John McGinn has expressed his admiration for Scotland team-mate Andy Robertson as the captain prepares to win his 100th cap in Saturday's Nations League clash with North Macedonia in Skopje. In typical McGinn style, however, the Aston Villa midfielder is now determined to emulate his friend's tally.
Robertson will become the first name on new head coach Sebastien Pocognoli's team-sheet for the match. The Tottenham defender is likely to surpass the iconic Kenny Dalglish to become Scotland's record cap holder against Switzerland in St Gallen next month. It has taken 40 years since Dalglish reached the landmark figure, and McGinn could not be prouder of his team-mate, with whom he has shared almost the entire national team journey.
A Remarkable Achievement
The pair have experienced the lows with Scotland and scaled heights probably thought unimaginable under former boss Steve Clarke, reaching two European Championship finals and a World Cup last summer. As teenagers, they locked horns in Scottish youth football for Queen's Park and St Mirren, with few predicting the star-studded paths they would take. Both have since played in the Premier League for English giants Liverpool, Spurs and Aston Villa, and are now set to join Scotland's 100-club.
It has felt inevitable for a few years that Robertson would reach the landmark figure, but it remains a stunning feat for the Glaswegian, especially given that Dalglish earned his 102nd cap in a win over Luxembourg at Hampden in November 1986. Due to a raft of players earning caps in Clarke's successful era, it seems certain more players will emulate Robertson, with McGinn looking odds-on to eclipse his Scotland pal.
McGinn's Warning to Robertson
As he geared up for the vital game against North Macedonia, the Villa captain heaped praise on Robertson but warned him that he is coming after his three-digit tally. "I'm behind him. I've told him that he has to outstay me! I've always said I'll play for Scotland until I'm not getting picked or not helping the team. Both of us still have a lot left in the tank. We've had dark days together, we've struggled together - but we've also had great times and there's nothing better than representing your country," McGinn said.
"If we can get to 120 or 125, you just never know. Robbo is playing it down but it's an amazing achievement. It's a complete fairytale story. He doesn't like going back and thinking of it as a fairytale, but how many players have dropped down to part-time football and work in Marks and Spencer's or the team's kit room? This is something that might never happen again. But what he can give is inspiration to any young player who is feeling rejection or feels like giving up on a dream of representing your country 100 times. He deserves everything that comes his way now, in November and beyond," he added.
Captain and Vice-Captain
McGinn described Robertson as an "unbelievable leader" and a great example for everyone. He recalled their first encounter at Under-11s level at the science parks in Glasgow, with St Mirren facing Celtic, both in midfield. "Never would we have thought we'd be captain and vice-captain of Scotland and approaching 100 caps. It's been two completely different journeys but hopefully players at St Mirren and Queen's Park will look at now as possible," he said.
"We want people to think they can do more than us. Not replicate, but try and get 150 caps. Try and be the next Luka Modric or Cristiano Ronaldo. I do think the country sometimes lacks belief and we put ourselves down all the time. But Robbo has been a shining example and he's certainly made me believe that we can compete at the top."
Driven Mentality
McGinn summed up Robertson as "driven," noting that during Liverpool's most successful era, competing at the top end of the Premier League and Champions League, he was always available for Scotland. "Even at 60 or 70 percent, carrying injuries, he never found an excuse to give himself more rest. He's built a no-ego, no-excuse mentality here. Is it always perfect for us? No. But he's a massive reason why we've been to three out of four major tournaments. He's a credit to himself and his family. If I was to describe him in one word? Driven," McGinn said.
Robertson made his Scotland debut while at Dundee United in March 2014, when Scott Brown scored the winning goal for Gordon Strachan's side. It is fitting that the former Celtic captain will be in Skopje to see the defender hit the 100-mark, through his work as a pundit for BBC Scotland. McGinn said it is fitting that Anfield icon Robertson emulates Dalglish. "He's earned every cap. Look at how he earned his first. He was surplus to requirements for the Under-21 squad. Players in the same position now don't realise that's a free audition. Can they compete with the national team and plant a seed in the manager's head? He certainly did that and never looked back. He transformed his international career and club career and made himself a Champions League winner. He'll play it down and say he's just focused on this game and three points. But we want to give him those three points and make it a memorable night," he added.
