Scotland captain Andy Robertson believes they can help take the togetherness of the country up a level as they prepare for their first major tournament on foreign soil for 26 years.
Robertson and his team-mates visited Glasgow Children’s Hospital on Friday afternoon following the second training session of their pre-Euro 2024 camp.
Steve Clarke was keen to base his side in Glasgow to feel the excitement of the nation ahead of the European Championship finals in Germany.
Clarke’s coaching staff joined the players as they first met a young boy who is recovering from major heart surgery before touring the hospital wards in a bid to lift the spirits of sick children and their families.
Robertson said: “Obviously, we’ve got a lot to be excited about, a lot to be grateful about and we’ve got a lot of motivation going over to Germany but today we will get even more. We see some amazing kids fighting battles that they shouldn’t be fighting.
“If it gives us any extra motivation then that’s it but it’s more important to put smiles on their faces and everyone connected to them.
“It’s always nice to see if you can brighten up their day or help them through whatever they’re going through.
“A lot of us are dads with our own kids and we know how bad it is when they get unwell so I can’t imagine what these people are going through. Even if it helps one day or one hour to take their mind off whatever they’re going through, then we’ve done our job.”
Such hospital visits were not possible last time out as Scotland prepared for the delayed Euro 2020 finals in the midst of the pandemic before playing two matches at Hampden in front of about 12,000 fans and a heavily restricted travelling support at Wembley.
So this time round Robertson is eager to get as close to the fans as possible.
“When we qualified for the last Euros the world was in a a bad place in terms of Covid and life wasn’t normal,” the Liverpool left-back said. “It wasn’t possible to even think about trying to do these things.
“That’s why today was so important for us because we have the chance to spread good energy.
“We know these people will be supporting us, whether they’re still in hospital or back home recovering or whatever. We know these people are just as important as the Tartan Army that will be over in Germany.
“It’s important that the country’s together, we’re very good at that. We always have been and we felt that at the last Euros. But I think it can go up a notch this time.
“Last time we went to Spain, which was good at the time, but this one is probably better being in Glasgow and trying to feel the atmosphere building. Everyone’s getting excited about it as well and seeing the Scotland flags outside the houses and things like that.
“Obviously we’ve got the Finland game next week and the atmosphere will be really building at that point, the game will be a send-off, and we will just try and get as many people involved as we go.
“Not everyone will be in Germany for different circumstances, so it’s important we try and involve the whole country."
