Defender Andy Robertson has admitted that Scotland’s level of success in World Cup qualifying has “kept me going” during a tough season at Liverpool.
The national team will return to Hampden Park on Saturday for the first time since a dramatic victory over Denmark secured qualification to football’s biggest tournament for the first time since 1998.
Robertson led the team at the National Stadium and, with 91, became tied for the second-most caps for Scotland, leaving him 11 games behind Sir Kenny Dalglish.
Robertson has played 19 Premier League games for Liverpool this season.
In contrast, the 32-year-old has only played three full games in the Premier League this season, with Liverpool currently sitting fifth in the table.
Robertson, whose contract at Anfield expires this summer, said: “My duties with Scotland this season have pushed me to do my best at times, it’s safe to say that.”
“Especially at the beginning of the season when you have games every three or four weeks. It was important for me to play in such big games in September, October and November.”
“It gave you something to focus on, it gave you something to participate in.
The 23-year-old was watching from home as Scotland defeated Denmark 4-2 to qualify for the World Cup.
“I love representing my country, but sometimes when you play so many games at club level you get confused.
“I know I have a chance to play against Jim Leighton, but it’s something I could only dream of.
“There was a period when I was on par with Darren Fletcher, but then it was a bit of a long struggle to catch Jim.”
The match will be Scotland’s first match against a non-European team since June 2018, before Steve Clarke took over as head coach.
They also play Ivory Coast at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium next Tuesday, and Robertson is confident they can benefit from this summer’s North American tournament.
Scotland have not played a non-European team since 2018.
“Qualifying for the World Cup was a big achievement, but we probably didn’t realize the perks of it and the fact that we were getting to play against these great countries,” he added.
“Games like this don’t usually happen. When I look back at how many caps I have and how many are from teams outside of Europe, I can count them on one hand.
“You’ll get to see how football is played on different continents because it’s sometimes very different.
“We are really looking forward to both games, but of course it starts with our return to Hampden after a long wait.
“It will be good preparation for the summer.”
Clarke: Scotland squad playing against Japan ‘might raise some eyebrows’
Meanwhile, Scotland coach Clarke revealed that his team’s choice to play against Japan at Hampden “might raise some eyebrows”.
Teenage Kilmarnock attacker Findlay Curtis, who is on loan from Rangers, has made a surprise debut in the squad, while Wrexham centre-back Dominic Higham and Middlesbrough striker Tommy Conway have been recalled.
Other players such as Scott Bain, George Hurst, Andrew Irving and Ross McCrory are also looking to make their mark, but Clarke is ready to spring a surprise or two.
“Every match against the national team should be an important match, and both are important and very important in terms of preparation for the summer,” he said.
“Playing two top-level teams from different continents will bring their own challenges, especially the Japanese side.
“It’s a very interesting style of play. I felt like they were a very good team, the way they prepared for the game, the way they played, the way they approached the game. So it’s going to be a tough game for us.”
“We’ll look at one or two different things and maybe use one or two different people across the squad, but at the same time we’ll try to get a positive result that allows us to remain happy with ourselves.
“Obviously there are quite a few players coming back from long-term injuries or having injuries at this stage of the season so some of the selections may raise a little bit of an eyebrow, but my job is to make sure the players come out of the game healthy and well and are ready for the end of the season with their clubs and of course ready for the summer.”
All members of the Scottish squad:
Goalkeepers: Scott Bain (Falkirk), Angus Gunn (Nottingham Forest), Liam Kelly (Rangers).
Defenders: Grant Hanley (Hibernian), Jack Hendry (Al Etifaq), Dom Higham (Wrexham), Ross McCrory (Bristol City), Scott McKenna (Dynamo Zagreb), Nathan Patterson (Everton), Anthony Ralston (Celtic), Andy Robertson (Liverpool), John Souter (Rangers), Kieran Tierney (Celt).
Midfielders: Ryan Christie (Bournemouth), Lewis Ferguson (Bologna), Billy Gilmour (Napoli), Andy Irving (Sparta Prague), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Kenny McLean (Norwich), Scott McTominay (Napoli), Lennon Miller (Udinese).
Forwards: Che Adams (Turin), Tommy Conway (Middlesbrough), Findlay Curtis (Kilmarnock), Lyndon Dykes (Charlton Athletic), George Hurst (Ipswich).
Naismith ‘very optimistic’ Scotland can make history in World Cup finals
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Earlier this month, his assistant Stephen Naismith spoke and discussed Scotland’s chances of reaching the finals of a men’s major for the first time.
Scotland assistant coach Stephen Naismith feels “very optimistic” about his country’s chances of progressing through the group stages for the first time.
The 51-times capped forward played under Clarke before first joining the coaching staff in 2021 and believes this current group of players can create further history after ending a 28-year wait to qualify for the World Cup.
“To be honest, looking at the situation of the teams involved and our team, even before the draw was decided, I felt that was our goal,” he told Sky Sports News.
“The coach told us very arrogantly that in the process of going back to the time when we narrowly lost in the playoffs in Ukraine, we would not only reach the final, but definitely move forward.
“All the games are going to be tough, the conditions are going to be tough, but it’s the same for everyone.
“We’ll be playing against a lot of countries that we don’t play against very often. It’s going to be a tough game, but we definitely feel like we’ve got what we need to advance in our group and be the first team in the World Cup.”
“What we have is a team of leaders in their prime, playing for big clubs and mentoring potential young players in the team.
“So we’re very optimistic. It’s going to be a lot of work, but we’re definitely going to do the best we can.”
“This group has always performed well and created its own history. The next step, which would be really great for some of our players, is to finish their careers and get through the group stage and get to the World Cup finals.”
