Scotland are just 90 minutes away from a first World Cup since 1998 as they play host to Denmark in a decisive winner-takes-all qualifier tonight.
Defeat to Greece on the weekend threatened to take Steve Clarke’s side all but out of contention for automatic qualification, but they were thrown a lifeline when Denmark failed to beat group minnows Belarus on the same night, drawing 2-2 in Copenhagen.
Scotland are guaranteed of a play-off at the very least, but the Tartan Army could not have wished for a better opportunity in the knowledge that victory at Hampden Park will seal a place at next summer’s tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
“We always thought that when the draw was made, that if we could get it down to the final game here at Hampden, that would be an achievement because we would then have had to finish above our seeding,” Clarke said. “We have done that. We were drawn as a pot three team, but we are already in second place. We want to go one step further and finish top of the group.”
Follow all the action from Hampden Park in our live blog below.
Scotland 1-1 Denmark
64 mins: Steve Clarke has turned to his bench. Shankland and Adams enter the fray, with Christie and Dykes making way.
The attacking cavalry are here.
RED CARD! Scotland 1-1 Denmark
61 mins: That’s one way to pick Scotland back up!
Kristensen gets turned by McGinn, who goes down under an admittedly light challenge. It’s probably not a foul, let alone a yellow card – but Scotland will take that.
Hampden Park has been lifted.
Scotland 1-1 Denmark
60 mins: Scotland need to pick themselves back up if they want to ensure their place at next summer’s World Cup.
They have half an hour to find another goal.
GOAL! Scotland 1-1 Denmark (Hojlund, 57′)
Rasmus Hojlund steps up… and fires into the top-left corner.
Denmark are back in the driving seat. Scotland are back to where they started.
PENALTY! Scotland 1-0 Denmark
56 mins: The referee takes a couple of looks at the replays and deems Robertson’s foul as inside the area.
Denmark have a golden opportunity to take back control.
Scotland 1-0 Denmark
55 mins: The referee is going to the monitor. Never a good sign.
These last two minutes have been torture for the Scots.
Scotland 1-0 Denmark
54 mins: VAR are taking their sweet time over this…
Scotland 1-0 Denmark
53 mins: This is a worry for Scotland. Robertson may have just conceded a penalty.
He’s brought the Denmark man down – it’s a definite foul. The question is whether it’s committed inside or outside the box.
It looks like it’s on the line… which would be a penalty.
