Kieran Tierney savours ‘surreal’ Scotland heroics after injury torment

Kieran Tierney cherished the “surreal” feeling of firing Scotland to the World Cup after “grinding” through difficult periods in his career.

The 28-year-old Celtic left-back has struggled with injury during his career, missing games at both of the last two European Championships, while fitness issues also affected his time at Arsenal.

Even now, following his return to his boyhood club, the defender’s game time is being carefully managed and he again started on the bench as Scotland faced Denmark in their crunch final Group C game.

Tierney came on in an unfamiliar right-back role but delivered the goods three minutes into stoppage time as he curled home a first-time effort from 25 yards to put Scotland ahead.

The defender has been a crucial part of Steve Clarke’s team when available and it was fitting that he produced such a vital contribution when he found himself initially playing a supporting role.

“It’s very special because the last few years, everybody probably knows, I’ve been through a lot with different injuries, with different things,” he said. “That’s football and that’s life.

“I’ve just kept trying to work hard and give my best and go through the bad things and just keep grinding. I’ve done that and moments like that make it all worth it.

“It’s surreal. 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.

“Getting to the World Cup tops it off for this group because it’s something that we hadn’t managed to do before.”

Scott McTominay had stunned Hampden with an extraordinary overhead kick three minutes in and Lawrence Shankland put the hosts back in front from close range.

Denmark levelled for a second time despite being down to 10 men before Tierney produced his special moment and Kenny McLean wrapped up a 4-2 win when he scored from the halfway line with the final kick of the match.

Tierney’s strike was a memorable one but, as McLean pointed out, it was only the third best goal of the night.

“It’s mental, isn’t it?” Tierney said. “I’ll take it. Honestly, I didn’t care if I scored or not as long as we went through.

“Somebody at the edge actually told me, ‘Time, take a touch’. I don’t know who it was.

“Of course there’s a doubt. I’m not really known for my shooting, so of course there’s a doubt. But it just fell there nicely.

“It was perfect just to go and hit it first time and try and put it in the corner and I managed to do that.”

The celebrations that followed that goal and McLean’s clincher will live long in the memory of everyone at Hampden.

Tierney said: “I ran to the dugout and everybody was out, the subs, the staff, the coaches. I think that shows one of our biggest strengths as a team is the togetherness.

“Through good times and through bad times, we’re always there for each other. We want the best for each other.

“The manager said it before the game, everyone here is important. The people who come on, the people who don’t come on, the starters, the staff. We need to give our all. This team, we all do that.”