FAMILY CELEBRATION AFTER HAMPDEN HEROICS

Missing daughter's party pays off as Lewis becomes a World Cup hero ending 27 years of Tartan Army heartache

- PAUL THOMSON

Celebration Lewis, centre, with Scott McTominay, right (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

(Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Hamilton hero Lewis Ferguson says Scotland's sensational success in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup was a double celebration for the family as it fell on his daughter's third birthday.

And he revealed ending 27 years of World Cup hurt made up for the heartache of missing her party earlier in the week.

Young Lake Ferguson was in the stands to see her father help Scotland win the daddy of all Scotland games in recent memory, as the national side defeated Denmark 4-2 on a drama-filled night at Hampden to reach the finals for the first time since 1998.

After Scott McTominay scored possibly the best Scotland goal ever with an outrageous overhead kick inside three minutes, the Danes levelled from the penalty spot early in the second half through Rasmus Hojlund.

Substitute Lawrence Shankland restored Scotland's lead in 78 minutes when he turned home from a Ferguson corner, only for Patrick Dorgu to level three minutes later and put the Scots on the edge of a playoff instead of automatic qualification.