FINALS SHOUT
Robertson wants to be a Scotland legend and lead push to major tournament
ANDY ROBERTSON last night set his sights on entering the pantheon of Scotland greats by skippering the nation back to a major tournament finals.
The Liverpool left-back was this week announced as the new permanent national team captain by Alex McLeish.
The 24-year-old is delighted to join a roll of honour that includes icons like Billy Bremner, Archie Gemmill, Danny
McGrain, Graeme Souness, Gary McAllister and Colin Hendry. And Robertson is hoping his own name can one day belong in such esteemed company. ‘It’s a huge honour to be named Scotland captain,’ he said. ‘When the announcement was made, you look at all of the names that have captained this country. ‘For me to go on that list, it’s a special list and I hope by the end of my captaincy that I’m mentioned in the same breath as them. ‘Technically I am now, but I haven’t achieved anything that they have. ‘There is still a long way to go but I’m hopeful that, when the time comes to hang up my boots, I can be included in the same sentence as some of the names that are on that list. ‘What are my international ambitions as captain of Scotland? It has to be getting back to major championships. ‘Too long has passed since we last qualified and the captains before me would have said the same thing. ‘I spoke to Darren Fletcher and that was his biggest disappointment as Scotland captain — that he hadn’t managed to get us back to a World Cup or a European Championships. ‘I don’t want that to be me. I want us to manage to get to a championship finals and I want to lead the boys out when we get there. ‘Hopefully we can do it at the first time of asking. I think we have a great chance (of reaching Euro 2020).’ Tonight, Scotland face World Cup semi-finalists Belgium in a glamour Hampden friendly before the UEFA Nations League visit of Albania on Monday. A Champions League runner-up last season with Liverpool, Robertson insists he is every bit as committed to aiding the national team’s cause as he is helping Jurgen Klopp’s side in their quest for silverware domestically and in Europe. ‘Some people might think club football is more important these days but the biggest honour you can have is to pull on your country’s colours,’ insisted Robertson.