Having waited 23 years to break a cycle of failure, Scotland’s return to the international stage ended in a fashion that was wearily familiar.
With home advantage for their Euro 2020 games against the Czech Republic and Croatia either side of a trip to Wembley, hope sprung eternal that Steve Clarke’s team could become the first in history to break through the glass ceiling of the group stages.
By the time Luka Modric’s sorcery had condemned Scotland to a second loss on home soil, however, a point won against England in game two felt like scant consolation.
Just as had happened at the Euros of 1992 and 1996 and in eight World Cups stretching back to 1954, Scotland left the party before it started to get interesting.
For all the pride at returning to the big stage was palpable, the sense that we departed it much too soon has lingered to this day.
This then, is a chance for atonement. Come what may across the matches with Germany, Switzerland, Hungary and hopefully more in the coming days, this time skipper Andy Robertson intends boarding the plane home knowing the team has gone out on its shield.
Skipper Robertson says Scots are ready to compete with Germans and beyond
Scotland captain Robertson is looking confident ahead of the curtain raiser
Robertson and boss Clarke emerge from the tunnel at the Allianz Arena
‘Qualifying for the first Euros was massive for us and doing two in a row was incredible,’ he said.
‘But now we want to actually compete. The last time, we did fairly well in the England game, but in the other two we let ourselves down a bit.
‘We could have done better. We don’t want to have any regrets this time.
‘We have to move on from that. We believe we can be the team that makes history.
‘We’ll focus on tomorrow night first and it doesn’t come much tougher. But we’re excited by the challenge and what’s ahead.
‘We’ve done the hard bit by qualifying. Now let’s see what else we can do.’
Throughout a journey which started in the foothills of the game at Queen’s Park, Robertson has climbed to places where the view is clear and the air is thin.
The Glaswegian won a Champions League with Liverpool and played in two other finals.
He was part of the first team at Anfield in two decades to win the title, lifted the FA Cup and the League Cup twice.
In the colours of his country, he helped end that long wait to reach a major finals on a famous night in Belgrade.
Now aged 30, he could have been forgiven for believing that nothing he could possibly experience in football could eclipse what he’s already seen. And then came the Euro 2024 draw in Hamburg in December.
While Scotland’s adventure in Germany this summer was going to be seismic whatever lay in store, the scale of tonight’s match in Munich is hard to quantify.
Even from their quiet training camp in Bavaria, the sense that this is the biggest occasion Scotland have been involved in since facing Brazil in the opening game for the World Cup in France ‘98 has been impossible to escape.
‘We’ve seen all the videos of the fans landing, of them in the squares across the city,’ Robertson added.
‘We all know so many people who are out here – it feels like most of the country’s come over.
‘The Tartan Army have been great with us from day one. When the gaffer came in there was a conscious decision to try and get them onside, because support at home games had nose-dived, even if the ones who go abroad with us have always been incredible.
‘Listen, we know they can’t all get into the stadium tomorrow night – we wish they could – but wherever they are, either here or at home, we want to make them proud.
‘If we perform the way we know we can, they’ll hopefully have a great ten or 12 days.’
Robertson has good memories of the vast arena Scotland will walk out into after a lavish opening ceremony.
Five years ago, Liverpool’s hopes of winning a sixth European Cup were fading after a goalless draw with Bayern Munich at Anfield.
Robertson admits Scots let themselves down at last Euros and are ready to atone
Clarke shares a joke with his players during the countdown to Germany match
On a famous night for Jurgen Klopp’s side, they stunned the local favourites to start a run that would end with a victory in the final over Tottenham. What Robertson wouldn’t give for a similar outcome tonight.
‘It was a massive win for Liverpool,’ he recalled.
‘A lot of people had written us off after we draw 0-0 at Anfield, but we went in front of all those Bayern supporters and beat them 3-1.
‘It was incredible to be part of and it’s even more special that it took us on the journey to win the Champions League. It was such an important game.
‘Jurgen Klopp texted me last week when I broke the record for captaining Scotland, which he didn’t have to do and which was good of him. He just said congratulations.
‘I know he’ll be here, and I know who he’ll be supporting! I hope he enjoys his night, but not too much…’
Expectation within Germany is not quite at the level you would associate with a host nation with such a history.
No one within the Scotland camp is buying any notion that Julian Nagelsmann’s side will present anything other than the most arduous of challenges, though.
‘There’s no secret here. Germany will dominate the ball against us,’ Robertson predicted.
‘They have the best midfielder in the world in Toni Kroos and plenty others who are great on the ball.
‘What we have to do is capitalise when we have the ball. Then we have to make it difficult for them, close the spaces.
Robertson has good memories of Munich after winning there with Liverpool five years ago
John McGinn puts his best foot forward as Scots continue training sessions
‘The key to getting a result here will be whose game-plan work better, who shows up.
‘There’s a lot of pressure on Germany to win the tournament and they don’t want anyone or anything to get in their way. But that’s our job.’
Of the three games Scotland face in the next 10 days, this is – without question – the most arduous assignment.
To go where no Scotland team has gone before, though, nothing can be considered a free hit.
‘We all know how quickly a tournament can go by you, so we have to make the most of the opportunity we have here,’ said Robertson.
‘As a group, it doesn’t get much more difficult, but at the same time there’s no outside pressure or expectation on us. All we can do is play to our maximum and see how we go. It’s time to show what we can do.’
