Robbo looks to Russian blueprint for getting us back to being force again in world game
CRAIG SWAN
c.swan@dailyrecord.co.uk asked if they were vital, the 25-year-old said: “You could say that and maybe a team you could look at are Russia. When they were hosting the World Cup they had six friendlies while we were battling it out to get there.
“And the improvement they had was frightening. They got to the quarter-finals of the World Cup and looking back on the game (a defeat by Croatia on penalties) they did very well.
“People in Russia weren’t expecting them to do anything in the World Cup. They were the worst-ranked team in it but they used that time to get the best team, the best formula.
“Maybe we can take a leaf out of their book and hopefully with a good couple of results behind us we’ll have a bit more momentum, a bit more belief and we can go into those games firing.”
Cherchesov used his time to nurture stars such as Aleksandr Golovin, who tortured Robertson & Co at Hampden five days ago.
To source players such as Brazil-born Mario Fernandes.
To find a style of play and personnel to suit it. He did so.
Russia ended up knocking Spain out on the way to the last eight then only lost on penalties against eventual finalists Croatia.
Right now they are nine points ahead of Scotland in Group I and set to join Belgium in bagging automatic qualification.
Robertson does not attempt to dress things up after despair against Russia and the Red Devils left Scotland needing the Euro 2020 play-offs in March, secured via the Nations League, to join them.
Six goals lost and no points gained have piled more anguish on to a nation growing weary of the team’s disappointments. The skipper doesn’t hide from the facts but he’s also not prepared to roll over. Things need to change but he knows as much.
Robertson said: “Friday was a bit different, Monday was small margins really. I don’t actually think we played that badly against Belgium as we started the way we wanted to start.
“And then, exactly what the manager said, we didn’t want to get caught on the counter attack.
“Ten minutes in, it is a twoagainst-one situation with Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku and Lukaku is going to finish it unfortunately. Then you are 1-0 and we got a reaction, we kept our game plan, kept passing the ball, kept pressing.
“But at this level you can’t afford to lose two goals from set-pieces like we did.
“We need to be a lot better than that, we are an experienced enough team that we can pick up our men, stop the crosses, stop the corners at source. That is the frustrating thing. We are walking in at 3-0 down and against a team like that the game is done unfortunately.
“We wanted to go out in the second half to take positives for ourselves and draw the second half if not win it. But there were a lot more things we could take from that game than Friday.
“Unfortunately at 4-0 the same people will say the same things. The people in the stands will be frustrated, don’t get me wrong.
‘I have respect for the manager but who will we win against? Scotland would struggle against Father Ted’s over-70s priest team.’
“Second half we looked a lot more dangerous. To be fair to Belgium, they took their foot off the gas a wee bit.
“But we can’t control that, we expected that might happen and we had to be on top of them.
“There are more positives but people who didn’t watch it will give it the same old negativity because of the scoreline.
“We need to be get back to being strong defensively and keeping clean sheets because that is a very good basis to win games.” again, are we going to fling another manager under the bus? This comes down to the lack of structure for younger players of this country.
“The SFA need to think about bringing in B teams like the Spanish league where young players can progress rather than just sit on a bench.”
said: “Let’s be sensible here, there’s no way Scotland were going to beat Belgium. It was the same with my team, Northern Ireland, against Germany. We put up a good show while Scotland didn’t but these teams are leagues above us.”
said: “I have a lot of respect for the Scotland manager but to say we could be a good team, who in blazes will we win against?
“We’d struggle against Father Ted’s over-70s priest team. When the cameras were looking at the coaching staff prior to the second half, it looked like they were getting their stories right for the end of the match.”
said: “One reason the Scottish team is so poor is because good young talent from the junior leagues is not coming through the system with clubs now packed with foreigners.”
emailed: “The Scotland players will, quite rightly, take a lot of stick for two poor displays in four days. But what are Clarke’s achievements that qualified him for the role of international team manager? Was it hauling Kilmarnock from the bottom of the league table?
“He was lauded for making his club team organised and difficult to beat but Scotland have been a shambles under him. Already he is looking as out of his depth at this level, as is Stephen O’Donnell, and his over-optimistic post-match comments leave you somewhat perplexed. Alex McLeish would have been crucified for those two performances.” CALL THE HOTLINE TODAY FROM 11 TILL NOON on: 0141 309 3306 or email us: hotline@dailyrecord.co.uk