Not since 1998 have Scotland qualified for a World Cup finals, but at the start of this latest campaign, there was a real belief they could change that with a favourable-looking group.
According to FIFA’s rankings, a trip to Denmark was the toughest game Group C had to offer for the Scots, but they more than held their own in the opening exchanges, working a half chance in the opening 10 minutes when Lyndon Dykes guided a header narrowly over the bar.
A set-play brought around an even better opportunity midway through the first half when Lewis Ferguson’s corner found the unmarked John McGinn at the far post.
Unfortunately for Steve Clarke’s men, the typically reliable Aston Villa man could only skew a tame effort well wide of the post.
In front of a packed out Parken, Denmark were a little underwhelming, but having won 11 of their last 12 home games before tonight, there was an air of inevitability that eventually they would get into their stride.
The hosts showed few signs of doing so before the break, but they went into the HT break feeling rather aggrieved, after a late Ryan Christie challenge on Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg prompted an angry response from the Danish bench, but neither referee Daniel Siebert nor VAR saw anything doing.
The mood of Denmark boss Brian Riemer certainly wasn’t helped by his side’s start to the second half, in which his side ought to have fallen behind.
They had a heroic Joakim Maehle block to thank for remaining on level terms, as he was quickest to react to close down the unmarked McGinn when he looked destined to open the scoring.
It took the Danes until just after the hour mark to manufacture a meaningful sight of goal, with Anders Dreyer firing in an effort from distance which rippled the side netting.
Still smarting from a contentious decision on the stroke of HT, Denmark again felt they’d been hard done by when Max Johnston was adjudged to have handled the ball when the hosts believed Mika Biereth was about to break clear on goal.
The referee only deemed it worthy of a yellow card, and after consulting the pitchside monitor, he took the unusual step to uphold his on-field decision.
Scotland spent most of the second half soaking up pressure, but the late introduction of Ben Gannon Doak almost sparked a victory for the ages.
A moment of magic saw him wriggle free in the area, only for a last-ditch block to deflect his effort over the bar with what proved to be Scotland’s best chance to snatch all three points.
A point certainly suited the visitors better ahead of a must-win clash with Belarus on Monday.
The Danes again proved they can be impenetrable at home, but a failure to win here could cost them down the line in this WCQ campaign.
Flashscore Man of the Match: John Souttar (Scotland)