Kenny McLean, Andy Robertson, John McGinn and Craig Gordon described Wednesday evening as ‘a special night’ as Scotland sealed their place at the World Cup. The quartet spoke of the emotion of the moment, the satisfaction of achieving a long-held aim and the simple joy of celebrating with team-mates and travelling supporters.
They paid warm tribute to the fans who followed the squad and said the result was the product of a collective effort across players, coaches and staff. Each player underlined that the qualification was a shared accomplishment built on hard work, belief and unity throughout the camp.
While clearly enjoying the celebrations, the group also stressed the need to refocus quickly. Preparations will shift to ensuring the squad is ready to represent Scotland on football’s biggest stage, with training, planning and recovery all on the agenda as they begin the next phase of the journey.