Featured Image Credit: STV
Topics: Scott Mctominay, Scotland, Napoli, FIFA World Cup, Football
Ryan Smart
Topics: Scott Mctominay, Scotland, Napoli, FIFA World Cup, Football
Scott McTominay has scored a stunning bicycle kick to give Scotland the lead over Denmark in their final 2026 World Cup qualifier.
Scotland headed into the game a point behind Denmark, knowing that a win would secure automatic qualification for the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico next summer.
Steve Clarke's side are already assured of a place in the UEFA play-offs, which take place in March.
It took them just three minutes to take the lead through a piece of individual brilliance from Napoli midfielder McTominay.
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Ben Gannon-Doak won the ball deep in the Danish half before floating a cross towards McTominay, who seemed to almost defy gravity as he hung in the air before producing a superb bicycle kick into the bottom corner.
Hampden Park erupted after the goal went in, with McTominay ran towards the home dugout to celebrate before being embraced by coach Steven Naismith.
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Scotland have qualified for the last two European Championships but haven't contested a World Cup since back in 1998.
Their last win at the tournament was back at Italia '90, when they defeated Sweden 2-1 in Genoa.
But Andy Roxburgh's side lost their other two group matches against Brazil and Costa Rica and were eliminated.
Scotland could have only needed a point from tonight's fixture to reach the 2026 World Cup, but lost 3-2 to already-eliminated Greece on Saturday.
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They did, however, come back from 3-0 down to threaten to rescue a point in the last 20 minutes.
Seven European nations had already assured their spot at the World Cup before tonight's fixtures, with England, France, Croatia, Netherlands, Portugal, Norway and Germany all winning their respective groups.
England were the first to qualify prior to the final international break of qualifiers - going on to have a perfect record - with the others qualifying over the past five days.
Wales, meanwhile, are guaranteed a play-off place but went into the night knowing that they needed to beat North Macedonia to ensure they are in pot two for finishing in second place, rather than finishing in third place and being placed in pot four through winning their Nations League group.