IT tells you something of the closeness of Darren Jackson’s relationship with Andy Robertson that he still refers to the Scotland captain and Liverpool superstar as ‘wee Andy’.

Having been part of the coaching staff when Jackie McNamara brought Robertson to Dundee United, the pair go back a long way. And while Robertson has undoubtedly came on exponentially as a player in the time that has passed since, he remains completely unaffected by the fame and fortune that he now enjoys.

As Robertson prepares to lead his country out at their first major tournament since Jackson was part of the squad 23 years ago, he has revealed to his old friend that there has been a change behind the scenes in the Scotland camp of late, with the camaraderie that has been forged between the players key to their recent relative success.

“I was down south last week at wee Andy’s house,” said Jackson. “See the energy and enthusiasm about him? It’s incredible.

“I’ve got a lot of respect for Walter Smith, Alex McLeish and Gordon Strachan – they were just very unlucky with qualifying. They’re brilliant managers. But Andy’s just said it’s a bit different at the moment.

“The manager can’t make the team spirit, the boys have got to do it. I played with top players and we had an incredible team spirit. It didn’t matter if you were from Celtic or Rangers or whoever, you just sat at whatever table. At that time there wasn’t social media or phones. We were always together.

“It’s massively important. If everyone just sat and had their dinner then went back to their rooms, come down for meetings and then return upstairs, you can’t get a bond. You can’t get an understanding of your team-mates.

“But even if you’re just sitting together, having a laugh, you’re getting that bond among the squad.

“It’s got to be intense when it’s meant to be intense. But it’s also got to be kind of relaxed.

“Andy was very complimentary of the team they have and how close they are, how the love going and meeting up. You don’t see many withdrawing from squads. Winning breeds that as well. Qualifying breeds that.

“The team must be confident going into the competition. With the players we’ve got, I’m optimistic. “I’m not saying we’re going to blow everyone away. But with the players we’ve got I am feeling optimistic.”

Jackson of course was fortunate enough to start the opening game of the 1998 World Cup against Brazil in Paris, and he admits that he was left feeling a little in awe of his opposite number as he strode out at the Stade Francais.

He said: “The most surreal thing – thinking about where I’d come from in football, the lower leagues in Scotland – was standing in the tunnel before the first game of the World Cup against Brazil. I was always last out, and there was Ronaldo stood beside me. Only the best player in the world.

“It was an incredible moment and, as I say, surreal for me. It’s something that lives with you forever. It was an amazing part of it all and that was even before a ball was kicked.

“It’s hard to explain, standing there ready to walk out for the first game of the World Cup against the world champions.

“I think if you ever want to play in a World Cup, you want to play against Brazil, renowned for being world champions and having the best players in the world.

“So, it was something that will live with me forever.

“It was brilliant.”

Brazil of course won’t be at the party this summer, but the European Championships hold just as many happy memories for Jackson as that World Cup did.

He was a substitute when Scotland took on England at Wembley at Euro ’96, and remembers being blown away by the Tartan Army. They will sadly be reduced in number when the Scots go to the new Wembley this time around, but Jackson has urged the Scottish players to savour the occasion, while not being overawed by it.

“When you look at when we were at Euro 96 - I don’t want Gary McAllister to feel bad - but I believe we’d have at least managed a draw if he’d scored the penalty,” he said. “We were really getting into the game and England were kind of panicking.

“I would rather have been in the dressing room at half-time as that would have meant I would have been playing. But I’ve never experienced anything like the Scotland support during half-time at that game.

“It was being beamed all over the world and England fans just stood there in amazement. So were we, we were meant to be warming up but we just stood there and watched the fans.

“It was just special and we need to try and get that level. We just need to believe.

“The game at Hampden and those two free-kicks from Griffiths, we just grew in confidence when the first one went in. You could see England panicked.

“It’s about managing the expectation, we needed to win and the pressure is huge. The press build it up for England to believe they are going to win tournaments but we don’t really have that.

“Our goals is to try and qualify for the next stage as we have never managed it.

“I think that is good enough.”