The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Friendship now put to one side as Hendry targets spot in Qatar
Scotland defender Jack Hendry admits he will have to put his friendship with Club Brugge teammate Eduard Sobol to one side in tomorrow’s World Cup play-off semi-final against Ukraine
The pair helped their team clinch the Belgian top-flight this season and former Celtic and Dundee defender Hendry has revealed he also has a close bond with the leftback off the pitch.
It is from speaking with Sobol that Hendry has gained a greater understanding of the horrors facing Ukraine following Russia’s invasion.
And while Hendry and his Scotland colleagues have sympathy for their qualifying rivals, Hendry concedes that has not diminished his will to reach Qatar.
Hendry said: “Me and Eddie Sobol are very close and very close friends.
“We have had a lot of conversations and over the past month or so it’s probably been about this game.
“I know how much it means to him and how much his team-mates will be up for this game.
“Having him has given me an eye-opener of what’s happening in his own country and how it’s affected him and his family.
“I’ve been there to support him during that difficult time and obviously I hope he plays on Wednesday night, but I won’t be wishing him any luck in the football match.
“I know how much it means to him and how much his teammates will be up for this game, but there’s no doubt that us as a group of players from Scotland will match that and even more.
“We know how important it is to the country to try and achieve this, so come Wednesday it will be a friendship put aside for 90 minutes and it will be totally focused on the best team coming out at the end of it.”
“It’s football now, we know what’s at stake and it’s the World Cup; putting those terrible things that have happened in Ukraine to one side and totally focussing on sporting events now.
“As a team and squad we’re extremely motivated to try and achieve that.”
Hendry finished the domestic season on a high after earning his place back in the Brugge team despite being critical of manager Alfred Schreuder for leaving him out.
The centre-half will now look to add to his 13 international caps at a sold-out Hampden tomorrow night.
Speaking to Sky Sports, he added: “Winning a league and being part of that, you’re on such a high coming into a game like this.
“When you win these things it spurs you on to achieve more.
“But for me, the pinnacle would be playing at the World Cup for my country.”