Scotland's Greatest Night

Scotland 4-2 Denmark (World Cup Qualifiers)

I'll be honest, I've been looking forward to this one for a few weeks now. Scotland's defeat by Greece and Denmark's failure to beat Belarus on Saturday has set up this European Group C qualifier really quite nicely. If Scotland win, they qualify, if Denmark don't lose, it'll be they who get to go the World Cup.

Our contract with UEFA is to apply in game stats and analytics which are used by the bet markets and live score apps, as well as to counter corruption, it means little old me gets to go to games like this, quite possibly the biggest match in world football tonight?

We don't get paid huge amounts, but what we get is to watch and work these wonderful games of iconic status on the international level, which is why I don't bat an eyelid to travel from Nottingham to Glasgow and back in a day, to ensure a seat in the stadium, whilst watching a piece of history hopefully unfold.

I've done so many miles in my own car recently, I'm taking a hire car to Scotland, it’s 10am, as I walk through the doors of Arnold Clark to pick up a white Vauxhall Mokka, a Scottish company I'm told who are actually based in Glasgow.

It's a long old drive, five hours, even worse on the way back in thickening snow, but I'm supported by TalkSport who big up tonight's game with various interviews with Scottish celebs, it's going to be a cracker, it really is, you can feel something special in your bones.

It's a familiar route from the East Midlands to Glasgow, up the M1, M18, A1, A66, M6 & M74. I was last here for the qualifiers when Scotland beat Greece and Belarus last month. Steve Clarke's side weren't great in either match, but somehow managed to get the job done in both. I'm sure they'll take more of the same tonight.

The Venue

My one stop off is at the idyllic services of Annandale Water on the A74(M). Swans greet you on arrival into the car park under blue but crisp skies, it's a small services with a McDonalds, Costa, WH Smith and BP Petrol Station with attached M&S. I love it as it has a large glass fronted dining area which overlooks a lake, I even contemplate a room here in the adjacent hotel which also looks out with balconies facing the water, just £45 a room tonight.

I must get back early though as the wife has a hospital appointment tomorrow and I need to get this car back within 24 hours. Maybe next time I'll take an overnight stay, a lovely spot, a services I would highly recommend.

Back on the road, I reach Hampden around 5pm where I drive around the Kings Park Avenue looking for somewhere to park my car. I finally find a spot in a housing estate outside the restricted matchday parking zones and walk ten or fifteen minutes in the cold and dark towards the stadium where I see a red bus of Danish fans, which I first mistake for Santa's Coca Cola truck.

I walk over to the main reception of Hampden Park, it feels sombre, the calm before the storm, still a couple of hours to go I’m into the media doors where I collect my pass, before going into the media room for a bit of food and wind down before the action.

It’s packed today, certainly more in here than they were for the Belarus match, as a queue for the food leaves the dregs left of some Chinese stir fry beef by the time I get there.

A few faces I recognise, many who I don’t, who I probably should, BBC’s Kelly Cates walks in ahead of going live to the nation on BBC Scotland, you forget the presenter is of Scottish decent, of course, the daughter of the King of these parts, the great Kenny Dalglish.

Fed with a coffee to take away, I’m heading up the lift to floor five where the commentary positions are. High, set back, half-way, I’m joined by a girl from Genius Sports (who used to be Opta) who I recognise from the last game I did here, we have a chat about our roles as we take in the atmosphere which slowly builds up, the Proclaimers and Baccara amongst the toe tappers as she takes out her phone to video the stadium sing along and record clips of Archie Gemmill's goal v Holland on the big screen.

It's a fine historical arena is Hampden, a circular bowl like, you are set back from these seats I'm in, but assisted by a rather large TV in front of you, the pitch feels very distant as the players do their warm ups ahead of a light show, with the odd firework cracking off, before they re-appear, out to the noise of the Hampden roar, the iconic flower of Scotland sung by one and all, spine tingling as the stadium moves with every lyric thumped out by every fan it seems inside this place, bar myself, and a few Danes in red down below.

