Scotland Men's Football Team

Image source, SNS

Craig Burley hopes next summer will finally rid him of the status of the last man to score for Scotland at a World Cup finals.

The 54-year-old, a former Chelsea team-mate of national team boss Steve Clarke, netted in a 1-1 draw with Norway in Bordeaux in 1998.

Burley, who was sent off in Scotland's following match against Morocco, is hopeful one of the current squad will banish his big claim to fame at next summer's showpiece in North America.

"I think they will," he told BBC Reporting Scotland. "I think I've dined out on it way too long now, that's 28 years and I'm still dining out on it.

"Boys scored at the European Championships [in 2021 and 2024], but I said, 'Nah, it's not the same, you've got to score at a World Cup'. So I'm sure somebody will get us over the line and people can stop talking about that.

"I'm also the last player to be sent off for Scotland at a World Cup, but I'm hoping nobody takes that one away from me, because that'll make Stevie's job even more difficult.

"But I just know myself, that feeling when I scored in Bordeaux against Norway, of running to the Tartan Army, knowing that you scored in the World Cup, having grown up as a kid in Ayrshire, watching David Narey scoring in the 82 World Cup against Brazil and watching all those big games.

"You're out in the back garden, or in the park or on the street, you're kicking that ball about and you're dreaming of it. I was fortunate I got to do that, and a whole generation of players in the last 28 years have not.

"This generation are going to get that feeling of being in North America, playing on the biggest stage and hopefully doing themselves justice. And that, as a kid, is what you dream about."

Image source, SNS

We've all been choosing our dream draw since Scotland secured World Cup qualification, right?

So has Gavin Noon, from Scotland's Coefficient, external, who wants to face co-hosts Mexico in the opening game at the Estadio Azteca - which just happens to be where Diego Maradona scored his famous 'Hand of God' goal for Argentina against England in the 1986 quarter-finals.

"Statistically, it's easier to qualify for the next round than not because we're going to a round of 32," said Noon on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"We're only going to lose 16 teams. From the 12 groups, the top two are all through, but then also third place from eight of the groups are going through.

"The hosts [Mexico, Canada and USA] probably are the best option because they're not legitimate pot one quality sides like the rest of them.

"For me, I would just want to avoid the Uefa sides, because there's 16 Uefa sides going in, four groups are going to have two Uefa teams.

"I hope that's not us because it's a bit boring. If we're getting a top team, I would rather it's Argentina than Spain, for example.

"Then I suppose from the hosts, Canada are the weakest, but Mexico is the opening ceremony.

"Obviously we've had that a couple of times before and for 40 years, I'm 36, so for more than my lifetime, every Scottish game I've gone to, the fans have been singing about what happened in the Azteca Stadium in Mexico in 1986 when Maradona punched it over the English keeper.

"For Scotland to actually go to that stadium and try and get something to sing about for themselves, rather than latching on to someone else doing something against England, that would confirm our status back at the top table."

Image source, SNS

Livingston boss David Martindale has thanked Steve Clarke and his players for giving the next generation of Scotland supporters the chance to make a lifetime of memories following the national team to a World Cup like he did in 1998.

The 51-year-old was 23 when he travelled to France with friends to watch Craig Brown's team face Brazil, Norway and Morocco.

The Lions manager is delighted the 28-year wait for a return to the World Cup is over after the Scots topped their qualifying section with a dramatic 4-2 win over Denmark on Tuesday.

"It was unbelievable," said Martindale.

"Steve Clarke, all his staff and all his players should take massive, massive credit.

"That's three tournaments Steve's taken us to and a first World Cup. I think I speak for everybody in thanking the Scottish players, the Scottish staff.

"I think the Scottish FA has got to take a lot of credit as well. It's easy to forget about them but Ian Maxwell was the guy that appointed Steve Clarke.

"I think the full Scottish set-up, every one of them should take massive, massive credit. They're going to create memories for Scottish football fans that will last a lifetime.

"I was at the last one, France 98, and I can still remember that very, very vividly, the people I travelled with, the people I socialised with, the games. It was an unbelievable experience."

Image source, Getty

Craig Gordon is set to become the second-oldest player in World Cup history if he makes an appearance for Scotland in North America next summer.

The Hearts goalkeeper will be 43 years and five months old by the time the global showpiece kicks off in mid-June.

He would be second only to former Egypt goalkeeper Essam El Hadary, who made history at Russia 2018 by starting the third game against Saudi Arabia aged 45 years and 161 days.

Gordon is back in the limelight after Angus Gunn, who started Scotland's first four games in the 2026 qualification, missed out through injury for the closing double-header against Greece and Denmark.

