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<p>Arise, Sir Steve Clarke</p>
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<p>They've done it! After 27 years of disappointment, Scotland has qualified for the World Cup with a thrilling 4-2 victory at Hampden Park. Denmark dominated much of the match, leaving Steve Clarke's team seemingly headed for the play-offs. But Scotland needed this win to secure automatic qualification, with the lead fluctuating between the two sides throughout a gripping 90 minutes. In a moment that will go down in history, Scott McTominay opened the scoring with a stunning bicycle kick just three minutes in, igniting the home crowd's passion.</p>
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<p>Though Denmark was unfortunate to be trailing at halftime, Rasmus Højlund equalized from the penalty spot in the 57th minute. The visitors appeared poised to take control, but the tide shifted when Rasmus Kristensen received a contentious second yellow card in the 62nd minute. Substitute Lawrence Shankland then scored to put Scotland ahead in the 78th minute, only for Patrick Dorgu to equalize for Denmark shortly after. Just when it seemed Scotland's hopes were doomed, Kieran Tierney curled in a brilliant winner in the third minute of injury time. Kenny McLean then added the finishing touch by lobbing Kasper Schmeichel from the halfway line, sending Scotland fans into a frenzy.</p>
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<h2>Scotland Ends 27-Year Wait for World Cup</h2>
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<p>Despite facing intense criticism throughout his time as Scotland manager, Clarke has now silenced his detractors by guiding Scotland to their first World Cup appearance in this century. Detractors often pointed to a perceived cautious approach to gameplay, as evidenced by Scotland's 25% possession in the first half. However, none of that matters now, as Clarke will be celebrated nationwide for securing Scotland’s place in next summer’s tournament across the USA, Mexico, and Canada.</p>
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<p>The 62-year-old boasts an impressive record in World Cup qualifiers, having only lost two of 16 matches—a feat that reflects Scotland’s standing in international football. Clarke has achieved an outstanding average of 2.25 points per game in qualifiers, winning 11 out of 16 matches. His overall qualifying record across all competitions stands at 1.92 points per game, ranking second among all Scotland managers. After leading Scotland to three international tournaments, Clarke has established his legendary status on that unforgettable night at Hampden.</p>
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