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Date: 20th November 2025
Article title: A time for heroes and healing at Hampden
By SFSA writer and Scottish Sun sports journalist Ben Ramage
For too long Hampden Park has been the home of tartan-clad heartbreak.
It might be the spiritual meeting place of the Tartan Army, but too often the troops have left Mount Florida choking back disappointment and tears after another decisive defeat.
Losing to Italy in the final 2008 Euro qualifier.
Drawing with Poland in the final 2016 Euro qualifier.
Losing to Croatia and Czech Republic at Euro 2020.
Losing to Ukraine in the 2022 World Cup semi-final play-off.
But despite the seemingly endless setbacks suffered on home soil, still the Tartan Army faithful showed up for duty on Tuesday night.
After three ropey performances, it was more in hope than expectation given the group’s number one seeds were the latest visitors to Glasgow.
As Steve Clarke said himself the night before the event, Denmark are habitual qualifiers for major tournaments.
They might not be a European powerhouse like France or Spain, but they were still huge favourites to top the group.
Not least because unlike Scotland, they only needed a point to seal the deal.
But Tuesday night proved to be the critical moment of destiny for Clarke’s men.
This band of brothers have forged a togetherness through both their triumphs and their defeats.
And it was a night when they pulled everything they had together to make history.
Napoli superstar Scott McTominay lit the dark blue touch paper with a sublime overhead kick worthy of winning any game.
While many thought lady luck was on Scotland’s side in this campaign, there was nothing flukey about the technique of the midfield maestro as he plucked the ball from the freezing sky and guided it beautifully into the net.
As we all know, Scotland never has and likely never will do things the easy way.
Clarke’s side were unfortunate to lose Ben Gannon-Doak so early in the first half to a hamstring injury.
Robbed of the young winger’s pace and threat, Denmark began to work that flank and were soon dominating proceedings.
Even so, veteran keeper Craig Gordon hardly had a save to make until the second half.
And Denmark’s first equaliser had more than a dose of luck.
Andy Robertson, earning an incredible 90th cap, was unfortunate to see a tackle just outside the box lead to a controversial penalty.
Still, Scotland dug in and fan favourite John McGinn used all his experience to draw a crucial foul from Rasmus Kristensen that saw the Dane walk for earning a second yellow.
In fairness to Clarke, the national boss read the room quicker than he has before in decisive matches.
He rapidly introduced strikers Lawrence Shankland and Che Adams into the fray.
While he hasn’t always been given the most opportunities, the Hearts hero looked to have sealed the win with a typically predatory finish from close-range.
This game just wouldn’t relent and just three minutes later Denmark were level.
At this point it would have been so easy for Scotland to simply believe this was going to be another massive missed opportunity.
Another decisive match lost late on. Another miserable trip out of the turnstiles and home, wondering what could have been.
But this group of players is tough as tartan teak.
They simply wouldn’t give up and it was so fitting that Kieran Tierney netted the goal that killed off Denmark’s hope in injury-time.
After so many spells on the treatment table, including during the last two Euro tournaments, what a moment it was for the Celtic legend.
He celebrated as wildly as the fans in the stands – and rightly so.
At that point it looked like Scotland would only get one more chance.
As it fell to him, there’s no way the wing-back from Wishaw wouldn’t have felt the pressure of a nation on his shoulders.
But no hassle. That’s what seperates a good player from a truly great player.
Calmness personified, KT curled a sweet strike past teammate Kasper Schmeichel to send Hampden wild.
With just a few minutes left, even then supporters held their breath as Denmark poured forward looking for a dramatic leveller.
But again in fitting fashion, it was one of Clarke’s go-to guys of his tenure who scored a truly epic fourth to cap a wonderful 4-2 win that will rightly go down as one of the nation’s best.
Kenny McLean could have ran into the corner and ran the final seconds out.
But why do that when you can curl one into the corner from the half-way line to seal the deal?
It was then, and only then, that the Tartan Army finally allowed themselves to believe the job was done.
Even Clarke was buzzing on the touchline, allowing himself a rare moment of unbridled joy having sealed the biggest achievement of his managerial career to date.
Ultimately, when it mattered most, these boys stood up and delivered.
And now, finally, Hampden Park has another ultimate night of sheer euphoria in its history books.
And the Tartan army, very possibly the most loyal fanbase in the world, will finally get to travel to the game’s biggest stage one again.
To Messers Clarke, Robbo, McGinn et al, a huge thank you for showing us that no matter how much heartbreak you suffer over the years, dreams can finally come true.
And to those travelling across the Atlantic next summer, lap up every single special moment.
You have most certainly earned it.
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Tags: SFA