Gordon, who hadn't made a first-team appearance since May, impressively stepped up and helped the men's side end a World Cup finals absence of almost three decades.

So is Gordon now Scotland's first choice? And with Alexander Schwolow firmly established as Hearts number one, might the 42-year-old seek a move away from Tynecastle in January?

"At this moment in time he is Scotland number one for me," said former goalkeeper Cammy Bell on the BBC's Scottish Football podcast.

"You see the levels he managed to reach in the two games with the huge pressure that was on the goalkeeping department because of people not having game-time.

"For me, Gordon's always been the Scotland number one. It'll be interesting to see what he does in January, whether he pursues game-time between now and the end of the season to try to get prepared for the World Cup if he can't get in that Hearts team, because ultimately I see this as Gordon's sign-off.

"That'll be him after the tournament, he will retire. And listen, he fully deserves it. He's been an amazing goalkeeper for Scotland and he's definitely on the plane."

Image source, Getty

Newcastle winger Harvey Barnes has not ruled out switching international allegiance to play for Scotland.

Burnley-born Barnes, 27, has been capped once for England - in a friendly against Wales in 2020 - but remains eligible to represent Scotland through his maternal grandparents.

Scotland's 4-2 win over Denmark on Tuesday night ended their 28-year absence from the men's World Cup finals and Barnes remains open to the prospect of turning out for Steve Clarke's side, but insists there have been no talks.

Asked if the door has closed on potentially playing for Scotland, Barnes told Sky Sports: "No, of course it's not. I've obviously played for England, I know the eligibility side is still there.

"So it's hard to say either way. But like I said, there's been no real chats or any sort of progression in that sense.

"It's not something I've really put too much thought into.

"There's always been the sort of talk about it. Especially recently, it's not really something that's been on my mind, nothing that's really been spoke about.

"It was great seeing them get through [to the World Cup] and it was a crazy game."

Everton are preparing a £62m bid to sign Scott McTominay from Napoli and build their team round the Scotland midfielder. (Fichajes), external

Inter Milan will make a move for Bologna captain and Scotland midfielder Lewis Ferguson if they sell Davide Frattesi in January. (Viale della Liberazione via Daily Record), external

Steve Clarke is open-minded about staying on as Scotland head coach after next summer's World Cup in the wake of Tuesday's victory over Denmark that ended a 28-year wait for the national team to reach the finals again. (The Herald), external

Scotland head coach Steve Clarke is currently leaning 75-25 towards stepping down after next summer's World Cup, while adding "I don't close any doors". (Daily Record), external

Steve Clarke has won an average of 2.25 points per game as Scotland head coach during World Cup qualifiers and 1.94 for European qualifiers, but it drops to 1.61 when including the Nations League, friendlies and matches at Euro finals. (Transfermarkt), external

Scottish FA president Mike Mulraney has revealed Scotland's World Cup qualification will bring a £10m-plus cash boost that will transform the country's football. (Scottish Sun), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Lewis Ferguson made up for missing his daughter's third birthday party by partying with her on the pitch in celebration of Scotland ending a 28-year absence from the men's World Cup.

The 26-year-old midfielder missed spending the day with daughter Lake, but sought her out in the Hampden stands after the epic 4-2 win over Denmark.

"It was her third birthday," Ferguson said. "I was a wee bit gutted that I never got to spend it with her, but it was all worth it in the end to be there to see her at the end and spend a wee bit of time with her. I was just so happy and so proud.

"That birthday will probably be remembered for the rest of her life now, just such a special occasion. It was probably just meant to be.

"Obviously we were travelling as well the last few days and it was her birthday party and I never got to make it. It was all worth it in the end for that.

"I was just so happy to see their faces as well at the end and I'm sure they'll enjoy the trip next year."

Ferguson says Scotland "turned up" when "a country's dreams were on our shoulders" on a dramatic night at Hampden.

The Bologna captain played the full 90-plus minutes and went through every emotion on a night of bedlam.

"It was probably one of the best games of football I've been involved in in terms of just everything happening, it was just a rollercoaster," said the midfielder, who is one of eight members of the squad who weren't born when Scotland played at the 1998 World Cup.

He added: "We start the game so well, we're going at half-time and speaking about getting out and trying to get the second goal.

"We go out, we concede, we score again, we concede and then just the goals -fantastic by the way, the finishes were outrageous."

That was the game in the microcosm. Just madness.

"We never make it easy for ourselves," Ferguson added.

"But the emotion, it was incredible and it's hard to put into words now how I feel, but I'm just so proud of everyone involved because everyone deserves it.

