For Andy Robertson, Scotland’s qualification for this summer’s World Cup was one of the more emotional nights in the 32-year-old’s storied career.
Shortly after the Liverpool left-back had captained his side in the dramatic 4-2 win over Denmark, which secured Scotland’s first World Cup berth in 28 years, his thoughts turned to someone he could no longer share the moment with.
One of Robertson’s best friends in the game was Diogo Jota, his former Liverpool team-mate, who was tragically killed in a car crash last summer, with the Scot paying a moving tribute to the Portuguese amid the on-pitch celebrations that evening.
Andy Robertson on Scotland’s qualification and his Diogo Jota tribute
Scotland booked their place in North America with a dramatic 4-2 victory over Denmark which began with a superlative overhead kick from Scott McTominay and ended with two stoppage-time goals to seal the win.
“The ending of it is going to be iconic for years to come,” Roberton tells FourFourTwo. “I’m sure a lot of people in the stadium, and watching it in pubs, will say it’s right up there as one of the greatest Scotland games ever.
“To be a part of that was amazing, with the feeling that we had on the pitch when Kenny McLean put the ball in from the halfway line – celebrations you’ve never seen before, the noise in the stadium – it was a special night.
“To qualify for the World Cup is one thing, and it is special no matter how you do it, but to qualify in that manner made it even more special and brought us together even more as a team, a squad, and a nation. It was the best way you could ever qualify for a World Cup.”
Amid the scenes of celebration and jubilation at Hampden Park, Robertson’s thoughts quickly turned to Jota, the team-mate he lost last summer.
“Obviously, me and Diogo were close,” Robertson continues. “I knew how much Portugal meant to him and he knew how much Scotland meant to me. We spent the last World Cup together.
“He was out injured and Scotland never made it, and I remember watching the games with him. That was where me and Jots really clicked and became closer.
“We both knew our desire was to get to the next World Cup and achieve that dream. On the day of the match against Denmark, there was a lot of emotion flying around, and it was difficult to get him out of my thoughts. But to qualify and have that feeling, there was a part of me that felt he was looking over us at that time.
“I achieved my dream and I wish he’d been able to achieve his. Unfortunately, that wasn’t possible, but I know how happy he’d have been for me, and he would have been one of the first to text me. That’s why emotions were so high after the game. What happened was devastating and will live long in the memory, but we have got to carry him in our hearts and that’s what we do.
“We’ve got to keep doing that and remember everything that he’s done for us. That’s all we can do, unfortunately.”
