Steve Clarke lauded the exceptional quality of Scotland's goals in their thrilling 4-2 victory over Denmark, a result that secured their place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America. The win, achieved in front of a packed Hampden Park, sparked scenes of jubilation as Scotland ended a 28-year wait to participate in the World Cup finals.

Scotland needed a win against Denmark to guarantee automatic qualification, and the match was a tense affair with the lead changing hands multiple times. Scott McTominay opened the scoring with a stunning overhead kick early in the game. However, Denmark fought back, and the score was level at 2-2 in the dying minutes, with Scotland heading for the play-offs.

It was then that Kieran Tierney stepped up, curling a brilliant shot from outside the box into the net to put Scotland ahead. Moments later, Kenny McLean sealed the victory with an audacious lob from the halfway line over the Danish goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.

Clarke, speaking to BBC Scotland, expressed his amazement at the quality of the goals. "Scott McTominay scored the best overhead kick I've ever seen and it might not have been the best goal of the night!" he exclaimed. He admitted to experiencing a rollercoaster of emotions during the match, constantly seeking solutions and considering changes to the team's approach.

Clarke highlighted the importance of Kieran Tierney to the team, stating, "He's a key player for me, one of my men". He revealed that he had spoken to Tierney before the game, anticipating that he would play a crucial role. Reflecting on Tierney's goal, Clarke admitted, "I'm not sure I envisioned the goal… but when it was rolling back to him on his left foot, I knew he would score".

Regarding McLean's incredible goal from the halfway line, Clarke said, "When Kenny hit it, I thought 'what are you doing?!' but when I saw it in flight, I thought 'that's going to go in!'".

Clarke also acknowledged the Scotland fans and said that the Scotland support could “smell magic” before World Cup qualification was sealed. "Right in the last part of the game, the crowd was still with us,” Clarke said. “Everybody was in the stadium, nobody left because they could smell magic".

Scotland's journey to World Cup qualification wasn't easy. They were drawn in Group C for the qualifiers, alongside Greece, Belarus, and Denmark. After a goalless draw against Denmark, they secured wins against Belarus and Greece. Clarke's tactical acumen and the team's resilience were evident throughout the campaign.

The Scotland national team has appeared in the FIFA World Cup eight times but have never advanced beyond the first round. Their last appearance was in 1998. This victory marks a significant achievement for Clarke and his team, and they will be aiming to make their mark on the world stage in 2026.