"I'm just so happy to be a part of the group that's managed to do this.

"A country's dream was on our shoulders and we turned up, we performed, everyone to a man and just so proud of them."

Sophie Brown
BBC Sport

There have been a lot of column inches about Scott McTominay's transformation into one of the best attacking midfielders in Europe since his move from Manchester United to Napoli – but the Scot has been producing on the international stage as well.

McTominay's first goal for Scotland didn't come until his 27th cap, his second didn't come until his 37th appearance, but since then he has averaged roughly a goal every 2½ games.

His sensational strike that opened the scoring for Scotland against Denmark last night was his 14th for his country.

Since the start of 2023, the 28-year-old has been involved in 15 goals for Scotland, six more than any of his team-mates, and he has scored more than twice as many as any of them.

His international form in some senses mirrors his club form, which saw him win Serie A Player of the Year – and a Ballon d'Or nomination – as he helped Napoli claim the 2024-25 league title.

In the final match of the season, it was his spectacular scissor-kick volley that set Napoli on their way to clinch Lo Scudetto.

And in the final match of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, he produced another stunning overhead kick to put Scotland on the road to America.

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland at Hampden

"Somebody at the edge of the box actually told me, 'Time, take a touch.'"

Thankfully, Kieran Tierney couldn't hear his team-mate and his misguided shout.

The Celtic left-back, brought on at right-back, let rip from 25 yards to send Scotland into a stoppage-time lead over Denmark on the most marvellous of nights in Mount Florida as World Cup qualification was secured.

"It's surreal," the Scotland goalscorer said.

"I've never really scored a goal just as important as that. What a feeling it was for the country, for the fans, for the staff, for everyone, for the team.

"I think we all deserve that with how hard we work and what we've been through these last few years.

"I think getting to the World Cup tops it off for this group because it's something that we hadn't managed to do before and we went out there and done it the hard way."

For a few magnificent moments, it seemed like Tierney was going to be the hero... but Kenny McLean had other ideas.

"I don't care, honestly because the last five minutes was dragging in," he added.

"As long as we got through, I honestly didn't care. I'm buzzing.

"I ran into the dugout and everybody was out, the subs, the staff, the coaches, and I think that shows one of our biggest strengths as a team is the togetherness.

"Through good times and bad, we're always there for each other, we want the best for each other and I just said before the game, everyone here is important.

"The people who come on, the people who don't come on, the starters, the staff, and we need to give our all. I think this team, we all do that and that's one thing we can say."

Former Scotland forward James McFadden on BBC Sportscene

We've just witnessed the three best goals in Scotland's history in one game.

Ex-Scotland defender Willie Miller on BBC Sportsound

I wasn't expecting this. The goals were sensational. There was so much heart, a lot of quality play, sensational finishing. Kenny McLean finishes the night so highly. It's been a privilege to be here.

Former Scotland winger Pat Nevin on BBC Radio Good Morning Scotland

It was spine-tingling. The Tartan Army turned up, and they made the noise, they stuck with the team and it was amazing. There was so much emotion there. There was so much emotion on the field.

Everyone's going to have different moments that are going to live with them. For me the moment is going to be Clarky's face at the end of it, engulfed by his players, and the utter ecstatic joy that he's showing, which basically just reflected what all of us were feeling.

Ex-Scotland midfielder Michael Stewart on BBC Sportsound

This game will be remembered forever. Twenty eight years between World Cups. Automatic qualification. Injury-time winners. Three world-class goals. It had literally everything. And you'll forget the 85 minutes in between when it wasn't particularly positive.

There were big chunks of that game where it was backs against the wall. I didn't know where another goal was coming from - but we scored another three.

When you think there is nothing else to come from this team, they have more and more and more. There's no better story than Kieran Tierney. He's been through hell.

Former Scotland striker Billy Dodds on BBC Sportsound

Forget Belarus, forget Greece. I've never sampled anything like this. I've been in big games, watched big games. The standard of goals, the timing of them, the emotion of it. It was all out of this world. Young, old. Man, woman, child. You'll never experience anything like this again.

Ex-Scotland winger Neil McCann on BBC Sportscene

That is some of the greatest football I've ever witnessed. Stevie Clarke had to go for it and came up trumps. It doesn't get any better than that, to do it right at the death.

No, it wasn't a dream. It really happened. Scotland are going to the 2026 World Cup in North America.

Who cares if the performance against Denmark was largely guff? Especially when three of Scotland's four goals were genuine wonder strikes.

As the dust settles and the hangovers begin to abate, relive the stunning strikes from Scott McTominay, Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean over and over again.

