Robertson was interviewed by Romario, discussing Scotland's return to the FIFA World Cup after 28 years. Robertson stated that Scotland's goal is to be the first team in their history to advance from the FIFA World Cup group stage.
(Note: This interview should have been conducted just before the FIFA World Cup.)
After 28 years, Scotland is back in the FIFA World Cup. How does that feel?
It feels fantastic. Scotland hasn't been in the FIFA World Cup for a long time. I remember playing against Brazil the last time we participated. So we're very happy to be in the United States, to be able to participate in the FIFA World Cup, and we hope to be part of a very exciting group.
You've won several titles in your career, but as Scotland captain in the FIFA World Cup, is this more important than winning championships?
Yes, being captain means a lot to me. When I was appointed captain at a young age, it was one of the most important moments in my career. To then achieve success as captain, leading the team to the Euros, and now to the FIFA World Cup, it's all incredible. It's a great honor to be captain of the Scotland national team.
Scotland played Brazil in their last two FIFA World Cup appearances in 1994 and 1998. Is meeting again now lucky or unlucky?
Hopefully, the outcome will be different this time. We certainly hope for better results. But we are facing the most successful and iconic team in FIFA World Cup history, and such a match is highly anticipated. We hope to perform better than previous Scotland teams against Brazil, and that is our goal.
Brazil doesn't seem to be in top form right now. Morocco reached the FIFA World Cup semi-finals, while Scotland lost only one game in the qualifiers. Who is more favored in this group?
I think this is a very tough group, arguably the toughest in this FIFA World Cup. Brazil is a very strong team, and their overall form is good, with many excellent players playing around the world. Morocco performed well in the previous FIFA World Cup and also had a good showing in the Africa Cup of Nations, making them a very competitive team.
And Haiti, their presence also adds uncertainty because we don't know much about them. So this group will be very competitive. We will do our best to make it difficult for the other three teams. Our goal is to be the first Scotland team to advance from the FIFA World Cup group stage, and we hope to achieve this.
From a tactical perspective, which team will pose a greater challenge for Scotland: Morocco or Brazil?
I think these two teams have completely different styles. Brazil has always played a more open game, and they are also very difficult to deal with. They have many technically gifted and extremely fast wingers, which makes them exciting and difficult to defend against.
In contrast, Morocco is a very tough team, very solid defensively, and also poses a threat in attack. They also have world-class full-backs like Achraf Hakimi, and excellent players like Brahim Díaz. Therefore, these two teams will present different types of challenges, and both matches will be very difficult, just in different ways.
Can it be understood this way – Brazil is the most technically skilled team, Morocco has the strongest physical presence, Scotland is the most tactically complete, and Haiti might be a dark horse?
I think the match against Haiti could be very tough. Obviously, we don't know many of their players yet, but we will be fully prepared when the game approaches. I think they will pose quite a challenge to the other three teams in the group, because like us, they earned their FIFA World Cup qualification through hard work, which in itself shows they are a strong team. I believe they will bring different types of threats to all three teams.
This group is very strong overall, and every match will be difficult. Ultimately, it depends on us and the other teams, who can get as many points as possible to qualify. Everyone is working towards the same goal.
If you can advance from such a group to the next stage of the FIFA World Cup...
Of course. When the draw was announced, our first reaction was great excitement because we were placed in a very competitive group. For us, after qualifying for the FIFA World Cup, we hoped to play against teams we hadn't faced before, and also against opponents from different continents, and this time we certainly got that opportunity.
When you draw a team like Brazil, it's undoubtedly the most important and most anticipated match. This game will attract special attention. I think everyone's dream is to play against Brazil in the FIFA World Cup, and Scotland players now have the chance to achieve that, which is a very special feeling.
Is this the best Scottish generation in recent years?
I would say so. Of course, in the past, we also had some outstanding players, such as Dalglish, Alan Hansen, Souness, who all made huge contributions to Scotland. There were also the "Lisbon Lions" in the 1960s, and so on.
But for me, at least in my lifetime, this is probably the best Scotland team. We've reached three of the last four major tournaments, which proves that. There are many players in the squad who play for big clubs, have won championships, and achieved a lot in football, and because of this, the Scotland team has also been successful. So we hope to take it a step further now and showcase ourselves on a bigger stage.
What do you think are the strengths and weaknesses of this generation of Scotland compared to the generation that participated in the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cups?
I think we are very united as a whole, with a strong team spirit, and everyone will fight their hardest for each other, never giving up. We always fight until the last moment. Our games are often like this, sometimes scoring at the last minute, sometimes securing victory in the first half.
For us, defensively, it's primarily built on a good overall structure, trying to make any opponent uncomfortable. Offensively, we have many excellent attackers who can both score goals and create chances. The key is whether we can display these qualities when facing strong teams. We did it in the qualifiers, and we hope to continue that performance this summer.
As a Brazilian and a Brazil fan, who should I pay attention to in the Brazil vs. Scotland match?
I think we are a very strong team overall, and that is our strength. We won't emphasize individual performances too much. However, if we want to win the game, our attacking players must perform exceptionally. McTominay has been performing very well at Napoli and is also an important member of the Scotland team. And John McGinn, who just won the Europa League with Aston Villa. These are our attacking players, and when we need to attack and score goals, we will rely on them.