The Game

I’m struggling for an internet connection as the match kicks off with a roar of anticipation, Scotland are at it like mad men, hunting everything down, I don’t get to set myself, I suspect the Danes don’t either, they give the ball away in the left back channel and Ben Doak crosses in, Scott McTominay is upside down, inside the box, he overhead kicks the most amazing goal you’ll ever see, everybody is up and bouncing already, I’m still sat down working out the WI-FI password.

That goal is just what Scotland need you feel, exactly how Stevie Clarke would have dreamed it to be, it’s a fitting winner in fact, arguably the best-ever goal scored in this stadium and that includes a Champions League final winner by Zinedine Zidane, now Scotland have only 87 minutes to defend their advantage.

It’s not pretty though, the early goal has probably not helped, Scotland stick, don’t twist, they sit in deep and Denmark have the ball, they prod, probe, and look alarmingly close at times, Scotland’s only outlet is the speedy right winger Doak, but he’s done his hamstring and has to come off, Kenny McLean replaces him, he’s honest, gutsy, but doesn’t have the attacking pedigree of Doak.

Denmark have chances, at one stage the stats board reads 17 attempts by them to Scotland’s 1. They also have the ball in the back of the net, Rasmus Hojlund has been getting nearer and nearer, he’s fluffed a couple before he’s given again too much time inside the six-yard box, but as he takes a Hojberg cross on his knee and volleys home into the roof of the net, he’s done for a push in the back of Aaron Hickey which is obvious for all to see.

The Score

The nice girl from Genius grabs me a Scotch pie and tea at half time from downstairs, Scotland you feel need to do more if they are to cling on to their lead, “it’ll be a long 45 minutes” I tell her, as she takes out her blanket and puts it across her knees.

I feel Denmark are much the better team, but it seems Scotland have had the luck in this competition so far, which is something their fans will often tell you, they don’t always get, it’s down to Denmark’s inability to beat Belarus which has put them in this position, the writing feels like it’s on Hadrian’s Wall, set in the Scottish stars that it just feels like Scotland’s time.

But that hope and expectancy all disappears on 57 minutes, Gustav Isaksen has been Denmark’s best player all night, jinking in from the right wing, teasing Andy Robertson who has mostly done well, he’s left a leg out on the edge of the area, Isaksen falls over it, play goes on, but the Referee wants to have another look, the monitor in front of me suggests it’s close to the penalty area, not conclusive, it’s certainly a soft foul, a hold up adds nerves and tension, but by the time the Referee runs over to his pitch side monitor, you start to feel the inevitability of the outcome, maybe it’s not Scotland’s time after all?

A penalty awarded, dispatched by Hojlund who converts after missing around five or six attempts previous, boos ring around Hampden as the Danes celebrate with their fans in the corner.

From here you fancy Denmark in their red and white driving seat but this story has another twist, on a night where nothing should surprise, the extra-ordinary evening is about to heat up some more, which is great, because under the sleet dropping skies and freezing temperatures, any bit of warmth is largely appreciated.

Rasmus Kristensen has already been booked, he’s tripped John McGinn and receives his marching orders, another soft decision but one that suddenly prizes back Scotland advantage.

Steve Clarke now has aces to play, he brings on attacking re-enforcements, Che Adams and Lawrence Shankland enter the field, then Kieran Tierney comes on, as Denmark replace midfielder Mikkel Damsgaard with defender Jannick Vestergard, suddenly you feel Scotland can go on and win it, and they do, when a Lewis Ferguson corner is crossed in, Shankland left unmarked, prods home, it’s huge, the roar can be heard as far south as Gretna.

Scotland have just twelve minutes to hold on, but any Scotland fan in Scotland will tell you that Scotland don’t do things easily, two minutes later, Christensen is sent forward for Denmark, he nods down to Dorgu and he places home from inside the box, silence, 2-2, suddenly it’s the Danes that are going through. Again.

You feel there’s another twist, it just cannot end this way, as Denmark take off their best player Isaksen, the board goes up for six added, do they really have the strength to see it through?

Scotland by now are hopeful, balls into the box without much class, but the Danes are nervy, 92 strikes towards 93 and McClean sends one in long, it’s headed half clear, then nervously scuffed by Hjulmand, the ball falls to Tierney who curls it back left footed right where it came from, through a crowd, past Schmiechel, into the net, to spark off incredible scenes of joy and celebration, I'm stood up, have Scotland snatched it? Surely they can’t let this slip now?