Image source, SNS

Robbie Neilson has praised "phenomenal" Steve Clarke for sticking by his Scotland squad over the years to build the experience that proved vital in guiding the men's national team to their first World Cup since 1998.

"I think he's been absolutely phenomenal," former Dundee United and Hearts boss Neilson told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"What he's done, he touched on it a wee bit last night, getting that experience within the group. I remember a number of years ago when I was doing the pro licence, they spoke about the German national team and the comparisons between the Scottish national team.

"At that point Germany, I think 2014, had just won the World Cup. On average, they had 50 caps per player in the team that won it.

"And at that point, I can't remember who the manager was, but there was a game we played, I think it was against Greece, and the Greek manager actually had more caps than our team put together.

"And last night, when you look at the team, Scotland had 600 caps on the pitch. And that experience it brings is crucial. Look at the Denmark red card, John McGinn, that experience that he's got, guy's on the booking, takes a bit of contact, goes down, probably wins us the game.

"And then on other side of it, 172 caps came on as subs. That is massive, massive experience and that's what you need to go over the line in these games. It's what Steve's done when he came in, was get players, continue to play them, build them and build them and build them.

"You look at guys like Dykes, almost 50 caps now for Scotland. It's massive, massive experience. I think it really owes well for going into a big tournament now because if you want to progress, you have to have that experience.

"For all the things Steve's done, I think that's probably the biggest and best decision he made was get a group of players, stick with them and get them caps under their belt to get that experience."

Image source, SNS

Steve Clarke savoured the "best feeling" of his career after ending Scotland's long World Cup absence with a thrilling 4-2 win over Denmark at Hampden.

The 62-year-old becomes the first manager to lead Scotland to three major tournaments.

"It feels pretty special. This is the best feeling. I've waited a long time," said Clarke.

"I've spoken to you before about how much I want to go to a World Cup with my country.

"I had a chance as player, but it passed me by for various reasons. We had the chance against Ukraine (in 2022 play-off semi-final), that passed us by, and suddenly, you start to think it might be the last one, maybe the last chance.

"But it's not, we're there so yeah, fantastic moment. I feel great.

"It's great because I've now got three months where I can just enjoy myself (before warm-up friendlies).

"The lads have got to have a few beers tonight and then head back to their clubs, but I've got a little bit of time, so it's going to be good and it's going to be a good Christmas in the Clarke household. I promise you."

Image source, SNS

Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon: "What a crazy night. The quality of some of those goals, I don't think we'll see in another 20 year.

"I've been playing for 21 years with the national team. To go through all that and end with a night like that, incredible.

"They are a very good team, but to score four goals like that and to reach a World Cup with a goal from our own half in the last minute, you would never imagine that.

"The group have been very calm through the week. We just needed one chance and we ended up with two unbelievable goals in the dying stages - it probably needed something like that to break our duck and get to a World Cup.

"It's emotional to think about. It's been an awful long time coming. Incredible to be a part of it and it will take a while to sink it. I nearly retired in the summer and Steve Clarke was the one who told me to give it one more year.

"That is worth everything. All the hard work, all the disappointments."

Read more: What Scotland's heroes said

We asked for your views after Scotland beat Denmark 4-2 with two injury-time goals on a nerve-shredding night at Hampden to qualify for a first World Cup since 1998.

Here are some of your comments:

David: That was the best sport ever. Emotion, world-class goals and that Scottishness thrown in. So happy.

Alan: I was in France 98, it was special. We have waited so long, this is an exceptional night and a moment that will lift the nation - everyone will be on a high from now till we lift the Word Cup.

Tom: What a result - with three brilliant goals worthy of winning any game! Now we can dream of winning enough money to go to the Americas and be part of the Tartan Army again. I was in Spain '82 and Italy '90 and I'd love to have one last hurrah.

Gordon: Only good players score goals like that. Only the best players score goals like that under pressure.

Chris: It took three absolute screamers but we finally did it, no longer glorious failures but we are going to the World Cup! At last Lawrence Shankland gets a real go and offered more threat than Che Adams and Lyndon Dykes - he needs to start for Scotland more as he's a bag of goals. No Scotland no party!

Calum: An utter privilege to watch this team achieve an all-time high. Well done to each and every one of them and to Clarke and his staff.

Alan: I still can't believe it. Scotland don't do this. They don't score when they need to. Never mind twice or thrice! They don't get the luck. They don't score overhead kicks. And eight mins of stoppage time is when the opponent lands a sucker punch. We've no right scoring those goals. I'm crying and laughing. It's so unbelievable. What a night.