Scotland beat Denmark 4-2, ticket to World Cup 2026 after 28 years

Scotland 4-2 Denmark– An emotional night in Group C of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in Europe. The home team opened the score in the 3rd minute, were tied 1-1 and played in a pressured position, before two goals in the 90+3' and 90+9' minutes decided the ticket to the World Cup after 28 years of waiting.

Denmark equalized on penalties and were down to 10 men from the 61st minute, but still fought back fiercely. The difference came from Scotland's personnel adjustments and set-piece power, especially the corner kick that brought the score to 2-1.

The pivotal moment

• 3': Scott McTominay kicked a bicycle kick after a cross from Ben Gannon-Doak, opening the score 1-0.
• 57': VAR confirmed the penalty, Rasmus Hojlund equalized 1-1 from the 11m mark.
• 61': Rasmus Kristensen received a second yellow card, Denmark has 10 men left.
• 90+3' and 90+9': Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean scored consecutively, making the score 4-2.

Development: whirlwind of speed and twists

The first half opened like a bolt from the blue. After just three minutes, McTominay picked the perfect spot to finish a bicycle kick from Ben Gannon-Doak’s cross to put Scotland 1-0 up. The move was both daring and exemplary in its timing and finishing.

Denmark immediately pushed forward. Rasmus Hojlund spread wide with consecutive headers in the 28th, 29th and 42nd minutes, while Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Victor Froholdt, Andreas Christensen and Morten Hjulmand tried their luck from distance but could not penetrate Scotland's compact defence. Their aggression earned Joachim Andersen and Rasmus Kristensen yellow cards. Scotland suffered an early setback when Ben Gannon-Doak was substituted for Kenny McLean after 21 minutes through injury.

The first half ended 1-0 for Scotland despite the game being in Denmark's favor. The home team maintained the advantage thanks to a tight defense and disciplined cover.

VAR, red cards and the final climax

In the 47th minute of the second half, Hojlund almost equalized but was denied by Craig Gordon. The pressure continued and in the 53rd minute, Gustav Isaksen won a penalty after a foul by Andy Robertson; after VAR confirmed, Hojlund finished successfully in the 57th minute, leveling the score at 1-1.

But another turning point came very quickly: in the 61st minute, Kristensen received a second yellow card and was sent off. Despite being short-handed, Denmark still tried to counterattack. On the other side, the Scotland coach adjusted his personnel, sending in Lawrence Shankland and Che Adams. In the 77th minute, Kasper Schmeichel made an excellent save, but just a minute later, from a corner kick taken by Ferguson, Shankland seized the opportunity to finish close to the goal, giving Scotland a 2-1 lead.

The emotions did not stop. In the 82nd minute, Patrick Dorgu finished delicately in the penalty area, equalizing 2-2 for Denmark, pushing the match into a breathless chase. Scotland put all their efforts into the end of the match and were rewarded in the 90+3 minute when Kieran Tierney's dangerous shot raised the score to 3-2. In the 90+9 minute, Kenny McLean sealed the 4-2 victory, ending the visitors' hopes of scoring a point.

Tactical analysis: early crosses, dead balls and bench impact

Scotland opened the game with a typical wing attack: early cross, quick shot in the box. When pressed, they dropped deep, prioritizing defensive depth and counter-attacking based on transitions. Kristensen’s red card gave Scotland more space to push wide and exploit set pieces.

The corner that led to the 2-1 goal reflected a sensible choice: with open play limited, Scotland increased their set-piece frequency and maximised their drop points. The arrivals of Lawrence Shankland and Che Adams provided a threat in the six-yard box, while Kenny McLean joined the midfield to link up and finish in the 90+9 minute.

For Denmark, Hojlund was the main target in the attacking phases, with a series of headed chances in the first half and a successful penalty kick. Despite playing with one less man, the visitors still managed to equalize 2-2, showing their ability to maintain intensity and fighting spirit until the final minutes.

Impact

A 4-2 win put Scotland top of Group C andofficially won a ticket to the 2026 World CupAfter 28 years, Denmark will enter the play-off round.

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