Robertson admits Scotland highs kept him going

Scotland captain Andy Robertson admits international football has been a boost during a tough season with Liverpool - and he's now looking forward to another lift in two important World Cup warm-up matches. The national team squad is back together for the first time since they booked a place at World Cup 2026 in dramatic fashion with the 4-2 win over Denmark. They face Japan at Hampden on Saturday, and Ivory Coast at Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium on Tuesday in two of only three confirmed friendlies before the summer tournament.

Robertson is anticipating two tough tests as Steve Clarke and the players step up their preparations for the group stage matches against Haiti, Morocco and Brazil in the summer, but says it's a pleasure to be meeting up with his teammates and returning to the Scotland camp. The left-back has enjoyed the highs of qualification with Scotland, but in a Liverpool shirt he has had a challenging time, losing his starting spot to Milos Kerkez. "It's kept me going at times this season, it's got to do," Robertson said.

"I can safely say that. "Especially at the start of the season" Swaggering Japan provide unusual test for Clarke's Scotland How to follow Scotland v Japan live on the BBC Scotland's Conway feared World Cup dream was over The captain has spoken before about the camaraderie in the Scotland squad and how something akin to a club atmosphere has been a strength. But he said there was a strange flip-side to that as the squad spent four months apart after the high of booking their place at the World Cup.

"To have such a special night against Denmark, and obviously we gave it a good go in terms of partying that night, but then for all of us to break up and not really see each other for the next four months is quite unique," he said. "The faces when we met up on Monday were happy ones. Everyone was excited to be back in camp and back together but that's the atmosphere we're trying to create.