Defender Andy Robertson admits the high of Scotland’s successful World Cup qualifying campaign has “kept me going” during a tough season at Liverpool.
The national side return to Hampden Park on Saturday for the first time since their epic win against Denmark secured their place at football’s biggest tournament for the first time since 1998.
Robertson will become Scotland’s joint-second most-capped player on 91 when he leads the side out at the National Stadium, leaving him 11 behind Sir Kenny Dalglish.
Robertson has made 19 Premier League apperances for Liverpool this season
In contrast, the 32-year-old has played just three full games in the Premier League this season with Liverpool currently sitting fifth.
“It’s kept me going at times this season, Scotland duty, you know, I can safely say that,” said Robertson who is out of contract at Anfield in the summer.
“Especially at the start of the season when you’ve got it every three, four weeks. September, October, November, it was important for me, obviously playing in such big games.
“It gave you something to focus on, it gave you something to be a part of.
The 23-year-old was watching at home as Scotland beat Denmark 4-2 to qualify for the World Cup
“I love coming away with the country, but, you know, when you’ve been playing lots of games at club level, sometimes your mind can wander and things like that.
“I know there’s a chance to go and match Jim Leighton, which is something I could only have ever dreamed of.
“There was a period when I equalled Darren Fletcher then there’s been a bit of a long slog to try and catch Jim.”
The match will be Scotland’s first against a non-European country since June 2018, before Steve Clarke was appointed head coach.
They also face Ivory Coast at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium next Tuesday, with Robertson confident they will reap the benefits ahead of this summer’s tournament in North America.
Scotland have not played a nation outside Europe since 2018
“Qualifying for the World Cup was a big achievement, but also you probably didn’t understand the perks of it and the fact of being able to play these amazing countries,” he added.
“These games don’t usually happen. If I think back about how many caps I’ve got and how many would be teams from out of Europe, I could count on one hand.
“It’ll give us a feel for how different continents play football as well, because it is sometimes very different.
“We’re really looking forward to both games, obviously starting with being back at Hampden after a long wait.
“It’ll be good preparation for us come the summer.”
Scotland squad in full:
Goalkeepers: Scott Bain (Falkirk), Angus Gunn (Nottingham Forest), Liam Kelly (Rangers).
Defenders: Grant Hanley (Hibernian), Jack Hendry (Al Etiffaq), Dom Hyam (Wrexham), Ross McCrorie (Bristol City), Scott McKenna (Dinamo Zagreb), Nathan Patterson (Everton), Anthony Ralston (Celtic), Andy Robertson (Liverpool), John Souttar (Rangers), Kieran Tierney (Celtic).
Midfielders: Ryan Christie (Bournemouth), Lewis Ferguson (Bologna), Billy Gilmour (Napoli), Andy Irving (Sparta Prague), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Kenny McLean (Norwich), Scott McTominay (Napoli), Lennon Miller (Udinese).
Forwards: Che Adams (Torino), Tommy Conway (Middlesbrough), Findlay Curtis (Kilmarnock), Lyndon Dykes (Charlton Athletic), George Hirst (Ipswich).
Naismith ‘very optimistic’ Scotland can make World Cup knockout history
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Speaking earlier this month, assistant Steven Naismith discussed the chances of Scotland reaching the knockouts of a men’s major finals for the first time
Scotland assistant coach Steven Naismith is feeling “very optimistic” about his country’s chances of progressing beyond the group stages for the first time.
The 51-time capped forward, who played under Clarke before first joining his coaching staff in 2021, believes this current group of players can create even more history after ending the nation’s 28-year wait for World Cup qualification.
“If I’m honest, if you looked at the teams involved and our squad and where it’s at, before the draw even came out, I had a feeling that was our aim,” he told Sky Sports News.
“The manager’s been very big on this way back to when we narrowly missed out in the Ukraine play-off, that we can’t not just get to the finals, we can definitely progress.
“The games are all going to be tough, the conditions are going to be tough, but that’s the same for everybody.
“You’re playing against a lot of different nations that you don’t come up as much against. They’ll be tough games, but I definitely feel we’ve got what it takes within the group to progress and be the first team to do that at the World Cup.
“What we’ve got is a squad of leaders who are at their prime, playing at big clubs to guide the potential younger guys in the squad as well.
“So we are very optimistic. It’s going to be hard work, but we will definitely do all we can.
“This group have continuously excelled and made their own history. The next step, and what would be really nice for some of the guys, is to finish their career to be the ones that push through the group stage and into the knockout stages of a World Cup.”
Leave a Reply