Image Credits: Imago Images
Andy Robertson paid a beautiful tribute to the late Diogo Jota after leading Scotland to World Cup qualification on Tuesday night.
On a dramatic night at Hampden Park, the Tartan Army booked their ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, ending a 28-year absence from football’s grandest stage with a pulsating 4-2 victory over Denmark.
For so many years, Scottish dreams of World Cup football had been left unfulfilled, often amid heartbreak or frustration at the final hurdle.
Yet last night, driven on by a raucous home support, Steve Clarke’s men showed determination and belief in abundance. It wasn’t a straightforward path—Scotland twice saw their lead pegged back by a battling Danish side.
Scott McTominay set the tone with an acrobatic overhead kick, before Lawrence Shankland and then a sublime stoppage-time goal from Kieran Tierney restored Scottish hope. Kenny McLean’s late effort sealed the win.
But the night was even heavier Robertson.
In a raw and heartfelt post-match interview to the BBC, he revealed that he couldn’t stop thinking about his late Liverpool teammate, Diogo Jota:
“Today I’ve been in bits. I know that the age I’m at and everything, this could be my last chance of a World Cup,” the Scotland captain said.
“I couldn’t get my mate Diogo Jota out of my head today. We spoke so much together about the World Cup.”
“He missed out in Qatar because of injury, I missed out, Scotland never went and we always discussed what it be like going to this World Cup and I know he will be somewhere smiling over me tonight”
“Yeah, I couldn’t get him out of my head the whole day. So I was in bit of trouble in my room earlier but I think I hid it well off the boys. I’m just so glad it’s ended up this way.”
It will be Scotland’s first World Cup since 1998.
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