Andy Robertson’s afternoon in the tropical heat of the 2026 World Cup lasted exactly 45 minutes. It didn’t go well.
The Tottenham left back, who turned 32 this spring, was pulled at halftime by Scotland manager Steve Clarke with his team already trailing Brazil 2-0. The final score ended up 3-0, and now Scotland has to sit and wait like everyone else to see if they sneak through as one of the eight best third-place teams under this weird 48-team format.
Robertson got dribbled past once, offered next to nothing going forward, and generally looked like a player who’s running on fumes. Clarke sent on Kieran Tierney, who immediately looked sharper and more dangerous on the ball. One British outlet called the substitution “almost a blessing in disguise.” That’s not the kind of review you want when you’re trying to justify a free transfer signing.
Tottenham grabbed Robertson on the cheap after Liverpool let him go, the idea being that a veteran captain with Champions League experience would steady a young backline and push Destiny Udogie. The problem is that Robertson already looked like he was declining at Anfield. And so far? The Spurs version hasn’t looked any better.
Against Morocco in the group opener he was quiet. Against Brazil he was actively poor. Two straight games where the left side basically didn’t exist as an attacking threat. That’s not just a bad day. That’s a pattern.
A signing that always felt a little off
There was always something uneasy about this transfer. Robertson’s pedigree is real. But bringing in a 32-year-old whose best years were clearly behind him to compete with a guy who can’t stay healthy? It felt like a short-term patch on a longer-term problem.
Djed Spence can play on the left in a pinch. Not his natural side, but he’s versatile enough to make it work. And the team has a younger player named Souza who could have used those backup minutes to develop. Instead he’s heading out on loan somewhere else while Tottenham is stuck with an aging alternative who looks noticeably slow in a World Cup setting.
Clarke has to take some blame here too. Starting Robertson over Tierney when the latter is clearly in better form is a decision that backfired immediately. Tierney provided exactly the spark Scotland needed. Too bad they needed it from the kickoff.
Scotland’s fate is now out of their hands. They’ll watch other results pile up and hope the math breaks their way. But for Robertson personally, this tournament hasn’t been a showcase of a savvy veteran addition. It’s been a reminder that father time doesn’t care about your trophy cabinet.
Leave a Comment