Football

Andy Robertson admits he was ‘worried’ about his hamstring during Scotland’s dramatic penalty shootout victory


Andy Robertson will captain Scotland at next summer’s European Championships (Picture: Getty)

An emotional Andy Robertson admitted he was ‘worried’ about injuring his hamstring after Scotland booked their place at the delayed Euro 2020 with a nail-biting penalty shootout victory over Serbia.

David Marshall ensured Scotland’s agonising 23-year wait for a major tournament came to an end with a brilliant save to deny Aleksandar Mitrovic’s decisive spot-kick in Belgrade.

Real Madrid striker Luka Jovic had earlier kept Serbia in the clash with a headed equaliser in the dying moments of normal time to cancel out Ryan Christie’s driven strike in the 52nd minute.

Scotland goalkeeper Marshall saved Mitrovic’s decisive penalty (Picture: Getty)

Robertson will captain his country at next summer’s tournament, where his side will be grouped with England, Croatia and Czech Republic.

Liverpool head coach Jurgen Klopp will no doubt be delighted for Robertson but the left-back’s post-match interview with Sky Sports may have made him slightly nervous, given the club’s current injury crisis in defence.

Asked when he was due to step up for Scotland in the penalty shootout, Robertson said: ‘I think I was next or seventh but my hamstring had seized up in the second half of extra-time.

‘Just a bit of cramp and it was my left one so I was a bit worried it was going to cramp up but the lads taking penalties were unbelievable.

‘When Marshy’s in goal for you, you always back him to save one.

Robertson admitted he was ‘worried’ about his hamstring during the shootout (Picture: Sky Sports)

‘What a night, it’s so hard to explain right now emotionally, there’s tears everywhere. These lads deserve it.

‘Forget about me, I’m just a boy that’s so lucky to walk in front of them, I lead them out, but my god those boys are something else and we’re so together.

‘We’ll look forward to the summer now.’

Marshall was Scotland’s hero in Belgrade (Picture: Getty)

Scotland will have the luxury of playing twice at Hampden Park in Group D next summer and Robertson just hopes full crowds are allowed back in the stadiums by the time the European Championships begin.

‘We’ve probably not had enough time to think about it but that’s what lies ahead,’ Robertson added.

‘Two games at Hampden Park, I’ll say every sort of prayer I have to have a full Hampden because my god we’ll feel it.

‘We felt the love back home over here and we felt how much it could give everyone a lift at a really tough time. I hope everyone parties at home tonight because we have been through tough times as footballers and football fans in Scotland.

‘It’s been 23 years and we’ve done it.

‘I don’t even want to think about it because I’ll probably cry but we’re looking forward to the summer now and everything that builds up to that.

‘To do it with all the backroom staff, all the coaches and all the players makes it that bit more special.’

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