Robbo was in direct opposition to Morocco star Achraf Hakimi when the Reds faced PSG in the Champions League
20:18, 18 Jun 2026Updated 20:20, 18 Jun 2026
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(Image: Getty Images)
A few years ago there was a genuine argument that Andy Robertson was the best full-back on the planet.
Even at 32, the fact Spurs have just snapped up the Scotland captain from Liverpool suggests he’s still got plenty to offer.
But in elite-level sport, game recognises game.
And when Robertson looks around football right now, he sees no-one in the world better in that position than PSG and Morocco superstar Achraf Hakimi.
In Boston, the Scotland skipper will go head-to-head with the 27-year-old right-back who is at the peak of his powers.
It won’t be the first time Robertson has come up against Hakimi.
In March 2025, he helped Liverpool steal a smash-and-grab 1-0 victory over the French side at the Parc des Princes in a Champions League last-16 first-leg tie - an outcome he’d take again at the Boston Stadium when he and Hakimi come together again.
The Moroccan had the last laugh at club level when PSG reversed the score at Anfield and sent the Reds out in a penalty shoot-out.
Robertson is adamant the Moroccan is the best in his position, bar none, right now.
He’s also aware of the Africans’ other threats, like Ismael Saibari - who has just moved from PSV to Bayern Munich and scored his country’s goal in their 1-1 Group C draw with Brazil.
Robertson accepts Morocco - led by Hakimi - are a danger to ANY side.
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Achraf Hakimi
But he still believes Steve Clarke’s side are capable of getting the result they need to qualify for the last-32 of the World Cup.
He said: “I can't speak highly enough of Hakimi. I’ve got huge admiration for him and all that he's doing just now.
“So it's going to be a tough task because what a fantastic player he is.
“I think he’s the best full-back in the world, when I think of him and Nuno Mendes on the other side at PSG.
“We played against them twice with Liverpool in the last two years of the Champions League and both are phenomenal. They’re a joy to watch.
“Everyone enjoys watching Hakimi. The freedom he plays with, the way he pops up in your box one second then the next he’s back defending in his own.
“So I have real admiration for all he does. But hopefully he has one of his quiet games here.
“Saibari could also be a danger but I think they're all dangerous. That's the biggest compliment I can pay Morocco.
“They've got quality all over the pitch so it’s hard to then focus on one.
“Because if you do, another one will pop up and punish you. They’ve got so much quality.
“Rather than picking out one or two players, as a team and as a unit they're going to be such a hard team to play against.
“But we also believe in the quality that we've got. We believe we can be a tough team to play against too.
“We have to show that on the biggest stage. If we do that, then hopefully we can come out on top.
“That’s what we’ve been working towards all week and it’s what we want to deliver on the night.”
The Scots will once again be backed by around 30,000 of the Tartan Army in Foxborough on Friday night.
They’ve taken over the city and at the weekend made Fenway Park their own by gatecrashing a Boston Red Sox baseball game and making it a party atmosphere.
It’s not just the locals who have taken Scottish supporters to their hearts.
Even one of the Liverpool’s owners from the Fenway Sports Group got in touch with Robertson to praise the Tartan Army.
The Scotland star said: “The biggest compliment I can give them is I’m not surprised.
“When they went to Germany, every city they were in, they fell in love with them.
“Boston has been exactly the same.
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Andy Robertson of Scotland applauds fans after the team's 1-0 victory
“It's been great to see the videos from the Red Sox game. I think the Liverpool owners were absolutely delighted with that.
“One of them sent a nice message to me, so the fans carried themselves so well.
“He was just saying that at the Red Sox game they turned into a Tartan Army party.
“I think he was happy to hear different songs getting sung, and seeing all the kilts and so many Scotland shirts about the place.
“They certainly made a night of it at the baseball.
“They support the team but it's also away from the football.
“On Saturday they were magnificent for us in the city and in the stadium and I know they'll be the same again tomorrow.
“They’re the best in the world and I’m sure they'll continue to be.”
Robertson and his Scotland team-mates know what’s required against the African champions, who are the sixth-best team in the world right now.
The only other time the countries have met was at France ’98 when Morocco ended Craig Brown’s World Cup dream with a 3-0 win.
Robertson was too young to set out on a revenge mission.
But he does hope that a return to Boston for our second game at this tournament COULD help Clarke’s boys get the result they crave.
He said: “I wouldn’t say it gives us an advantage – but I think walking back into the stadium, having that good feeling we had walking off the pitch last time when we’d secured our first win at a World Cup since 1990, can only give us positivity.
“I was only four when the last game happened, so I don't think revenge is the word.
“I think I’d have been holding onto that for a very long time if that was the case!
“Look, we’re facing a fantastic team, one of the best in the world.
“There's no denying how well they’ve done. So they’ll make it a hell of a difficult game for us.
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“But we always believe that if we carry out our game plan and play the best we can, we can make it difficult for any team.
“That’s got to be our aim. They’ll be going out to win and we’ll be going out to win."
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