Andy Robertson has pledged that Scotland will leave the World Cup with no regrets after failing to do themselves justice at their two previous tournaments.
The full-back was the skipper of the side which ended a generational wait to qualify for a major finals when they reached the delayed Euro 2020 than repeated the trick by making it to Euro 2024.
But, having taken only one point first time around, Steve Clarke’s men fared no better in Germany with a defeat to Hungary in Stuttgart bringing the curtain down on a miserable campaign.
Back on the biggest stage of all, ahead of the opening game against Haiti in Boston, Robertson is determined that this is a different story.
‘We don’t want any regrets,’ stated the now Tottenham player. ‘When I look back at the last two Euros, you look at certain games with regret.
‘Obviously, the Hungary game is one that we all look back on and ask if we could have created more, been a bit more clinical.
Andy Robertson will be the first player to lead Scotland out in a World Cup since 1998
‘You never want to leave a tournament with regrets. That never changes.
‘We’ve done really well in qualifying campaigns under this manager. But now we need to take it to the tournament itself.’
Having topped a World Cup qualifying group for the first time since 1982, there is a sense of optimism that this Scotland side can create history by becoming the first to get out of a section at a tournament.
‘There’s no fan that will go into the stadium without nerves and things like that,’ added Robertson. ‘But I do believe that we’ve gained the trust of the nation as well and I think we deserve that trust after the games that we’ve produced, especially the intense games that we’ve played in.
‘If you look at the Denmark game last year, you’re not going to get any more high pressure. We had to win to be sitting here today and we went and produced a performance, scored unbelievable goals and gave probably 52,000 people the best night of their life.
‘So, I think we deserve that respect. But what I will say is any team that we are playing in this World Cup deserves our respect as well.
‘We can only control our performance and if we perform to the best then I believe we can cause anyone problems, but it’s up to us to go and try and show that.’
Robertson feels Scotland are ready for their date with destiny having acclimatised to the heat in Florida, beaten Bolivia in New Jersey and spent five days training in North Carolina prior to flying to Boston.
‘Look, we’re excited, but we also believe that we’re ready,’ he said.
‘Credit has to go to our backroom staff, they’ve made sure that they’ve ticked every single box and we can’t thank them enough for that.
‘And it’s up to us to now go and try and do the same thing and that’s probably the hardest bit in football.’
Robertson won the Champions League and the Premier League with Liverpool and led Scotland out for the Euros clash with England at Wembley five years ago. But he feels no game he’s played in has felt bigger than the one that awaits him in Massachusetts.
‘Right at the top,’ he said when asked where the Haiti clash rates. ‘I’ve been very fortunate to play in big games, win trophies and play at the biggest club in the world.
Captain Robertson admits that Scotland’s early exit from Euro 2024 still stings
‘But for me, playing for your country is that step above. And to do it at a World Cup is just a dream come true for all of us.
‘It’s been something we’ve been working so hard towards as a country for the last 28 years to make it happen.’
Despite being removed from the madness which is descending on Boston, Robertson says the squad have a sense of what’s going on.
‘We’ve probably stayed away from most of it, but in the thousands of fans that are heading over, obviously our families are in that,’ he said.
‘So, we’ve seen pictures from Glasgow airport, seen pictures from Edinburgh airport, obviously all my friends and family are over here.
‘Every flight they were on, they were all saying it was full of Tartan Army wherever they went. We know we’ve got the best fan base in the world, we know they follow us in our numbers, we know how long they’ve been waiting for this moment as well.
‘And we know how excited they all are and it’s up to us to try and give them a good time.
‘I think they’ll have a good time regardless, but it’s up to us to try and give them a better time and, like I say, give them something to shout about.’
