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McTominay shot saved & Christie heads wide in Scots' best chances
Gunn yet to be truly tested despite Danish pressure
First of six World Cup qualifiers
Denmark and Scotland meet for first time since 2021
Denmark 0-0 Scotland
So close from the Danes.
A lovely square ball is rolled across the edge of the Scotland box towards Pierre-Emile Højbjerg. The Marseille man picks his spot low down, but Grant Hanley's inside leg does enough to deflect it just wide.
A warning shot for the visitors as Hojberg raises his arms to rouse the frustrated masses in the stands.
Denmark 0-0 Scotland
Michael Stewart
Former Scotland midfielder on BBC Sportsound
There's a good balance to be had there in putting on an attacking player like Ben Gannon-Doak and Kieron Bowie.
It gives it a different dynamic, but you'd still be looking for the balance of remaining a strong unit.
You could take one of the two strikers off for a midfielder or a wide player, there are options there.
So far, the starting players have put in a good performance
Denmark 0-0 Scotland
Kasper Schmiechel stick a low leg out to make a great reaction save from Scott McTominay. So close from Scotland.
Unfortunately, moments later McTominay is down after clattering his knee. Bring out the most magical sponge you can find, please.
Denmark 0-0 Scotland
Och John!
John McGinn does so well to take advantage of dithering in the Denmark rearguard. He gets his body in the way, and attempts to roll the ball to the in-rushing Ryan Christie, but the pass is just too short.
Denmark 0-0 Scotland
Right. We're ready to go again. Will we see Scotland try to keep it tight then spring something late on?
We're about to find out.
HT: Denmark 0-0 Scotland
Amy Canavan
BBC Scotland at Parken
Max Johnston and Ben Gannon-Doak the only two Scotland players out having a kickabout at half-time.
HT: Denmark 0-0 Scotland
Lydon Dykes often comes in for a fair bit of stick in the dark blue of Scotland, but he has been grafting away up top
Despite being isolated for much of the opening 45, Dykes won eight of his 14 duels in the first half.
Both - attempted or won - are the most from any player in the first half.
Just one touch inside the area for the big man so far, a half chance with a glancing header.
Get some support around him, maybe a bit of pace in the final third too, and you'd bank on him bursting his lungs to meet it tonight.
Image source, SNSLydon Dykes' first-half heatmap
HT: Denmark 0-0 Scotland
Steven Thompson
Former Scotland striker on BBC Two
It's not the most exciting game I've ever watched.
Scotland will be pleased to get into half-time at 0-0.
HT: Denmark 0-0 Scotland
Neil McCann
Former Scotland winger on BBC Sportscene
We've defended really well.
I think we could be a bit braver at times. If we make one or two passes, it will open up a bit.
HT: Denmark 0-0 Scotland
Get on the thumbs, are we happy?
Want to give us more detail, get in touch with the Get Involved link in our key points.
HT: Denmark 0-0 Scoltand
Willie Miller
Former Scotland captain on BBC Scotland
It's been a good first half, very positive, I feel.
Although Denmark had the bulk of possession, they didn't do a lot with it.
HT: Denmark 0-0 Scotland
Peter Lovenkrands
Former Rangers striker on BBC Sportscene
It's quite obvious that Denmark are missing someone like Christian Eriksen.
Denmark have had all the possession, but not quite the last pass to open Scotland up.
HT: Denmark 0-0 Scotland
Disciplined and gutsy so far. Keep the composure.
Dave
Scotland need to show more composure in the final third. Denmark have up to eight players back and are not particularly pressing so there is no need for Scotland to be so rushed.
Jeremy
The starting line up was a bit of a head scratcher but I'm pretty happy with how this has gone so far and the optimism is starting to creep in.
Nick
That will do nicely.
The Danes work it short instead, overload on the right, and a duffed cross floats all the way through and out. That'll do.
Twenty seconds to go.
