Andy Robertson believes Scotland should try for ‘perfection’ as they bid to progress mechanically from what he feels is the strongest Euro 2024 qualifying group.
The Scots start their marketing campaign at house to Cyprus on Saturday understanding they’re already assured of a play-off for subsequent 12 months’s finals in Germany by advantage of their Nations League efficiency final 12 months.
However, after struggling World Cup play-off heartache in opposition to Ukraine final summer time, captain Robertson is decided to make sure Scotland seal a top-two end from a bunch that additionally contains previous winners Spain, Erling Haaland’s Norway and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s Georgia.
“This is the toughest group in the whole Euro qualifiers I think but we’re looking forward to the challenge,” stated the Liverpool left-back.
“As second seeds, I’m not sure we’ve got the benefit from it. We’ve certainly got the toughest pot 3 and pot 4 teams and even pot 5 getting Cyprus.
“We had the feeling of qualifying for the last Euros and we want that feeling again. This squad are hungry to represent the country at more tournaments and we believe we’ve got a chance.
“We’ve got a guaranteed play-off through our really good Nations League and we have to use that to our advantage by going into this campaign with no fear.
“We’ve got that to fall back on but not to rely on. We have to go into this group and try and attack it and qualify automatically because we know play-offs can go either way.
“The last (World Cup) campaign was extremely positive. The play-offs didn’t go our way but the 10 games within the campaign were very good and if we replicate that this time and finish second we’ll automatically qualify for the Euros.
“When I look back on previous campaigns I’ve been involved in there’s always one game that annoys me in each campaign, and they always seem to cost you, so we know how perfect we have to be to qualify, and that’s what we’re striving towards.”
Scotland had two slender 2-1 victories over Cyprus of their final Euro qualifying marketing campaign, and Robertson insists they won’t be treating their guests frivolously.
“It shows how tough this group is that Cyprus are the bottom seeds,” he stated. “The two games we played against them in the last campaign were extremely tough.
“Oli Burke scored a last-minute winner against them at Hampden and in Cyprus we had to come from behind. Technically they’re bottom seeds but we’re not taking it as that.”
The Scots go into their opening qualifier boosted by the information that supervisor Steve Clarke has prolonged his contract to the tip of the 2026 World Cup marketing campaign.
“We’re all delighted, it’s good news for the whole country,” stated Robertson. “I think since the manager’s come in, there’s been a lot more positive feeling around the national team. The changing room was extremely happy when he told us.”
Scotland have moved their coaching base from Oriam in Edinburgh to Queen’s Park’s newly-refurbished Lesser Hampden headquarters, which means Robertson has spent the previous week again on the house of the membership at which he started his skilled profession.
“It’s brought back a lot of memories of good times,” stated the 29-year-old. “To say it’s changed a lot is an understatement. There’s been huge improvements.
“The pitch is exceptional, the changing rooms are top class. You can tell Queen’s Park are a club moving in the right direction. They’ll be in the Premiership soon enough.
“Some of the staff are still there from my time so it feels like I’ve been back home. It’s certainly been enjoyable for me this week.”