Andy Robertson issues touching Diogo Jota tribute after historic Scotland win

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·18 novembre 2025

Andy Robertson issues touching Diogo Jota tribute after historic Scotland win

Former Liverpool team-mates shared World Cup dream

Andy Robertson said he was thinking of Diogo Jota as Scotland beat Denmark in dramatic fashion to qualify for a first World Cup since 1998.

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Only a win would have been enough for Scotland to qualify and they took an early lead after Scott McTominay’s bicycle kick, but they were twice pegged back and headed into injury time with the score level.

Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean both hit stunning goals in the dying moments to confirm the result, and Scotland ended their nearly three-decade wait to return to the World Cup.

Speaking at full-time, though, Robertson dedicated the result to his late Liverpool team-mate Diogo Jota, who was tragically killed in a car accident in July.

“I think I’ve hid it well, but today I’ve been in bits,” he told BBC Sport post-match. “I know the age I’m at, this is probably my last chance at a World Cup, but 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 because of injury, I missed out because Scotland never went. We always discussed what it would be like going to this World Cup.

“I know he’ll be somewhere smiling over me tonight. I just couldn’t get him out of my head all day, so I was in a bit of trouble earlier. I think I hid it well for the boys and I’m so glad it ended up this way.”

Andy Robertson and Diogo Jota were close friends

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He continued, adding that Scotland manager Steve Clarke’s emotional pre-match speech had the side ready to run through walls ahead of the match.

“This group of boys, this group of staff, its the best group I’ve been involved in. The manager’s speech in the hotel before the game was unbelievable.

“He went through the big moments we’ve had. He said ‘let’s make it another one’.

“He spoke about his life and things like that, and the lads were quite emotional. To do it for him, to do it for all the staff, all the families, it is one of the greatest nights of my life.”

Reviewing the performance, he added: “It just sums up this squad. Never say die, we just keep going right to the end. One of the craziest games of football, we really put the country through it, but I’m sure it’ll be worth it. We’re going to the World Cup, I can’t believe it!”