Joakim Maehle strike gives Denmark 'ticket for the 2022 World Cup' - in pictures

Danes join Germany in Qatar after 1-0 win over Austria in Copenhagen

Denmark's Joakim Maehle, center, celebrates scoring with teammates Thomas Delaney, left, and Yussuf Poulsen during the World Cup group F qualifying soccer match between Denmark and Austria, in Parken Stadium in Copenhagen, Denmark, Tuesday Oct. 12, 2021. (Liselotte Sabroe / Ritzau Scanpix via AP)

Denmark's Joakim Maehle, right, and Austria's Konrad Laimer battle for the ball. AP

Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand celebrates. Reuters

Denmark's Jens Stryger Larsen, right, and Austria's Michael Gregoritsch battle for the ball. AP

Denmark's Kasper Dolberg, left, and Austria's Martin Hinteregger, right, battle for the ball. AP

Denmark's Thomas Delaney, top, and Austria's goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann. AP

Denmark's Andreas Skov Olsen, left, and Austria's Martin Hinteregger and goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann battle for the ball. AP

Denmark's Simon Kjaer, right, and Austria's Ercan Kara. AP

Austria's Stefan Posch in action with Denmark's Yussuf Poulsen. Reuters

Denmark's Andreas Christensen, left, and Austria's Marco Gruell battle for the ball. AP

Denmark's Yussuf Poulsen in action with Austria's Christopher Trimmel Liselotte. Reuters

Denmark fans inside the stadium. Reuters

Supporters of Denmark. EPA

Denmark defender Simon Kjaer and coach Kasper Hjulmand. AFP

Denmark secured their place at next year's World Cup with a gritty 1-0 win over Austria in Group F qualifying.

Joakim Maehle's second-half goal at the Parken Stadium kept the Danes seven points ahead of Scotland, who eked out a late 1-0 win in the Faroe Islands, with two rounds left to play.

"It means a lot," Maehle told Danish television. "It's one of the best nights in Parken in a very long time. It's amazing.

"It wasn't the most beautiful football today, but luckily neither team played well. The most important thing is that we win and that we have the ticket for the World Cup."

Kasper Hjulmand's side have won all four World Cup qualifiers since losing to England in the semi-finals of Euro 2020

Austria, weakened by injury and chastened by a 4-0 thrashing when the two teams met in Vienna in March, were content to defend and attempt to strike on the counter attack.

The home team broke through early in the second half.

Thomas Delaney collected the ball near halfway, accelerated into space and then swerved across the top of the penalty area, drawing four defenders before sliding a pass to wingback Maehle.

The Atalanta player drove the ball past Daniel Bachmann at the near post.

The Danes attacked with less urgency after taking the lead, but the Austrians failed to muster a shot on goal over the 90 minutes.

After eight qualifying matches, the Danes still have not conceded a goal and join Germany among the early qualifiers for next year's showpiece.

"You can only dream about things like this," said midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. "It's crazy. This is huge for me, it's huge for the team, for Danish football and for Denmark.

"With the age and quality we have, we will only keep growing. It's about staying humble and keeping our minds in the right place."