And there’s more… In the dying seconds Denmark are pushing, Kasper Schmeichel is playing quarter back and the red shirts are pressed all inside the Scottish half, a loose pass however finds a grateful navy blue adidas shirt, Kenny McLean has the ball to relieve some tension, but Schmeichel is way out of his goal, cries of shoot, shoot, from those around me including Stephen Thompson and James McFadden who are on co-comms for BBC, McLean takes aim from the half way line, the roar slowly lengthening as it loops over the goalkeeper running back, the ball bristles against the mesh and every substitute, coach, physio, analyst, steward and sundry, races onto the pitch, arms aloft, Scotland have done it, 28 years they are finally going to the World Cup, there’s people on the pitch, there’s fireworks going off, the Referee has apparently blown his whistle, Freed From Desire is now being belted out by the masses, the most amazing night of many Scottish fans lives.

The Stars

Scottish folklore forever goes in the names of Scott McTominay, for his amazing overhead kick, for Kieran Tierney, for his amazing winning goal, for Kenny McLean, from the halfway line, Scotland having their own goal of the season competition, all against the Danes.

In truth, it was a difficult night for Scotland and they didn’t play well, but football is about big moments, and those who produce them, will be forever remembered.

I was more impressed largely with the Danes, the best player on the pitch Gustav Isaksen, a left sided winger with white hair, who plays his football for Lazio, a real quick, strong, powerful and productive player who wouldn't look out of place in the Premier League.

Brentford's Mikkel Damsgaard was good, floating around the final third with endeavour, whilst Rasmus Hojlund might have missed a few, but he’s certainly a handful number nine. Patrick Dorgu often a nuisance popping up inside enemy territory from the left.

The last word however saved for the Scottish stalwarts, 42 year old Craig Gordon in goal, doing a job because Angus Gunn is injured, because they have no one else of any quality to turn to in desperate times, in Andy Robertson who has been magnificent for Scotland for many years, like John McGinn, Mr consistency, deserving that next summer, after giving everything for their country, they’ll be finally, after waiting so long, playing on the biggest stage of all.

The Verdict

Scotland have made it to the World Cup finals for the first time since 1998, they have topped a qualifying group for the first time since 1992, and Steve Clarke has become the national team’s most successful manager ever, in doing so, which tells its own story of his fabulous, unprecedented achievements.

Some say Clarke is too pragmatic, Scotland aren’t easy on the eye, they are organised and gritty, but if they play like they have done in the last four games (of which they have somehow managed to win three), then they might not go so far in the World Cup? I would say let the shackles off, don't be so defensive, be brave, be more attacking, because this team can score goals, thirteen in their last five matches since opening up the group with a 0-0 draw in Denmark, which was arguably their best performance of the lot?

For the Danes, they’ll have another chance in the playoffs, I back them to be good enough to make the grade, but in group C, they just let the pressure get to them at a time of squeaky bums, and will only have themselves to blame, doing it the hard way is usually Scotland’s route to take, but after making a mess of qualifying, at least the Danes still have that chance, even if this result, and more so Saturday’s draw at home with Belarus, is a mighty bitter pill to swallow.

They'll bounce back, but tonight, Tuesday 18th November 2025, well that day will forever belong to Scotland.

The Teams

Scotland: Craig Gordon, Aaron Hickey (Kieran Tierney 72, Grant Hanley, Scott McKenna, Andy Robertson, Ryan Christie (Lawrence Shankland 64), Lewis Ferguson, John McGinn, Ben Gannon-Doak (Kenny McLean 21), Scott McTominay, Lyndon Dykes (Che Adams 64).

Denmark: Kasper Schmeichel, Rasmus Kristensen, Joachim Andersen, Andreas Christensen, Patrick Dorgu, Morten Hjulmand, Pierre-Emile Hojberg, Gustav Isaksen (Mika Biereth 90), Victor Froholdt, Mikkel Damsgaard (Jannick Vestergaard 64), Rasmus Hojlund (Christian Norgaard 84).

7:45pm Kick Off. Tuesday 18th November 2025, Hampden Park, Glasgow (att 49,587).