Denmark and Scotland began their FIFA World Cup qualification campaigns with a scoreless draw in Copenhagen, a result that extends Denmark’s undefeated streak in home WCQ matches since October 2016.
Scotland, who have not qualified for a World Cup finals since 1998, showed real belief and held their own against the Danes. They had a few key opportunities in the first half, including a header from Lyndon Dykes and a corner that found an unmarked John McGinn, though both chances went begging.
In front of a packed Parken stadium, the Danish side was a bit underwhelming in the first half, but they came out stronger after the break. A heroic block by Joakim Maehle prevented a goal from McGinn, and it wasn’t until after the hour mark that Denmark registered a significant shot on goal.
The match was not without its controversy, as the referee made two contentious decisions that angered the Danish side, but both were upheld after VAR review. Despite this, Scotland spent most of the second half on the defensive. The late introduction of Ben Gannon Doak nearly won the game for the Scots, but his shot was deflected over the bar by a last-ditch block.
While the point is a good result for Scotland ahead of their upcoming match against Belarus, Denmark’s failure to secure a home win could cost them later in the qualification campaign
