Amidst the drama and the unruly celebrations from the Scotland fans following the national team advancing through to the World Cup group stages was a particularly poignant moment for Scotland and Liverpool veteran left-back, Andy Robertson. He gave a humble, honest and tearful interview following the game to the BBC punditry.
No one could have foreseen such a remarkable game unfolding, and many had suggested that Scotland would struggle in the group, never mind win it outright. But they found a way and now go to the North American World Cup next summer. They are tipped at a monumental 500/1 by even the best betting sites in the UK to win the tournament, but after 27 long years of waiting, the Tartan Army can’t complain; they will just be happy to be there.
It seems like the whole nation of Scotland was either at the game or in the pub watching the game and cheering on their lads. In the clash against Denmark, there was jeopardy, excitement, and probably some of the best goals Scotland has ever scored or will score. The Scottish national team eventually won the match 4-2 after the Danes pulled back to equalise twice in a game that ended with such joy for the Scottish. The scenes of celebrations when the final goal, a halfway shot netted by Kenny McLean no less, were heartwarming for even the staunchest of English fans.
It was amongst this joy and excitement at the result that the most human moment of the evening came about. Several players offered their reactions after the game to the BBC punditry team, but it was the Scotland captain who brought a tear to many a glass eye.
He was asked by Kelly Cates, King Kenny Dalglish’s daughter, whether it was different to succeed with your national team. Andy went on to say he was ‘in bits’ all day and had to hide it from his teammates because of the captaincy responsibility. But he mentioned that he simply could not get his good friend, the late Diogo Jota, out of his head, tearing up as he spoke. He advised the pundits that he had spoken so much about the World Cup with Diogo. They often chatted about Qatar and how they both missed out through injury and non-qualification, and that they would be there at the next one, dreaming of what it would be like.
As Andy held back the tears, assured by his compatriot Neil McCann stood next to him, he said, ‘I know that he will be smiling over me tonight, I just couldn’t get him out of my head the whole day’.
Not only was this maybe one of the most raw interviews you will ever get from a footballer after a game, but it shows just how much the Liverpool team are struggling with the death of Jota. After all, these guys may well be footballers, but they are also human. It is clear the impact Diogo’s death has had on some of the players at Liverpool, and whilst we may never know the true extent of this, players who have known him for a long time, like Robertson, Salah and Van Dijk, are bound to continue to be affected by those feelings of grief. Whether they try and hide it or not, perhaps this may be a reflection of the kind of campaign Liverpool have had so far. Results have been poor, and many think they need to seek more transfers in January. The grief is perhaps something for fans to bear in mind when results don’t go their way.
The celebrations and heightened emotional state of Robertson perhaps brought out the grief he is feeling, but one thing is for sure: the impact of the news this summer was monumental in that changing room. And it continues to impact all those affected. After all, these guys lost one of their best mates and are just expected to keep on playing without batting an eyelid.
Andy’s interview defines his courage, solidifies his legendary status in the Liverpool and Scotland National teams, but, most of all, shows that footballers are human, and all humans suffer grief when their friends pass.
