Robertson has won the Premier League and Champions League but this one is different for the boy who grew up at Hampden
19:50, 17 Nov 2025
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Captaining Scotland at a World Cup.
It’s so close, Andy Robertson can almost touch it. But the reality? He daren’t even think about it. Not yet, anyway.
That’s a mantra the Liverpool star has lived by throughout his career so far - and he hasn’t done too badly.
Roberson is no stranger to big games. He’s already played in three Champions League Finals, winning one of them in 2019.
He’s also won two Premier League titles and countless other trophies at Anfield.
But this feels different for the 31-year-old. It’s his country.
It’s Hampden, where he grew up as a talented Queen’s Park kid.
And now he’s 90 minutes away from leading Scotland at World Cup 2026 in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
As he faced the media, Robertson knew there was no point trying to play down the magnitude of this game against Denmark.
But he’s adamant that he doesn’t feel nervous about the prospect - only excitement.
And the chance to fulfil a lifetime dream.
Roberson said: “I don’t like thinking about it (captaining Scotland at a World Cup). I just hope I can talk about it on Tuesday night.
“I’ve been lucky enough to play in Champions League Finals and win trophies.
“But what I’ve been good at is not talking about it before it actually happens.
“I’m excited for the game and looking forward to a one-game shoot-out for the World Cup.
Andy Robertson of Scotland and teammates applaud the fans
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Andy Robertson of Scotland and teammates applaud the fans(Image: Getty Images)
“Hopefully if it happens, I’ll be able to tell you how I feel about it.
“I’m not sure it’s nerves, it’s excitement. Playing for Scotland is always a level up.
“When I was younger, I didn’t have dreams of playing for Liverpool because I didn’t know where my career would go.
“But I did have dreams of playing for Scotland.
“John McGinn probably didn’t dream of playing for Aston Villa, it was Scotland.
“I can go through the whole list. You know what nationality you are so it’s always a level up.
“When we sit in the hotel the night before, there won’t be nerves, just excitement.
“And then it will kick into work mode. The whole country will be on edge and going through the motions.
“But it’s up to us to deliver. In our careers, we have to switch to work mode.
“And we wouldn’t be here today if we couldn’t do that.
“When I was young, just thinking about playing for Scotland was enough - I didn’t take my thoughts as far as a World Cup.
“I used to come and watch Scotland and want to be on that park.
“To fulfil that is amazing, I know how fortunate I am. How many people were sitting at the same age as me with the same dream and didn’t quite achieve it? A lot. So I’ll never take it for granted.
“When you pull on that jersey, it’s a special feeling. Everyone in the squad feels that and it’s up to us to deliver.”
Robertson has been Scotland skipper at two Euro Finals, which is no mean feat.
But the World Cup is the greatest show on earth for a reason. It’s unique. And during the last one in Qatar, the Liverpool full-back had to sit in a Dubai hotel watching most of his club pals play in it while he missed out.
He said: “The last one was probably the toughest. With my team-mates being in Qatar, we were on a mid-season break in Dubai, so we were pretty close to them watching all the games.
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Andy Robertson during a Scotland training session
“I was looking around and there weren't many of us in that room. Most were at the World Cup.
“You obviously want your country to be a part of that. That's what drove us forward for the Euros in 2024.
“We'd watched Euros that Scotland weren't at and it was up to us to change that. Thankfully we did it twice.
“The World Cup is one that's still not happened since 1998 and now our turn to stop that long wait.
“We have two bites at it, which is a pleasing thing. But it would be great in the summer to have Scotland and the Tartan Army going over to America.
“That's what they'll all be excited about. We just need to focus on the game but hopefully afterwards, they can start planning things.”
Robertson accepts that Scotland haven’t been at their best in this qualifying campaign.
But at the same time, he’s reluctant to be too critical of this group of players.
Having already got to two Euros, they’re now on the cusp of something even more special.
And he’s confident they can seize the moment at Hampden.
He said: “A lot has been said in this campaign. There’s been a bit of negativity and maybe some of it has been justified.
“But we’re sitting here with 10 points, one behind first place in the group and 90 minutes away from a World Cup.
“If we perform the way I believe we can - and we’ve shown it over periods - I think we’ve got enough to get the win.
“We’re excited and the lads will be ready. We hope the fans are ready inside the stadium to get behind us, no matter what.
“There might be setbacks and frustrations but all I’d say is, get to your seat early, make a noise, make it an incredible atmosphere for these lads - because we’ll react off that.
“It’s about embracing the opportunity we’ve been given.
“We’re an honest group of boys and it’s a privilege for me to be their captain.
“One of the proudest things in my life is being captain for these lads.
“We’ve done a lot in this campaign so far in securing the play-off, which a lot of people would have accepted.
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“But hopefully if we perform to our best, it can be a special night at Hampden.”