How Scotland combined the sublime and ridiculous to secure World Cup spot

Ah, lads. My guys. Scotland's men have qualified for a first World Cup in 28 years, most of my lifetime, and all I can think is how, how have you done it in this way? In the history of

- JAMIE BRAIDWOOD

Hampden Park, never before have there been the scenes that greeted Kenny McLean's strike from the halfway line, or Kieran Tierney's left-footed curler that sent a deprived nation through its most glorious night in a generation.

How indeed. Scotland, let's be honest, deserved what came for them when Denmark's Patrick Dorgu equalised for the 10-man visitors in the 81st minute. If you can't see out such an advantage, then you don't deserve a place at the World Cup - or so they said. Until Steve Clarke's side ripped up the definition of glorious failure, reminding us all of the team that has now qualified for a third major international tournament, in itself an unprecedented return.

Scott McTominay's overhead kick deserved that at the very least. Perhaps the greatest goal ever scored by a Scotland player, surpassing the climax-inducing (as portrayed in Trainspotting) moment of Archie Gemmill's solo effort from the 1978 World Cup, the Napoli star leapt as high as the crossbar, soared and sent a nation into delirium. It would, inevitably, come too soon, as waves of Denmark pressure forced Tierney and then, improbably, McLean to come up with the goods that will be remembered for years to come.