Scottish football fans united in euphoria after 'miraculous' World Cup qualifier win

The prognosis from the north Glasgow primary schools squad had been bleak. “Everybody says Scotland are going to get pumped,” my eight-year-old told me as he left football training on Tuesday evening, with a realism born out of experience despite his short life.

- Libby Brooks

But three hours later, Scotland fans were catapulted beyond euphoria as their team qualified for the World Cup for the first time in more than a quarter of a century after a bum-squeaking, breathtaking 4-2 win against Denmark at Hampden.

“It was the drama of it,” croaked Hamish Husband, a veteran of the West of Scotland Tartan Army, his voice still frayed from the Hampden stands. “Even John McGinn said we were rubbish,” - referring to the Scotland midfielder’s robust analysis after the game - “but that fourth goal ...” He trailed off, perhaps reliving the stunning final goal, scored by Kenny McLean from his own half with seconds of added time remaining.

It’s impossible to overstate the effect this success will have on the nation in the run-up to June next year, said Husband, who first attended a World Cup qualifying away game in Prague in 1976. “No matter what you think of football, it creates an enormous amount of positivity in these difficult times, with Scotland appearing on the world stage for a younger generation of fans who’ve never experienced that before.”