Neymar has been selected. Is he still a player that Scotland needs to especially guard against?
I think as long as Neymar is on the field, any opponent will feel threatened. He is a very outstanding player. I've played against him before when he was at PSG, and he is very difficult to defend and extremely entertaining to watch. He can ignite the atmosphere with his skill and creativity. Although he has had several serious injuries and is now playing back in Brazil, he is still a top player. Your entire country's reaction to his selection also shows how important he still is to Brazil.
You've played in the Champions League and the Premier League. For you, at this moment, among the Brazilian players participating in the FIFA World Cup, who is the most difficult to defend against right now?
I think every one of them is difficult to deal with. As you said, I've played against Vinicius, and I've also faced Premier League players like Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli. And Igor Thiago, who played for Brentford this season, we've also played against them. I think Brazilian players have some common characteristics; they are very confident in their abilities, calm on the ball, and technically excellent.
We are very clear that in that match, we must be at our best to have a chance of getting the result we want, and that is our goal. But Brazil has strong players in every position, you can't just focus on one person, you have to pay attention to the entire team. They will be a difficult team for any opponent in this FIFA World Cup.
Among the Brazilian players you've played alongside, who are you most fascinated by?
Alisson. Obviously, he is very close to me. I've played with him for 8 years, and we've achieved a lot together. He is a very good friend of mine, and our two families are also very close, the children get along well, and the wives also get along. For me, seeing him selected for the Brazil team, and his family's reaction to his FIFA World Cup selection, are all very beautiful things. He is an excellent goalkeeper and a very great person. When I talk about Brazil, he is the first person who comes to my mind.
He is not currently in the best form of his career. Even so, do you still believe he is one of the top goalkeepers in the FIFA World Cup?
Yes. Obviously, Alisson has had a few injuries this season. He is now healthy again, and it remains to be seen how he prepares. I can see the preparations he is making for the FIFA World Cup and for the Brazil team, and he is working hard to reach his best form, which is commendable. In my opinion, he is the best goalkeeper in the world, and he always has been. Although his playing time has been reduced recently due to injuries, I still believe he will participate in the FIFA World World Cup as the best goalkeeper in the world.
If Brazil is the favorite and Haiti is the potential dark horse, which match will be more difficult?
I think every game in the group stage will be very intense, and we will try to make the games reflect that level of competition. We believe we have a chance to achieve good results, and I believe other teams also hold that belief. Every team will think they can win.
Brazil has always believed they can win every game, that belief is always there. Morocco proved in the last FIFA World Cup that they have the ability and mentality to win. And we are here to achieve our dreams and goals – to be the first Scotland team to advance from the group. To do that, we must win. I believe Haiti will cause trouble for all opponents because many people might think they are easy to deal with, but that is not the case. They have excellent players and are a team fighting for their dreams, so I think they will be very tough.
Please name three players who might play key roles in this FIFA World Cup.
I think there are many players. The first one that comes to mind is probably Messi from the defending champions. This might be his last FIFA World Cup, and I believe he will want to end it with an outstanding performance. The same goes for Cristiano Ronaldo; he has been alongside Messi throughout his career. For the last one, I think France will also be very competitive, and Mbappé is very important for France. Looking back at recent FIFA World Cups, these teams have always been in contention. But I also believe everyone will be wary of Brazil, and I'm sure Vinicius will be very eager to have an exciting FIFA World Cup. If he can do that, I think Brazil can go very far.
Now please name four teams that might win the FIFA World Cup.
I think Brazil has that strength, and it's not because they are in our group, but because they have proven themselves many times. Regardless of Brazil's form, no team wants to play against them. The same goes for France, obviously a top team. Spain is also very good. I'd love to include Scotland, but I'm not entirely sure yet. Our dream, of course, is to win the FIFA World Cup. As for the fourth team, I might choose Portugal; perhaps they can bring some surprises.
Do you think the hot weather in the United States will be a special factor in this FIFA World Cup?
It will certainly be a challenge for us. We don't come from a warm climate; it often rains in Scotland. When we go to play in the United States, we won't encounter much rain or wind, so we need to adapt to such an environment, which is indeed not easy for us.
However, I think our preparations have already begun, such as trying to adapt to the hot climate and playing in high temperatures. We are doing our best to prepare behind the scenes, hoping to participate in the best possible condition. We hope these efforts will pay off, and that we can cope better with the hot weather once we get there.
Last question, will playing in a FIFA World Cup hosted in three different countries feel very different?
Yes. Obviously, this situation is quite special and very different. We are all full of anticipation for everything that is about to happen. This sense of anticipation is gradually building up. I think we are excited about our group, the three teams we are about to face, and everything that comes next. We certainly need to be fully prepared for the three matches, and we are also very much looking forward to this challenge, and can't wait to get started.
Look at the camera and say something to your Brazilian fans.
Thank you for your continuous support, especially during my time at Liverpool. However, I also know that in the FIFA World Cup, you definitely don't want me to perform too well, after all, we are in the same group. We are very much looking forward to playing against you, but we hope it will be us who celebrate the victory in the end, not you. Apart from that, and apart from that match, I also wish you a wonderful performance in this FIFA World Cup and a great time.
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