We were rubbish, but we don’t care, says John McGinn as Scotland reach World Cup

GLASGOW – “We were rubbish but who cares?” John McGinn said as scenes of delirium broke out at a joyous Hampden Park on Nov 18, after Scotland’s 4-2 victory over Denmark sent them to their first World Cup Finals since 1998.

Few would argue with the 31-year-old midfielder’s assessment, on a night when all that mattered for Scotland and the Tartan Army was the three points that meant they pipped Denmark to first place in Group C and an automatic spot in the 2026 48-nation showpiece.

For much of the game Denmark were superior, even when they were reduced to 10 men. Yet Scotland produced three goals of exceptional quality on a night that will become part of the fabled folklore of Scottish football.

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

Rasmus Hojlund had equalised for Denmark from the spot in the 57th minute, before Rasmus Kristensen was dismissed four minutes later.

Lawrence Shankland restored the hosts advantage on 78 minutes but it only lasted for four minutes as Patrick Dorgu made it 2-2.

Then goals in the 93rd and 99th minutes sealed the win for the Scots at Hampden Park.

“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 a lot of hits. To get over the line tonight was an amazing feeling.

“It was absolutely horrible. You think that’s it, glorious failure, another blow. I was thinking about the play-offs in the 91st minute. 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 they failed to survive past the group phase, scoring only three goals in six games across the two tournaments.

In between, there was a World Cup play-off failure against Ukraine in 2022 when Clarke admits his side froze.

Had Scotland not won on Nov 18, they would still have entered the play-offs in March.

But the thrilling conclusion to the decider means they 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.”

Clarke added: “There were some moments in the game that went in our favour. We went 2-1 up against 10 men, but conceded and we thought, ‘What are we doing?’ But that’s the Scotland way.

“This was the chance, one game. We put everything on the line. There’s always one last step and it’s always the hardest.”

Denmark, who have been at five of the last seven World Cups, will have to dust themselves down and regroup for the play-offs after picking just one point from their last two Group C games.

“It is deeply disappointing to stand here after two games and realise that we are not qualified for the World Cup,” said Denmark coach Brian Riemer.

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

Elsewhere, Switzerland will appear in a sixth successive Finals after drawing 1-1 in Pristina against Kosovo. The Swiss needed to avoid a six-goal defeat to seal top spot, but they rarely looked troubled.

Euro 2024 winners Spain found themselves in a similar situation in Seville against Turkey. But they also never looked like going down to the seven-goal loss that would have sent the visitors through in their place, as the game ended 2-2.

Austria needed a 77th-minute leveller to snatch a 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina to seal their first World Cup appearance in 28 years.

Belgium, semi-finalists in 2018, cruised into the draw for the World Cup with a Jeremy Doku-inspired 7-0 hammering of Liechtenstein. REUTERS, AFP