Andy Robertson pays moving tribute to Diogo Jota as Scotland qualify for World Cup

Scotland captain Andy Robertson admitted he was “in bits” before their victory over Denmark which secured World Cup qualification for Scotland.

The Liverpool player said he was overcome with emotion thinking about former Liverpool team-mate Diogo Jota.

A dramatic 4-2 win booked Steve Clarke’s side spot in North America next summer and the pressure of seizing his last chance to play at the tournament had Robertson in turmoil in the hours leading up to kick-off as he recalled conversations with former Portugal forward Jota, who died in a car crash in the summer.

He told the BBC:

“I’ve hid it well, but today I’ve been in bits. I know the age I’m at, this could be my last chance to go to the World Cup”

“I couldn’t get my mate Diogo Jota out of my head today. We spoke so much about the World Cup.

“He missed out last time because of injury, I missed out because Scotland didn’t qualify and we always discussed what it would be like going to the World Cup.

“I was in a bit of trouble in my room earlier. I think I hid it well from the boys.

“I know he’ll be somewhere smiling over me tonight. I couldn’t get him out of my head all day.”

The Scots were twice pegged back by 10-man Denmark after goals from Scott McTominay and Lawrence Shankland, but Kieran Tierney put them ahead again in the third added minute before Kenny McLean finished it in style from the halfway line.

Added the Scotland captain:

“That just sums up this squad. Never say die, we just keep going right to the end,”

“One of the craziest games of football. We’ve certainly put the country through it, but I’m sure it’s worth it – we’re going to the World Cup and I can’t believe it.

“This group of boys and staff, it’s the best group I’ve ever been involved in. The manager’s speech before the game in the hotel was unbelievable.

“He went through the big moment’s we’ve had. He said, ‘Let’s make it another one’. To do it for him, for all the staff, all the families, it is one of the greatest nights of my life.”

When asked if Jota had been on his mind during the 90 minutes, Robertson said:

“Not so much in the game, I tried to park it. Certainly during the day, yes.

“I just go back to the Qatar World Cup when we were on a training camp in Dubai. Obviously Jots missed it through injury. I missed it due to missing out in the play-offs.

“We always discussed how it would feel playing in a World Cup for your country. Obviously it’s probably a bit more likely that it was going to happen for him in terms of Portugal than Scotland.

“As soon as I woke up I just couldn’t get him out of my head. I couldn’t get him out of my head all day. I think I hid it well from the lads probably, but being in the room, all I could think about was him.

“I know he’ll be smiling down now. I know he’ll have a smile on his face wherever he is.

“Hopefully he’ll have a smile in the summer when I hopefully get to represent my country at the World Cup.”

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