Robertson vows to hold Jota’s reminiscence into Scotland’s World Cup marketing campaign
Scotland captain Andrew Robertson says he’ll carry the reminiscence of former Liverpool team-mate Diogo Jota with him all through the World Cup after receiving an emotional letter from the Portuguese ahead’s widow.
Jota died in a automobile accident final July on the age of 28, simply months after serving to Portugal qualify for the match in North America.
Regardless of successful 49 worldwide caps, the ahead by no means had the chance to play at a World Cup. Harm dominated him out of Portugal’s squad for Qatar 2022 and he tragically handed away earlier than the 2026 finals.
Jota’s widow sends heartfelt message
In a letter printed by FIFA, Jota’s widow, Rute Cardoso, thanked Robertson for maintaining her husband’s reminiscence alive and urged him to fulfil a dream the pair had usually mentioned collectively.
“Diogo usually spoke about you,” she wrote.
“He spoke in regards to the friendship you constructed, the challenges you confronted collectively, the conversations you had about soccer and about your desires.
“The World Cup was a type of desires. It was one thing you each needed to expertise and labored in direction of with the identical ardour.
“When Scotland certified and I heard what you mentioned afterwards, I realised Diogo had by no means really left the pitch.
“If you stroll out on the World Cup, you gained’t be alone. You may be carrying his dream with you too.”
Cardoso added that Jota could be proud to see Robertson representing Scotland on soccer’s greatest stage.
“Thanks for not forgetting him. Thanks for taking him with you.
“Dwell that dream, Andy. Dwell it for your self and for him.”
Robertson: ‘I’ll carry him in my coronary heart’
Robertson, who was filmed studying the letter by FIFA, admitted the message would stick with him for a very long time.
The defender spoke overtly in regards to the bond he shared with Jota throughout their years collectively at Liverpool and mentioned ideas of his former team-mate stay shut.
“I’ll carry him in my coronary heart,” Robertson mentioned.
“I do know he’ll be with me for the primary sport, the second sport, the third sport and hopefully past that.
“He’s all the time there. The reminiscences by no means go away you. Typically they make you giggle and typically they make you cry.
“Going right into a match like this, with all of the emotion that comes with it, he’ll be proper on the entrance of my thoughts.”
The Scotland captain added: “I’m not solely taking part in for myself. I’m taking part in for each of us.”
Following Scotland’s qualification for the World Cup in November, Robertson revealed that Jota was one of many first individuals he considered after securing a spot on the finals.
The pair had usually spoken about experiencing the match collectively after each missed out 4 years earlier.
“I couldn’t get my mate Diogo Jota out of my head,” Robertson mentioned on the time.
“We spoke a lot about going to the World Cup as a result of he missed the final one with Portugal and I did with Scotland.
“I do know he’ll be smiling over me at this time.”
Scotland prepared for long-awaited return
Scotland are making ready for his or her first World Cup look since 1998.
Steve Clarke’s facet start their Group C marketing campaign in opposition to Haiti earlier than going through Morocco and Brazil as they try to succeed in the knockout phases for the primary time of their historical past.
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