Image source, SNSImage caption, With 90 appearances, Andy Robertson is Scotland's third-highest capped player
ByAndy CoyleBBC Sport Scotland- Published18 minutes ago
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
- Published6 hours ago
How to follow Scotland v Japan live on the BBC
- Published19 hours ago
Scotland's Conway feared World Cup dream was over
- Published1 day ago
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."
Image source, SNSImage caption, The Scotland squad is back together for the first time since November
Play-off results show importance of Scotland achievement
Robertson expects an excited Hampden crowd on Saturday as everyone looks forward to the World Cup.
However, he is glad to be playing friendlies rather than being involved in nerve-shredding play-offs to reach the finals.
Northern Ireland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland all suffered play-off defeats this week and will miss out on the tournament in USA, Mexico and Canada, making Robertson appreciate automatic qualification even more.
"My initial thoughts were that it shows how hard it is to qualify for the World Cup," he said when asked for his reaction to the results.
"I don't think people need to realise in this country but I hope it maybe sets another reminder of how special what the lads and staff and everyone else connected did collectively.
"It's so hard to first of all finish top of your group but then, if you don't, you go into the play-offs.
"I think last night when the games kicked off I was delighted we've got a friendly on Saturday, we weren't involved in any games yesterday.
"It's just about us looking forward to the World Cup now, just everyone enjoying the achievement and hopefully they can go and achieve more."
Now the countdown to the finals continues with two games against non-European opposition and Robertson said that was a rarity he was looking forward to, as well as expecting questions to be asked of his side.
"They are really important, amazing games to be involved in," he added.
"It's also the chance to see the whole squad and to see what other lads do. The manager's always been quite good at using these games.
"We want to go into the World Cup with momentum."