Denmark 0-0 Scotland
Ryan Christie the latest Scotland player to go into the book.
Here comes a long Danish free-kick with injury time coming.
Denmark 0-0 Scotland
Grant Hanley is the only Scotland player to have completed 100% of his passes.
All eight have found a Scotland shirt.
Denmark 0-0 Scotland
Amy Canavan
BBC Scotland at Parken
Oh Ryan Christie. That's a chance.
Our sound engineer still has his hands on his head in despair.
Image source, SNSChristie heads wide
Denmark 0-0 Scotland
WHAT. A. CHANCE.
A John McGinn cross finds Ryan Christie unmarked. He heads back across goal, but the ball drifts a couple of yards wide of the post with Casper Schmeichel rooted.
That's a huge chance.
Denmark 0-0 Scotland
Amy Canavan
BBC Scotland at Parken
We knew it from his time at Fir Park, but Mika Biereth is a monster of a forward.
Some career ahead of him.
Clarke on Scotland's bid to reach the World Cup.
World Cup qualifying: Denmark v Scotland
Venue: Parken, Copenhagen Date: Friday, 5 September Kick-off: 19:45 BST
Coverage: Watch live on BBC Scotland, BBC Two, BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website & app, text updates on BBC Sport website & app, listen on BBC Radio Scotland & Sounds
Steve Clarke insists his players deserve to reach a World Cup as Scotland open their qualifying campaign away to Denmark on Friday.
Scotland will face Belarus in Hungary in Monday, before hosting both those sides and playing Greece in a double-header - all live on the BBC this autumn - as they bid to reach a first finals since 1998.
And while 62-year-old Clarke admits it would be a fine way to celebrate the end of his career, his squad and the fans are the ones who he is thinking of.
"It's about the country and it's about this group of players who have been fantastic over the last six-and-a-bit years that I've been in charge," he told BBC Scotland.
"They've been great for the country and they deserve to go to a World Cup."
Clarke, who has taken Scotland to back-to-back Euros, then added: "But deserving to go and going is two different things because you have to work very, very hard."
All six qualifiers take place over the next few months, with automatic qualification or a play-off place determined by November.
Scotland's only defeat in the previous World Cup qualifying campaign came in Copenhagen, with the Danes topping the group by four points.
As runners-up, Clarke's side were then denied in a play-off semi-final at home to Ukraine.
The former West Bromwich Albion, Reading and Kilmarnock manager admits it's a challenging group, predicting a tight race.
"Three good sides," he said. "Denmark are obviously an established pot one team. They've been known to get to the later stages of tournaments.
"We saw Greece at Hampden in March [a 3-0 defeat]. We know they're a good team and they're probably a team that's on the ascendancy, coming up the way.
"So they're maybe one of the more difficult pot two teams and Belarus are a strong pot four team. We know it's a tough section where the teams can all take points off each other.
"It's another opportunity. It's a tournament we haven't been at for a long, long time.
"We believe that this group of players and this group of coaches can deliver, so that's what we have to try and do."
Celtic full-backs Kieran Tierney and Anthony Ralston have withdrawn, with Sassuolo's Josh Doig called up.
Ralston did not recover from a knock in time to join the squad, while Tierney had a scan for a contact injury which ruled him out.
Clarke admitted it was "disappointing" to lose two full-backs, but referenced the squad strength in that department, explaining he had already made his mind up about how the defence would shape up.
The head coach is "pretty clear" about his goalkeeper situation, too, with Zander Clark, Angus Gunn and Liam Kelly to chose from.
Manager Brian Riemer hopes Denmark kick off their campaign with "ball domination but with respect" for Scotland.
The Danes blew Scotland away in the 15 minutes when the sides last met in Copenhagen in the previous World Cup qualifying campaign but Riemer insists the Scots have improved in the years since under Clarke who he has huge admiration for.
"We want to make sure we come out and show our fans and our nation that we're ready," Riemer said.
