Scotland highs kept me going, says Robertson
Scotland captain Andy Robertson admits international football has provided a lift during a tough season with Liverpool - and he's now looking forward to another 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 the 2026 edition in dramatic fashion with a 4-2 win over Denmark. They face Japan at Hampden on Saturday, and then Ivory Coast at Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium on Tuesday in two of only three confirmed friendlies before the summer tournament.
Robertson is anticipating tough tests as boss Steve Clarke and his 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 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 as the club struggled following last season's Premier League title triumph. "It's kept me going at times this season, it's got to do," said Robertson, whose Anfield contract also expires this summer.
"I can safely say that - especially at the start of the season" Swaggering Japan provide unusual test for Clarke's Scotland The 32-year-old 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 flipside to that as the squad spent four months apart after 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," added Robertson.
"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. "Me and the gaffer have been really on that and obviously we've needed other people with us at times as well to do that but it's about members of staff wanting to come and wanting to work and being excited to be involved.
"It's about players doing everything to be fit and available for Scotland. "I think that's only going to drive people who are not in the squad now, desperate to be in the squad and desperate to be involved in the summer. Everyone's competing for a place in that 26-man squad.