The Scots go into their concluding two qualifiers – away to Georgia on Thursday and at residence to Norway on Sunday – having already certified for the finals in Germany subsequent summer time.
Steve Clarke’s males suffered group-stage elimination at Euro 2020 – delayed till 2021 on account of Covid – after taking only one level from three video games in opposition to Czech Republic, England and Croatia.
Leeds defender Cooper – talking from the Scots’ coaching base in Turkey forward of Thursday’s match in Tbilisi – feels they are going to be higher outfitted this time to make it to the knockout section.
“As professionals, I believe we put that expectation on ourselves instantly after the final Euros,” he mentioned. “I don’t suppose we did ourselves justice in that event.
“It was a whole lot of lads’ first style of a serious event, together with myself, and straight after that we agreed amongst ourselves that we didn’t actually do ourselves justice.
“We’ve acquired lots of people, together with ourselves, to show to that we belong there and we are able to get by means of the group levels.
“We’ve acquired an trustworthy bunch of lads and we maintain ourselves accountable. We need to be glad with the way in which we carried out. We’ve accomplished nicely on this qualification marketing campaign, to qualify with two video games to spare is superb, however it will probably’t cease there.
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“To be much more profitable, we’ve acquired to go and do ourselves justice on the Euros. I’m fortunate sufficient to have been on the final Euros, but when the goalposts don’t change when you’ve had a style of that and also you don’t need to go and enhance on it subsequent time, then there’s no level in you being right here.”
Cooper admits it’s a good feeling to enter the final two matches having already certified however he’s adamant the Scots is not going to be taking issues simple over the following week, with prime spot in Group A in addition to a spot within the squad for the finals at stake.
“It’s good to have certified with two video games to spare, however there’s additionally that carrot there that if Spain drop factors, we are able to go and win the group,” mentioned the 32-year-old. “That’s our motivation proper now. We’ve acquired to be skilled and take our probability if Spain slip up.
“We’ve solely acquired this camp and the following camp to get ourselves within the supervisor’s ideas and get within the squad for Germany in order that’s additionally added motivation. We’ve acquired to place ourselves ahead and show we must be on that airplane to Germany.
“I had a style of that earlier than and it was a tremendous expertise albeit in troublesome occasions for the world (on account of Covid). There have been restricted individuals within the stadium so that you didn’t get the total expertise.
“It was nonetheless a tremendous expertise however I believe the Euros subsequent summer time will likely be unbelievable. It’s one thing you at all times dream of as a child so that you’ve acquired to do all you possibly can by taking part in nicely and being profitable in these subsequent couple of video games and into the March camp as nicely.”
Pleasure is constructing among the many Scotland help and gamers forward of the draw for the Euros group stage on December 2.
“We’re clearly buzzing for that,” mentioned Cooper. “We are able to then get booked and our associates and households can begin getting booked up.
“It’s been a little bit of a nightmare not figuring out the place we’ll be taking part in, each particular person I’ve spoken to has booked about 20 accommodations on free cancellation so will probably be good to know the place we’re going to be based mostly.
“As soon as all of the logistics of it are sorted out then you possibly can actually begin to stay up for it. However we’re professionals and we perceive there’s a whole lot of soccer to be performed earlier than then and there’s nonetheless an enormous resolution to be made by the supervisor (concerning squad choice) so there will likely be no getting too carried away.”
