In a night of high drama at a rain-swept Hampden Park, Scotland secured their place at next summer's World Cup, ending a near three-decade wait and leaving Danish defender Joachim Andersen in a state of furious disbelief.
Last-Gasp Heroics Seal Historic Victory
The match, played on November 18, 2025, was a rollercoaster from the first whistle. Scott McTominay sent the home crowd into raptures after just three minutes, connecting with a Ben Doak cross with a spectacular overhead kick that gave Scotland a dream start.
Denmark fought back, equalising through a Rasmus Hojlund penalty awarded after a foul by Andy Robertson, before Lawrence Shankland restored Scotland's lead. The Danes were reduced to ten men when Rasmus Kristensen was shown a red card, but they displayed remarkable resilience, drawing level again through Patrick Dorgu.
Andersen's Furious Post-Match Outburst
With the match seemingly heading for a draw, Steve Clarke's side produced a stunning finale. In stoppage time, Kieran Tierney fired in from distance to put Scotland ahead, before Kenny Maclean sealed the historic 4-2 victory with an audacious lob from inside his own half, catching goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel off his line.
The jubilant scenes for Scotland were a stark contrast to the mood in the Danish camp. An incensed Joachim Andersen, in a live post-match interview with TV 2 Sport, did not hold back his feelings. "I'm incredibly sad," the Fulham centre-back stated. "The results we've delivered in the last two games are laughable. I'm just disappointed. I think we played a good game. They score a freak goal. He'll never score a goal like that again in his career."
Andersen's frustration boiled over as he concluded, "That should never happen. I don't know what to say. It's just disappointing and f*****g ridiculous."
Contrasting Emotions for Scotland's Heroes
While Andersen fumed, Scotland captain Andy Robertson provided a poignant counterpoint in his own interview. The Liverpool defender paid a moving tribute to his late teammate, Diogo Jota, revealing the emotional weight he carried into the match. "I've hid it well, but today I've been in bits," Robertson admitted. "I know the age I'm at, this could be my last chance to go to the World Cup. I couldn't get my mate Diogo Jota out of my head today... I know he will be somewhere smiling over me tonight."
Despite the on-pitch battle, there was a show of sportsmanship from Danish striker Rasmus Hojlund, who congratulated his club colleague McTominay on Instagram with the message: "Congrats mate, well done."
The victory means Scotland qualifies automatically for the World Cup, while Denmark must now face the uncertainty of the play-offs, where nations like the Republic of Ireland and Wales await.
