Andy Robertson paid a touching tribute to Diogo Jota shortly after Scotland’s historic World Cup qualification. The Liverpool defender revealed that the late Portuguese forward had been in talks about the tournament after missing out on Qatar in 2022.
Scotland qualified for their first World Cup since 1998 with a dramatic 4-2 victory over Denmark. Stoppage-time goals from Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean sealed a remarkable come-from-behind win that saw Scotland hold off their rivals and top their qualifying group on Tuesday night.
The Scots had twice taken the lead early in the game, with Scott McTominay’s sensational overhead kick and Lawrence Shankland’s tap-in from a corner, but Robertson had experienced a tense period between those goals. After Liverpool’s full-back fouled Gustav Isaksen, VAR intervention awarded Denmark a spot-kick and the visitors equalized.
But Robertson was able to celebrate at the final whistle as Hampden Park erupted in celebration. After a day in which Jotta was weighing heavily on Robertson’s mind, the Liverpool icon flooded his mind.
Jota tragically passed away in the summer aged just 28, leaving Robertson, his loved ones and the football world devastated by the car crash. Robertson admitted after the match: “I’ve been hiding it well, but today I wasn’t feeling well. I know my age. This might be my last chance to go to the World Cup.”
“Today I couldn’t get my mate Diogo Jota out of my mind. We talked a lot about the World Cup together. He missed Qatar due to injury and Scotland missed out so I missed out as well. I’m sure he’ll be smiling at me somewhere tonight.”
“I couldn’t get him out of my mind all day. I had a bit of trouble in the room earlier. I think I hid it well from the boys and I’m really glad it came out the way it did.” He added of Scotland’s achievements: “This group of players, this group of staff, is the best group I’ve ever been around. The manager’s speech before the game was unbelievable.”
“He had the big moments that we had. When we qualified for the Euros, which he doesn’t really remember, we were in Wundervaal. He said, ‘Let’s make it the next game.’ We were all very emotional. To be able to do that for him, the staff and the whole family will be remembered as one of the best nights of my life.”
