Andy Robertson has shared an unconventional approach that Scotland has taken in preparation for their World Cup return, revealing that he arranged a game of Traitors among the squad during their training camp in the United States.
Scotland’s encounter with Haiti in Boston marks their first World Cup appearance since 1998. Much has been said about the unity within the team as they approach this tournament. While Robertson did not disclose specific roles of teammates in the game, he elaborated on the rationale behind its inclusion.
“It was something we had done before and decided to do again because we can spend a lot of time in our rooms or on our own,” the 32-year-old explained. “It is not easy being away from your family, your kids. It was something to try and get people out of their rooms, give quieter people a voice and give newer players a voice. So those were the ideas behind it.
“It is not easy being away from your family, your kids. It was something to try and get people out of their rooms, give quieter people a voice and give newer players a voice. So those were the ideas behind it. “Whether it has worked or not, I am not sure, but we certainly enjoyed it. That was last week, that is what took up our time after training was done. It is just about trying different ways of making time pass quickly because we knew these two weeks would probably drag. You just want the first game to come. So that, along with other things, helped to just quicken the time. It hasn’t felt too long that we have been away.”
In preparation for the match against Haiti, Scotland has received a boost with Scott McTominay returning to training after missing a session due to a stomach issue. Steve Clarke confirmed that the Napoli midfielder is in “I think I have 26 superstars here,” condition. However, the manager emphasized that McTominay should not bear the weight of expectation alone.
“To try and put so much on to one person is not fair. Everything over the last seven years has been the squad, the team, everyone being together and playing their part at certain times. We are delighted with Scott’s abilities and what he brings to the team but another 15 will have to do the same if we are going to have a positive tournament.” Clarke stated. “It is important we respect the opposition,”
“Since they qualified, they have improved the squad by bringing players in that have made them better. We think we know how they are going to play but obviously any team can become different. They have very dynamic players, especially the attacking players, so we have to be careful.”
