Scotland and Liverpool defender Andy Robertson had to fight back the tears as he paid tribute to Diogo Jota after leading Scotland to their first World Cup since 1998.
Kieran Tierney’s dramatic 93rd minute strike and Kenny McLean’s half-way line effort ensured Steve Clarke’s side wrote their name into the history books, with the Scots officially booking their place in the tournament.
Robertson, 31, is captain of the side and, barring injury, will skipper the team in the finals. After full-time, the defender spoke about his late team-mate and close friend Jota, and how the two would exchange their hopes and dreams of playing in the World Cup.
‘Different?’ Robertson began. ‘I think I have hidden it well, but today I have been in bits.
‘I know that the age I’m at now, this might be my last chance at a World Cup. I couldn’t get my mate Diogo Jota out of my head today.
‘We spoke so much together about the World Cup. He missed out in Qatar through injury, I missed out because Scotland never went. We always discussed what it would be like going to this World Cup, and I know he will be somewhere smiling over me.
Andy Robertson was on the brink of tears as he paid tribute to Diogo Jota after leading Scotland to World Cup qualification
Robertson spoke of how he and Jota would speak about getting to the World Cup in America
‘I just couldn’t get him out my head all day. I was in bits earlier. But I think I hid it well from the boys, and I am just so glad it ended up this way.’
Jota passed away, alongside his brother Andre Silva, following a car crash in July. Robertson penned a long tribute on the back of his passing.
An extract from the message reads: ‘For me, I want to talk about my mate. My buddy. The bloke I loved and will miss like crazy. I could talk about him as a player for hours, but none of that feels like it matters right now.
‘It’s the man. The person. He was such a good guy. The best. So genuine. Just normal and real. Full of love for the people he cared about. Full of fun.
‘He was the most British foreign player I’ve ever met. We used to joke he was really Irish… I’d try to claim him as Scottish, obviously. I even called him Diogo MacJota.’
The match at Hampden Park began with Scott McTominay’s outrageous overhead kick, before Denmark levelled through Rasmus Hojlund and Lawrence Shankland restored the advantage.
Patrick Dorgu equalised again, only for Tierney and McLean to settle it late as Hampden erupted.
Robertson also told the BBC’s Kelly Cates, daughter of Scotland and Liverpool great Kenny Dalglish: ‘We are going to the World Cup, I can’t believe it. This could be the last chance I have of getting to it.
Scotland secured their spot with a dramatic 4-2 victory over Denmark at Hampden Park
‘I can’t wait to get back to Liverpool and share a red wine with your dad!
‘It’s amazing. The manager’s speech before the game was unbelievable. He went through the big moments down the years, like Serbia and Ukraine.
‘Then he said, let’s make it another one. The lads were quite emotional. To do it for him, the staff and our families…one of the greatest nights of my life.’
