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ROBERTSON WON’T LET COMPASSION AFFECT HIS DREAM

By CALUM CROWE

ANDY ROBERTSON insists Scotland must not allow emotion and sorrow to affect their mindset in next week’s World Cup play-off with Ukraine. Ukraine has been torn apart by war in recent months after the Russian invasion, but their football team will travel to Hampden next Wednesday aiming to defy the odds. While acknowledging there will be a groundswell of support for the visitors from neutrals, home skipper Robertson is adamant it will be vital for Steve Clarke’s side to rise above the emotion. ‘For us as players and the manager, it’s bizarre with the situation around it,’ said the Liverpool star, who will play against Real Madrid in Saturday’s Champions League final prior to linking up with Scotland. ‘We’ve helped Ukraine as much as possible in terms of (agreeing to postpone the game from) March, and now June. ‘We’ve given them as much (time) as they’ve needed. We’ve helped them as much as we can, but, come Wednesday night, we have to be ready to battle, to fight for our dreams. We got a feeling of being in a major tournament (at last year’s Euros) and we need to try and separate that (emotion of the Ukraine conflict).’ Robertson admitted he would be supporting Ukraine if they were playing any other nation, but emphasises maximum professionalism must prevail within the Scotland squad. ‘We’ll be so receptive of Ukraine before and after the game but, during that 90 minutes, that 120 minutes, or whatever it takes, we have to be ready to fight for our dreams as well. ‘We’ll make sure that’s the message. I can’t imagine what they (Ukraine’s players) are going through, but we have to be ready to battle. As players, we want to go to a World Cup. ‘Probably everyone in the world wants Ukraine to win. I’d probably want them to win, but unfortunately they’re playing against my country and we have to stand in their way.’

World Cup 2022

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2022-05-26T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-05-26T07:00:00.0000000Z

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