Gordon eyeing 'happy ending' at World Cup
"Happy endings don't happen often in football, but it'd be ideal."As Craig Gordon prepares for his 24th season in football, it's understandable he's also thinking about how his illustrious chapter in the game ends.The 42-year-old goalkeeper recently signed a new one-year deal with Hearts and started between the sticks for Scotland in March, but even the man who's defied all odds with his longevity in the game knows the end is nigh.That doesn't mean his outlook or attitude has changed, though.He's still as driven as the young man who first stepped into Hearts in 1999 and as determined as the chap who battled back from multiple career-ending injuries."Trying to be the best I can be is how I got here and it's the only way to stay here," Gordon said, previewing his testimonial next month against Sunderland."Regardless of age and what I have to do to get to that level, that's the process and that's what I stick to trying to do."No matter what I'm doing, whether it's in training, in games, whether I'm reflecting on the performances, analysing, it's to be the best that I can possibly be. "Trying to improve, I still think that's possible even at this age. You still have to try and improve things that you can improve and that's what keeps me going."The prospect of reaching a World Cup does too. Scotland begin their qualifying campaign in September, and if fit, Gordon would be expected to be in the mix, particularly given the recent struggles Steve Clarke has had in that position."[Appearing at a World Cup] would be ideal, but there's an awful lot of football to be played," he added. "Happy endings don't happen often in football, so that's something to work towards, something to give everything that I've possibly got to try and achieve and then we'll see where it takes us."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
Buffon confirms Gattuso set to become Italy manager
June 14 (Reuters) - Italy are set to appoint their former midfielder Gennaro Gattuso as new manager to replace the recently sacked Luciano Spalletti, Gianluigi Buffon, head of delegation with the Italian football federation (FIGC), said on Saturday. "We have worked, we are now waiting for the final details," Buffon, speaking at the Under-21 European Championship, told Italy's state broadcaster RAI when asked to confirm that Gattuso would be announced as the new coach. "The president and the whole federation have had some busy days but I think that in the end we made the best choice." Spalletti's sacking came after less than two years in the job, taking charge for the final time in the 2-0 win over Moldova the day after he announced his own dismissal following a 3-0 loss in Norway in Italy's opening World Cup qualifying game. Gattuso, who made 73 appearances for Italy and was a member of the 2006 World Cup winning squad, recently left Croatian club Hajduk Split by mutual consent, after a third-placed finish in the country's top flight.
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Man Utd look at Bournemouth's Semenyo - Sunday's gossip
Manchester United look at options in case Bryan Mbuemo deal falls through, Arsenal still keen on Viktor Gyokeres, Mathys Tel poised for permanent move to United will turn their attentions to signing Bournemouth's Ghana forward Antoine Semenyo, 25, or Crystal Palace's England midfielder Eberechi Eze, 26, if they fail to land Brentford's Cameroon attacker Bryan Mbuemo, 25. (ESPN), externalArsenal are poised to return with another bid for Sporting's Sweden striker Viktor Gyokeres, 27, with Atletico Madrid also interested in the player. Gyokeres has already ruled out a move to Manchester United. (Record - in Portuguese), externalTottenham Hotspur are expected to make the signing of Bayern Munich forward Mathys Tel, 20, permanent following his loan spell, with the deal soon to be finalised. (Bild - in German), externalAC Milan have made contact with Valencia over a move for 22-year-old midfielder Javi Guerra (Calciomercato - in Italian), externalInter Milan are ready to listen to offers for midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu, 31, with Galatasaray expressing interest in his signature. (Gazetta - in Italian), external Southampton are considering a move for Cologne's United States striker Damion Downs, 20. (Sky Germany), externalSet-piece coach Keith Andrews is a candidate to replace Thomas Frank as Brentford manager. (Talksport), externalSpanish attacking midfielder Fer Lopez, 21, has agreed to join Wolverhampton Wanderers from Celta Vigo but the clubs have still to agree a fee, with some confusion surrounding the player's release clause. (Diario AS - in Spanish), externalBayer Leverkusen want Netherlands forward Justin Kluivert after selling Germany midfielder Florian Wirtz, 22, to Liverpool and have approached Bournemouth about the 26-year-old's availability. (Mail), externalWest Ham have held talks over a move for Gambia forward Adama Bojang, 21, from French side Reims and could land the player for £11m. (Mirror), external Bournemouth have agreed a deal to sign defender Adrien Truffert, 23, from Rennes, which will allow the Cherries' Hungary left-back Milos Kerkez, 21, to complete his move to Liverpool. (ESPN), external Wolves are facing a battle to keep their Portuguese manager Vitor Pereira, with Benfica looking at a move to take him to Lisbon. (Sun), external
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Robert MacIntyre has ‘100 per cent' belief he can win the US Open
Robert MacIntyre has '100 per cent' belief he can win the US Open after an impressive third round at Oakmont. MacIntyre described his opening round level-par 70 as one of the best of his life, but he bettered it just 48 hours later. The Scot, from Oman, put in a controlled performance to card a 69, to sit on three over, six shots behind leaders Sam Burns and JJ Spaun when they were midway through their third round. It might have been even better for MacIntyre as he had got down to one over after 12 holes but a spate of bogeys in the final six holes saw him drift back out. But he still believes he is in contention win a first major. Asked if he can win, he replied: 'One hundred per cent. I wouldn't be here if I didn't believe that, it's a simple answer, yes. 'I'm just delighted to be in it, going into tomorrow if I can shoot the number I know I can shoot then why can't it be me? 'I have been playing really well this year, another round to go, I have put three solid rounds together so far. 'Tomorrow I have got to go out there, give it my best, don't try and focus too much on trying to win, just go out there, hit the shots, then come 15, 16, see where are sitting and decide whether to roll the dice or not.' Heavy rain overnight and throughout the morning had made the brutal Oakmont course slightly more playable but it still presented its challenges. 'It was still difficult,' MacIntyre added. 'It is a little bit softer so when you're on the fairway it gives you more of an opportunity, but I think the rough is even thicker with the water. 'I felt there was a low number with the way I was playing, I was playing beautifully out there. 'The key to this golf course is just be on the fairway. It is the priority and then you can go from there.' Tyrrell Hatton was also presenting British interest as a spate of birdies propelled him up the leaderboard. The 33-year-old Englishman, who started on three over, went one under at the 10th, 11th and 12th to move up level par midway through the third round. It is as you were for world number one Scottie Scheffler, who carded an even-par 70. Scheffler maintained he was still in contention after Friday's second round but failed to make any ground on the leaders, his three birdies cancelled out by three bogeys.
