Scotland captain Andy Robertson has declared that the team has earned the trust of the nation to succeed at the World Cup, as they prepare for their opening Group C clash against Haiti in Boston.
Robertson Confident in Team's Ability
On the eve of Steve Clarke's side's first game in America, the defender believes the entire country is behind them. Robertson acknowledges that Saturday night's match is the biggest of their lives but insists they are ready to make history.
Scotland are expected to overcome the Caribbean minnows and give themselves a strong chance of reaching the knockout phase for the first time ever. The new Spurs full-back is aware of the anxiety both in the States and back home about a potential slip-up, but he is adamant the Tartan Army now has faith in them.
Trust Earned Through Performance
Speaking from the Boston Stadium, Robertson said: "I think there will still be nerves. There always is. There's no fan that will go into the stadium without nerves. But I do believe that we've gained the trust of the nation. And I think we deserve that trust after the games that we've produced, especially the intense games that we've played in."
He referenced the crucial Denmark match last year that secured qualification: "You're not going to get any more high pressure than that. We had to win to be sitting here today. And we produced a performance, scored unbelievable goals and gave probably 52,000 people the best night of their life. So, I think we deserve that respect."
Focus on the Task Ahead
Robertson acknowledged the difficulty of the group: "We're in a really difficult group and we have three extremely hard games here. But we're not feeling pressure because we know it's going to be tough. We know we have to be at our best to win any game. If we perform at our best then I believe we can cause any team problems. It's up to us to go and show that."
He ranked this game at the top of his career: "Where does this game rank in our careers? Right at the top. I've been fortunate to play in big games, win trophies and play at the biggest club in the world (Liverpool). But for me, playing for your country is a step above. To do it at a World Cup is a dream come true for all of us. It's been something we've been working towards as a country for 28 years to make it happen. I'm just proud that this group of lads are the ones able to do it."
Experience and Readiness
Robertson has led Scotland to two Euro Finals in 2021 and 2024, where the team failed to show their full potential. However, he is confident that their first World Cup appearance since 1998 will be different. He said: "We're more experienced now. Obviously, the World Cup is a step up, it's the biggest tournament in the world. We're excited but we also believe that we're ready. The preparation has been spot-on. It's up to us now."
