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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…
Speaking to Leeds Live, Liam Cooper has spoken about the challenge of international football after he earned his debut for Scotland.
What’s he said?
Cooper was called up to Steve Clarke’s Scotland team for the first time for games against Russia and Belgium during the current international break.
The former defeated Spain at the 2018 World Cup whilst the latter are the number one ranked team in the world so it’s a rather harsh baptism of fire for the defender.
He was named in the starting XI against the Russians but despite going 1-0 up through John McGinn the Scots eventually succumbed to defeat.
Speaking after the game, he told Leeds Live:
“Championship football is fast and frenetic so I wouldn’t say the pace was different, but our mistakes get punished a lot more.
“We started well and got in about the Russians but after we scored the goal we sat off a bit. When you give good players time on the ball they’ll hurt you and we paid the price.
“For the second goal, we lost the ball in the middle of the park and were out of position when the ball was played in behind.”
Harsh lessons can make him even better
Having been named in the PFA Team of the Year for the Championship last term, Cooper has become a key man in the Leeds side and his call-up to the Scottish team was rather deserved.
International football throws up all sorts of challenges and that will again be the case when Scotland’s defence face off against players like Romelu Lukaku tonight.
For Cooper, that will be an altogether different test to the one that usually presents itself to him on a matchday at Leeds.
As the centre back says, mistakes are punished more regularly at a higher level but it’s that sort of experience and learning curve that can potentially make him a better player going forward.
Considering Leeds have aspirations of competing in the Premier League this could be key. If the 28-year-old can begin to fine-tune his game and learn from how forwards punish you, it would be hugely beneficial if they do go up.
Facing off against high-class strikers is a challenge but ultimately, that’s what he’d have to do in the Premier League if promotion is secured for Leeds this season.
There is the unwanted chance of injury whilst he’s away from the club but if it helps to make him better, it could be of great benefit to the Whites going forward.
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