"There's a great atmosphere in Parken and we get carried forward by the crowd.
"It will be our normal game, where we like to dominate on the ball, we won't change anything from what we've done lately, but with great respect for the opponent, of course."
Riemer drew similarities between the sides with their togetherness and toughness and stressed Denmark are "not underestimating" their visitors.
"They really work extremely hard for each other, for the team," he added.
"As they've shown in the qualification for the Euros that you just need to give them a little finger and then they'll take the whole hand.
"Don't ever underestimate Scotland because they have qualities."
Scotland captain Andy Robertson: "I think it's a really difficult game. I remember last time we were out there they like to start fast.
"The fans create an incredible atmosphere in that stadium, always right behind their team and try and drive them forward from whistle one.
"We'll have a game plan to try and do that and cause them problems where we believe that we can and if we do that and we're compact as a team and we defend well then we believe we can get a result but we have to go show that.
Denmark captain Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg: "It will be a tough game. It's probably for me, the best Scottish team since I've been playing with the national team that we're facing tomorrow.
"It's exciting. It's something we've been looking forward to. We know it will be a tough game against a tough opponent, but we're happy to start at home in our own stadium."
The last five meetings have all been won by the home side – the last away victory came for the Danes at Hampden in an August 2002 friendly (0-1).
Denmark have won their last three home matches against Scotland without conceding. The Scots' last win in Denmark was a 1-0 victory in a European Championship qualifier in 1975, with Joe Harper scoring
Denmark have won 10 of their last 11 World Cup qualifiers (L1), though their most recent was a 2-0 defeat at Hampden in November 2021. At home, they have won their last five in a row by an aggregate score of 19-1.
Scotland have won their last three away qualifiers since losing 2-0 in Copenhagen in September 2021. The Scots have never won four in a row.
Denmark have won 25 of their last 28 home games in all competitions (D1 L2), keeping 18 clean sheets.
This will be Clarke's 69th in charge of Scotland, going ahead of Jock Stein into outright second place. Only Craig Brown has managed more (71). Clarke's 29 wins are level with Stein, three behind Brown's record of 32.
Che Adams scored a hat-trick in his last cap - a 4-0 win in Liechtenstein. He's had a hand in nine goals in 13 away starts for his country (6 goals, 3 assists).
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| |
3 Luxembourg | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 0 |
|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 3 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| |
4 Kosovo | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | -4 | 0 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 3 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| |
4 Belarus | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | -4 | 0 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
| |
4 Azerbaijan | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 0 |
| |
4 Bulgaria | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 0 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Armenia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 10 | 7 |
| |
| 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 7 |
| |
| 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 7 |
| |
4 Lithuania | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 3 |
|
5 Malta | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 12 | -11 | 2 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 9 |
| |
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| |
| 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 6 |
| |
4 Cyprus | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 3 |
|
5 San Marino | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 12 | -11 | 0 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 2 | 11 | 12 |
| |
2 Israel | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 9 |
|
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 4 |
| |
4 Estonia | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 8 | -3 | 4 |
|
5 Moldova | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 12 | -10 | 0 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 10 |
| |
| 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 8 |
| |
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 4 | 7 | 7 |
| |
4 Kazakhstan | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 5 | -2 | 3 |
|
5 Liechtenstein | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 14 | -14 | 0 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 9 |
| |
| 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
| |
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| |
4 Latvia | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 4 |
|
5 Andorra | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 8 | -8 | 0 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 12 |
| |
| 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 12 | 9 |
| |
3 Montenegro | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 6 |
|
4 Faroe Islands | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 5 | -2 | 3 |
|
5 Gibraltar | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 16 | -14 | 0 |
|
Manager: Brian Riemer
Formation: 3 - 4 - 1 - 2
Manager: Steve Clarke
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Brian Riemer
Formation: 3 - 4 - 1 - 2
Manager: Steve Clarke
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
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