrived on the hour, Kristensen another infraction of the night on a marauding midfielder bringing another caution. Now Clarke made a change by throwing on the forwards Lawrence Shankland and another.

This decision was to prove effective. The Danish marking of an curling midfielder corner was disorganized, letting Shankland to finish. The Hearts frontman, introduced for his attacking prowess, produced precisely that. The Danish head coach the coach, however, had cause to be furious at how simple it was.

The home team had no time to build on their lead. Within a short time, a Danish player stroked into the net after Andreas Christensen passed into his way 12 yards from goal. This time the defense were overly careless.

Adams flicked a header wide. The midfielder's bending attempt just went past the post. Enter Tierney and a strike worthy to deciding the game. The substitute added gloss: from the midfield, indeed.