Scotland have secured their place at the World Cup finals for the first time since 1998 following an unforgettable night against Denmark at Hampden Park.
A thrilling 4-2 win saw Steve Clarke’s men climb above the Danes to finish top of Group C and ensure Scotland will finally return to the big stage in 2026.
That victory will go down in Tartan Army folklore and is included in Scotland's greatest moments.
(1) Scotland vs Denmark
(1) Great Scots Down Danes
Perhaps because it is fresh in the memory, perhaps because it was so dramatic, but Scotland’s win over Denmark is arguably the team’s most memorable footballing highlight. The scene was set three days before when Denmark’s surprise home draw with Belarus, after Scotland had lost in Greece, left the Scots knowing it was win or bust for top spot in their final match.
Roared on by a raucous Hampden crowd, Scotland could hardly have had a better start as Scott McTominay’s brilliant overhead kick put them ahead inside three minutes. That is the way the score remained until nearly the hour mark when Rasmus Hojlund’s penalty equaliser sparked a frenetic final half-hour. Rasmus Kristensen was sent off for the visitors, and Lawrence Shankland restored Scotland's lead in the 78th minute only for Patrick Dorgu to level soon after, a goal that looked set to send Denmark to the World Cup.
However, with three minutes of stoppage time already played, Kieran Tierney sparked wild scenes with a brilliant 20-yard strike before Kenny McLean put the icing on the cake with an audacious lob from the halfway line.
(2) Scotland vs The Netherlands
(2) Glorious Gemmill
Scotland’s stay at the 1978 World Cup in Argentina was not a long one - being eliminated at the group stage - but will forever be etched in history by Archie Gemmill’s wonder goal against eventual finalists the Netherlands in Mendoza. A defeat to Peru and a draw with Iran meant Scotland needed to beat 1974 runners-up Netherlands by three clear goals in their final group game to pip the mighty Dutch to the second qualification spot.
It was not to be in the end, but Ally MacLeod’s side went out on a memorable high with a 3-2 win thanks to one of the greatest World Cup goals. It was the 68th minute, with Scotland having fought back to lead 2-1 following Kenny Dalglish’s equaliser and a Gemmill penalty, when the Nottingham Forest playmaker swooped on a loose ball deep in Dutch territory.
The Scotland number 15 evaded desperate lunges from Wim Jansen, Ruud Krol and Jan Poortvliet as he skilfully weaved his way into the area. He then drew out goalkeeper Jan Jongbloed before lifting a delicate left-footed shot over the diving Dutchman, a goal that has been relived thousands of times in World Cup highlight reels.
(3) Scotland vs England
(3) Scottish Fans Set The Bar
Scotland had beaten the Auld Enemy in their own back yard plenty of times before and since, but their victory in 1977 stands above most in the memory banks for a number of reasons. A decade after their last win at Wembley, and having lost 5-1 in their previous visit in 1975, Scotland headed to London looking to retain the annual British Home Championship and continue their build-up to the 1978 World Cup under new boss MacLeod.
A crowd of almost 100,000 packed into Wembley, a sizable proportion of which were from north of the border and the teams were greeted by a sea of tartan. Those fans ended up forming the lasting images from the match due to their post-match celebrations after goals by Gordon McQueen and Dalglish earned a 2-1 win, with Mick Channon’s late penalty for England academic.
As the full-time whistle blew, scores of kilt-wearing, saltire-waving Scotland fans raced onto the pitch to revel in the moment - among them Rod Stewart. Clumps of Wembley turf were collected as souvenirs while some fans decided to climb on the goalposts at the end, where Dalglish scored the winning goal, leading the crossbar to snap in half in what has become an iconic incident.
(4) France vs Scotland
(4) King James Conquers Paris
Scotland were unable to finish in the top two of a Euro 2008 qualifying group that included reigning world champions Italy and runners-up France, but they bloodied some noses along the way - most notably doing the double over the star-studded French. Les Bleus, boasting the likes of Thierry Henry, Lilian Thuram, Patrick Vieira, Franck Ribery and Claude Makelele, had already suffered a 1-0 defeat at Hampden in their third group match, but that upset was easily eclipsed in the return meeting in Paris.
Scotland travelled to France knowing a victory would put them top of the group with three games left, while 1998 World Cup winners and 2000 European champions France had not lost a competitive match on home soil this century. That all changed on September 12, 2007, when James McFadden’s stunning 30-yard strike into the top corner in the 63rd minute, combined with a heroic defensive effort against a French onslaught, secured victory in front of thousands of Scotland fans at the Parc des Princes.
Unfortunately for Alex McLeish’s side, they could not build on that titanic win as defeats to Georgia and Italy in their final two games saw the Scots finish third in qualifying, two points behind France, but Paris will never be forgotten by those fortunate enough to witness it.
(5) Scotland vs England (1967)
(5) World Champions Humbled
Arguably, Scotland’s best win over England came in 1967, less than a year after Alf Ramsey’s side had won the World Cup. The English went into the game unbeaten in 19 matches and boasting most of the players that had lifted the Jules Rimet trophy, but it was unfancied but talent-packed Scotland who came out on top.
Denis Law gave the visitors a first-half lead, and Bobby Lennox, who the following month would help Celtic become the first British side to win the European Cup, made it 2-0 with 12 minutes remaining. England set up a grandstand finish as goals from Jack Charlton (84) and Geoff Hurst (88), either side of a Jim McCalliog strike (87), made it 3-2 heading into the final minutes, but Scotland held on for a famous triumph over the world champions.
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