BEATS OF BURDEN
When we lose I feel the pain a lot more than I used to ... I’ve had 3 campaigns now and we’re playing in half-empty Hampden because fans don’t want to watch us – it needs to change SAYS ANDY ROBERTSON
ANDY ROBERTSON admits he is hurting because the Scotland captain feels brutal pain when his nation loses.
It troubles him he is part of a group which has been unable to change the country’s psyche.
He agonises that his team are linked with failure, that some supporters are turning their backs and expecting the worst every time they take to the field.
That after 20 years of absence, virtually the captain’s entire life, a major finals still eludes Scotland.
As a player, Robertson’s a winner and as a patriot, he is deeply passionate.
The Liverpool star recalls chatting to Darren Fletcher about the burdens of leading a group who desperately want to end the nation’s anguish.
He couldn’t do it. Robertson doesn’t want the same pain.
He cares a lot and as he assesses the feeling around the Scotland team at the moment, the knowledge that the constant setbacks over two decades are wearying the country cuts him to the quick. No-one wants to change it more than him and he said: “I remember being in one of my first squads and I was speaking to Darren.
“He had 80 caps, he was the captain, he was an unbelievable player who had won all the trophies with Manchester United, but the only thing he wanted was to end this run and get Scotland to a finals. Unfortunately, he didn’t manage it.
“For us, we don’t want to be in that position aged 34 or 35 and thinking about hanging up the boots and looking back and thinking, ‘What if ?’
“It’s a massive honour for me to be captain. I love my job, I love the responsibility, but when we get beaten it’s harder.
“I’m not going to lie. Scotland defeats hurt me more probably than they did but it’s something I have to deal with.
“I’ve had three campaigns that have been like this but it needs to change.
“Whether it’s this campaign or the next, we need to change it.
“The only way to do that is by performing on the pitch and unfortunately we are not doing that right now.
“Of course you can feel the apathy. When you look back at the second goal against Russia, as soon as we lost the ball most people inside the stadium thought goal or a big chance.
“That’s wrong. We gave the ball away at the halfway line and still had five lads back.
“We need to change the mentality where we think the worst is going to happen when we give the ball away or there is a bit of pressure.
“When I was growing up that wasn’t that feeling and Hampden was sold out then.
“You can batter on about it being halfempty now but that’s the state of affairs right now. Just now people don’t want to watch Scotland and it’s up to us to change that.
“Even when I was growing up we came close to qualifying but everyone expected glorious failure. For my
We don’t want to be 34 or 35 and thinking to ourselves, ‘What if?’ ANDY ROBERTSON ON SCOTLAND’S STRUGGLES
whole life that has been connected to Scotland and generations before have spoken about it and tried to fix it but we’ve not qualified for 20 years. “For that time squads have carried that burden and we need to be the squad that does make it. “It’s easier saying these words than actually doing it. “We still have a good chance to qualify through the group or Nations League. We have two shots at it and we need to try take one of them. “Hopefully, everyone who was supporting Scotland back then can come back and we can unite the country.” Of course things might have to get worse before they get better. Belgium arrive at Hampden as the No.1 side in the world and it will take a monumental effort to get anything out of the game. Robertson knows that but win, lose or draw, he is demanding
bottle and bravery from the troops tonight.
He said: “You’re never going to win a game of football when you are taking an extra touch or you hesitate about making a pass.
“That’s what I said after Friday, I’ve not seen us playing the ball back to a goalkeeper so much since I played and that’s because the option was on and we never took it. That’s every player across the park and, hopefully, we can solve that.
“Some people think flying into tackles or making stupid fouls is bravery but bravery is also putting your foot on the ball, or making a pass or being an option at times.
“It’s the hardest thing to do but I think we are all brave. It’s just about showing it.
“This game is going to be different because we are going to have less of the ball, so we are going to have to be brave in terms of keeping our shape, keeping the people behind the ball we need, but also cause problems.
“If the ball keeps coming back Belgium have world-class players and they will hurt us. It’s about implementing our game plan.
“We need to bring our A game and Belgium need to be below par but these things can happen.
“It’s fine talking but we need to show it, simple as that. People won’t believe us until we do.”