Scotland media react to Scott McTominay display vs Denmark

Scott McTominay’s reinvention since leaving Manchester United has been one of the major stories of the last 18 months in European football.

The midfielder has managed, in a single season, to transform himself into the driving force of the Napoli side that went on to win Serie A and restore their status among Italy’s elite.

Having swapped Old Trafford for the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in 2024, he quickly became a focal point in Antonio Conte’s system and finished his debut campaign as the league’s Most Valuable Player after steering Napoli to the title.

McTominay made 36 appearances for Napoli in 2024/25, scoring 13 goals and registering four assists, comfortably the best return of his senior career, sealing a Ballon d’Or nomination.

However, this season has been more challenging for the Scotland international.

Opposition sides have clearly adjusted to his late runs and aerial presence, while Napoli themselves have not found the same rhythm.

McTominay has still chipped in with goals, but with only a handful of strikes so far and more time spent shuttling between roles than dominating games.

Unfortunately it seems the form that lit up Italy has been harder to rediscover, a trend that had also been visible with Scotland after Euro 2024.

That backdrop is what made Tuesday night at Hampden so significant.

With Scotland needing to beat Denmark to leapfrog them and reach the 2026 World Cup, Steve Clarke’s side arrived into a tense, almost wary atmosphere.

However, Scott McTominay took matters into his own hands, opening the scoring inside three minutes.

Attacking a cross from Ben Gannon-Doak, the former United midfielder adjusted his body and sent an acrobatic overhead effort skidding into the bottom corner.

The finish instantly shifted the mood inside Hampden and reminded everyone why Napoli built their title-winning midfield around him.

He raced towards the main stand, arms outstretched, as team-mates piled in behind him and the stadium erupted.

The Herald’s reaction to the goal described it as a goal: “which will live long in the memory of everyone who was fortunate enough to witness it”.

However, from there, Scotland were forced to suffer.

A lengthy VAR check eventually handed Denmark a penalty, converted by Rasmus Hojlund, before the visitors went down to ten men and the game descended into chaos.

Lawrence Shankland, Patrick Dorgu, Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean traded goals in a breathless finale that finally ended 4-2 to Clarke’s side.

For Scotland, the result ends 28 years of waiting and confirms their place at a World Cup finals for the first time since 1998, with Clarke writing himself into national folklore.

For Scott McTominay, it is another landmark in a career that, unfortunately for Manchester United fans, has accelerated since leaving Old Trafford.