The Liverpool full-back says growing up without memories of seeing Scotland at any major tournaments has left Steve Clarke's squad without any egos
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Scotland left-back Andy Robertson insists nobody in the national team setup is getting ahead of themselves as they aim to get out of the group stage of a major tournament for the first time in the country’s history.
Robertson has been a key player for Scotland under Steve Clarke, who has guided the side to three successive summer tournaments after 23 years of falling short in qualifying.
That means that the overwhelming majority of the Scotland side will be too young to really remember their country's appearances at Euro 96 or the 1998 World Cup: 41-year-old goalkeeper Craig Gordon is the only member of their most recent squad who was any more than six years old for the latter tournament.
As such, Robertson and co have grown up without any real expectations for their country – something the full-back feels is now actually standing them in good stead.
“We’ve got no egos. No one thinks they’re bigger than the cause. No one is any more important than the guy next to them, whether it’s a regular starter or the third-choice goalkeeper. We all have the same goal.
“It sounds simple, but the closeness of the group is why we’ve been relatively successful. We’ve grown up together and it has been the same core of players from camp to camp. The same goes for the backroom staff. It’s hard to create that environment, but if you can get it right then you’re halfway there.
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“The manager has been so good from the minute he came in. Maybe it wasn’t obvious to begin with, from the outside looking in, because there wasn’t that instant upturn in results. But we knew, internally, that real progress was being made.
McTominay shone in Euro 2024 qualifying (Image credit: Getty Images)
“That confidence within the group was growing and we knew it was a case of ‘when’ and not ‘if’ it clicked. We haven’t looked back since.
“The team has evolved, and he has been the driving force behind that. He is constantly trying to spot little things that can improve us. He also listens to the players when the time is right, which says a lot for him given his experience and standing in the game. He wants to know what we think we can do better and he takes it on board.
“Qualifying for two European Championships is great and I hope that’s not the end of it. I feel there’s more we can achieve if we keep doing the right things.”
Steven Chicken has been working as a football writer since 2009, taking in stints with Football365 and the Huddersfield Examiner. Steven still covers Huddersfield Town home and away for his own publication, WeAreTerriers.com. Steven is a two-time nominee for Regional Journalist of the Year at the prestigious British Sports Journalism Awards, making the shortlist in 2020 and 2023.
