Steve Clarke has defended the passionate celebrations that followed Scotland's dramatic 4-2 victory over Denmark, which secured their place at the World Cup for the first time since 1998. The Scotland manager said the fans could 'smell magic' as stoppage-time goals from Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean sealed the win.
Clarke explained that the seeds of success were sown after Scotland's playoff defeat to Ukraine for the 2022 World Cup. 'I told them to remember how we felt after Ukraine and to bottle that feeling,' he said. 'I knew they would get to that stage again because they're good, and they got over the line.'
The manager praised his players' determination, highlighting Scott McTominay's overhead kick and McLean's goal from the halfway line. '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!"' Clarke said.
Captain Andy Robertson described the squad as the best he has ever been involved with, adding: 'Never say die, we just keep going right to the end. One of the craziest games of football.' Robertson also paid an emotional tribute to his late Liverpool teammate Diogo Jota.
