McGinn: 'We were rubbish, but we don't care'

"We were rubbish, but who cares?" John McGinn said, as scenes of delirium broke out at a joyous Hampden Park on Tuesday after Scotland's 4-2 victory over Denmark sent it to its first World Cup finals since 1998.

Few would argue with McGinn's assessment on a night when all that mattered for Scotland and the Tartan Army was the three points that meant the team pipped Denmark to first place in Group C — and an automatic spot at next year's FIFA showpiece in North America.

For much of the game Denmark was superior, even when it was reduced to 10 men, yet Scotland produced three goals of exceptional quality on a night that will be written into Scottish soccer folklore.

Scott McTominay's third-minute overhead kick was good enough to win any game, but was ultimately just a blur as Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean struck deep in stoppage time, Tierney with a sublime left-footer and McLean a stunner from the halfway line.

"I thought we were pretty rubbish to be honest, but who cares?" McGinn told the BBC. "To get over the line was such an amazing feeling. The gaffer's team talk was exceptional.

"Denmark looked more assured, but we've had a lot of trauma as a Scotland team, and (taken) a lot of hits.

"To get over the line tonight was an amazing feeling.

" (Denmark's second equalizer) was absolutely horrible. You think: 'that's it, glorious failure, another blow'. I was thinking about the playoffs in the 91st minute, but what a hit from KT — I will never feel like that in a football stadium ever again."

Manager Steve Clarke took Scotland to the last two European Championships, but on both occasions it failed to survive past the group phase, scoring only three goals in six games across the two tournaments.

In between, there was World Cup playoff failure against Ukraine in 2022, when Clarke admitted his side froze.

Had Scotland not won on Tuesday, it would still have entered the last-chance saloon of the March playoffs.

But, the thrilling conclusion to Tuesday's decider means it will be spared that white-knuckle ride.

"Kieran Tierney's just said to me he scored the third-best goal in the game and it was a belter. It's amazing," McLean said. "We knew we had the ability, but to do it that late in the day makes it a wee bit special. It's incredible. Incredible."

It had looked as though Patrick Dorgu's coolly-taken 82nd-minute goal, Denmark's second equalizer, would break Scotland hearts. But, after a roller coaster qualifying campaign, Clarke's men had saved the best until the very end.

"There were some moments in the game that went in our favor. We went 2-1 up against 10 men, but conceded, and we thought: 'What are we doing?' But, that's the Scotland way," Clarke said.

"This was the chance; one game. We put everything on the line. There's always one last step and it's always the hardest."

For Denmark, which has been at five of the last seven World Cups, it will have to dust itself down and regroup for the playoffs after picking up just one point from its last two Group C games.

"It is deeply disappointing to stand here after two games and realize that we have not qualified for the World Cup," Denmark head coach Brian Riemer said.

"That was the objective. We did not succeed at the first attempt, and of course, that is really disappointing."

Reuters