Scotland Seeks Nations League Victory To Restore Fan Affection, Robertson Asserts

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Andy Robertson emphasises that Scotland must correct their mistakes from a disappointing Euro 2024 campaign to regain support from fans. Robertson, who captained Scotland in Germany, couldn't prevent their group stage exit, extending their wait for knockout football at an international tournament. After breaking George Young's record for the most caps as Scotland captain in June, the Liverpool full-back will lead the team in two Nations League games.

Steve Clarke's squad will host Poland at Hampden Park on Thursday before heading to Lisbon to face Portugal three days later. Clarke has also brought in Vancouver Whitecaps attacker Ryan Gauld and Robertson's Liverpool teammate Ben Doak, currently on loan at Middlesbrough, for these fixtures. Robertson believes these additions will strengthen the team in attacking areas but stresses the need for consistency against top teams.

Reflecting on the summer, Robertson said, "The summer was a low for all of us. But we have to move on from it. We have to be positive; otherwise, it's pointless being here." He acknowledged that while there might be doubters within the country, it's up to the team to show they are willing to fight and win games. "We know our fans will come with us if we do that," he added.

Robertson discussed his conversation with head coach Steve Clarke ahead of their new campaign. He noted it was the first time a camp review had more negatives than positives. Despite this, Scotland showed they could compete with Europe's elite during their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign, finishing second behind Spain in Group A and losing just one of their eight matches.

The team has also performed well in the Nations League, winning 10 out of 16 matches (D2 L4), boasting a 62.5% win ratio—the best of any nation in the competition. However, Robertson acknowledges that while they've reached two tournaments now, they only managed two draws and haven't progressed as hoped.

"We need to look at that," Robertson continued. "In the build-up when we played stronger nations like England and France, we didn't show how good we can be." He also pointed out past successes: "Not that far in the past we beat the European champions here at Hampden and a really good Denmark team."

The Path Forward

Robertson stressed that consistency is key for future success: "We need to get more consistent at doing it." He highlighted that while they've shown they can compete against top teams like Spain away from home, they need to maintain this level consistently, especially during tournaments.

The upcoming Nations League matches provide an opportunity for Scotland to demonstrate their resilience and ability to bounce back from setbacks. By showing determination on the pitch and securing victories, Robertson believes they can bring their supporters back onside.

The focus remains on improving performance against strong opponents and achieving better results in major tournaments. With new talents joining the squad and lessons learned from past experiences, Scotland aims to build a more consistent and competitive team moving forward.