Scots bleary-eyed but ecstatic after qualifying

BLEARY-eyed Scotland fans woke this morning still pinching themselves after their World Cup dream finally came true, following a night of drama in Glasgow on Tuesday that ended decades of heartbreak.

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The Scots have not appeared at the finals since 1998 — missing six straight tournaments — but they will be packing their bags for North America next year.

Supporters at Hampden Park on Tuesday were taken on an emotional rollercoaster in their 4-2 win over Denmark, pegged back twice before sealing victory in the dying minutes.

Midfielder Scott McTominay opened the scoring with a breathtaking early overhead kick, only for Rasmus Hojlund to equalise from the penalty spot. Lawrence Shankland then restored Scotland’s lead in the 78th minute, but Denmark — needing just a draw to qualify automatically — struck back once more.

As the clock ticked down, it looked as if Scotland would face the playoffs. However, the team had other ideas. First, Kieran Tierney curled in a 25-yard strike, and then Kenny McLean scored an astonishing goal from the halfway line, sparking scenes of unbridled joy.