Tierney and McLean launch Scotland's World Cup odyssey

Hampden Park has hosted seismic, spine-tingling occasions in a storied history dating back to 1903. Add this one to the list. Scotland's long, long wait is over. Steve Clarke, Andy Robertson, Scott McTominay, John McGinn; you shall go to the ball. So too Kieran Tierney, whose curler from 22 yards seemed to have sealed victory by the odd goal in five before Kenny McLean produced an even more spectacular fourth.

- Ewan Murray

Almost three decades of frustration, during which Scotland have peered towards World Cups from afar, were obliterated as Denmark fell to defeat in stoppage time. Grown men in kilts shed tears. Denmark's participation in next summer's jamboree depends on March playoffs. Clarke and a suddenly giddy football nation can start making concrete plans.

PhD students could produce work on how on earth Scotland achieved this. They appeared down and out at times, no more recently than Saturday when falling to defeat in Athens. It was almost as if someone, somewhere had predetermined the Scots had waited quite enough for a World Cup return. The interventions of Tierney and McLean were extraordinary.

The night had supposedly opened in difficult fashion for Scotland. John Souttar, due to partner Scott McKenna in central defence, was injured in the warm-up. Grant Hanley took his place. Any sense of disruption was banished within three minutes.