Robertson: Being captain of Scotland means everything to me

Andy Robertson

is going to be the first to captain his national team at a major tournament since Colin Hendry did in the World Cup of 1998 in France.

The Scotland international is going to wear the armband with 12,000 fans present at Hampden Park stadium on Monday and he is eager to hail the players’ attitude when he captains them.

"

There are not many captains who have done it, obviously, we have not been to many tournaments. Being captain of my country means everything to me,"

he told

Sky Sports News

.

"It makes it even more special that I captain this group because, to a man, I have got a lot of time for them off the park, they are a fantastic group of lads.

"No egos, no nothing, just an honest, good working group. To be leading them out means everything."

The 27-year-old experienced the fans’ presence with Liverpool on two occasions after the pandemic forced the games to be played without the supporters.

Hampden will have a 12,000 capacity for the battle between the Czech Republic and Scotland and also their clash against Croatia on June 22. Robertson believes it will boost Steve Clarke’s players’ confidence.

"It will make a huge difference,"

he said.

"Premier League players managed to experience fans back in for the last week of the season. It made a huge difference, of course it did.

"Football without fans is nothing. Over the last couple of months you've really seen that come through, for different reasons.

"Football's not football without a full stadium. It won't be full but it's a good start from what the world's had to deal with and to have 12,000 in Hampden will make a huge difference.

"I am sure those that are lucky enough to get in there will be excited and hopefully they can cheer the team on.

"I believe the country will get right behind this team and hopefully we feel that."

Robertson revealed that Scotland and the Czech Republic are less expected to climb out of Group D than England and Croatia, which makes their battle more crucial.

"

Both of us are probably underdogs going into the group with Croatia and England in it, but both teams want to prove the people wrong who think we will be going home,"

he said.

"That's why the first game will be tough. All three games in the group stage are going to be crucial in different ways but you want to get off to a good start.

"Everyone in the tournament will want to get the first three points on the board.

"We will be looking to get the three points and it would put us in a really good position, especially going into the England game [on June 18].

"We will be ready come kick-off and it will be up to us to show all the qualities we have shown over the last two years to get us here on the big stage.

"By looking at training and the squad just now, I do believe we will be able to do it."

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