Alex McLeish delivers verdict on Scotland’s World Cup qualification hopes ahead of crucial Denmark clash

Looking ahead to tonight's game, McLeish told GB News: "I'm here in Glasgow and I'm ready for the guys to make some history.

"I'm absolutely, 100 per cent a fan. There's a few of the family going today, and Steve [Clarke] has done a great job and it's a fantastic opportunity for him to justify his tenure as a manager."

Clarke took the reins from McLeish in 2019 and has since guided Scotland to two major tournaments, Euro 2020 and Euro 2024.

Scotland exited both tournaments in the group stage, and Clarke is hopeful he will tonight end their 28-year wait for World Cup qualification.

McLeish was full of praise for his successor, telling GB News: "He's had a great career so far for Scotland, and this one has got to be the big giant prize."

GB News's Paul Coyte highlighted the "lifeline" the team was given ahead of the match, telling the former Scotland manager: "I bet you didn't think just a couple of days ago when Denmark kicked off against Belarus that there was going to be this opportunity, because Belarus have been the whipping boys, everybody's beaten them.

"And then Denmark, in Copenhagen, draw with them, which gives this lifeline. So what do you actually think the chances are? You want to be at Hampden, you're going to be at home, it's not going to put more pressure on the players, is it?"

McLeish responded: "Well, they've also said that a couple of the Danish players have come down with sickness, and I think it's part of the spine of the team, which is a real sore one for them.

"So maybe it's putting more pressure on Scotland, that they have to win, because Denmark are weakened also, but it'll still be a very, very tough game. But I do believe and I feel luck is on our side as well."

Noting the "quality" of the side and how they are playing so far, the national team's former manager stated: "And also the quality of the way the guys can play is absolutely outstanding if they reach their heights, and that's what they must do tonight at Hampden.

"In the past we failed a few times, but I really do believe there is a great vibe at the moment. And the fact that they're going to this game after that turnaround midweek, then the boys must know that there will be an opportunity that they can't throw away."

McLeish, who had two spells in charge of the national team, also made 77 appearances as a player, putting him sixth on the all-time appearances list.

He made appearances in three World Cups for Scotland and gave GB News an idea of just how much qualification will mean for the Tartan Army.

Reflecting on his own playing career, McLeish told the People's Channel: "They were amazing times when we qualified, we famously beat Spain in a game at Hampden. We've had some fantastic victories back in the days of Kenny Dalglish doing his maestro stuff.

"And we have a few guys that are able to do that tonight, believe me. I think there's a few guys that will come out with a wee bit of history after tonight's game."

He concluded: "We have to play in a careful way, we also have to show all the Scottish fans that we can attack the opposition.

"I think we have a really good squad, there's a lot of very good players playing at a high level in one of the highest leagues in the world, and we have players scattered about in other places.

"So there's a lot of tremendous names on the pitch, and I really do believe we'll come together tonight along with the Tartan Army."