Craig Gordon hopes Serie A stars can fire Scots to World Cup

The National

2 days ago

The veteran keeper, who has cited Italian legend Gigi Buffon as an inspiration as he continues to perform at the top level into his forties, had one or two chances to go abroad during his career that never quite materialised.
He is certain that had those opportunities amounted to anything, he would have benefitted from the chance to play in a different league, and he is equally certain that what the likes of Scott McTominay, Billy Gilmour, Lewis Ferguson and Che Adams have been exposed to in Italian football will have improved them as players.
'Absolutely,' Gordon said.
'It's a different experience. It's a different style of football. That can only add to the experience of the squad as a whole and help everybody else. It's definitely going to help.
(Image: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire) 'Different managers, different style of play. All these little things. We want to have as much knowledge of that as possible within our team. It's only going to get better for us.
'When you see some of the reports and also the stats that Scotty has put in, the goals that he's scored to help them win the league, it was a tremendous achievement.
'It's brilliant to have them playing at such a high level and going into the Champions League. It's fantastic for the boys to be there to get that.
'I think everybody in the whole squad has been rooting for them.'
A curious thing about goalkeepers, given that they are all vying for the one position, is that they tend to also root for one another even when they are in direct competition for the gloves, and such is the case with Gordon and Angus Gunn.
Gunn, who was released by Norwich City at the end of the season, will join up with the Scotland squad for the forthcoming friendlies against Iceland and Liechtenstein while Gordon will not. But the Hearts number one is hoping Gunn can put himself in the shop window with a couple of impressive displays for his country.
'I'm sure a goalkeeper of his quality will get picked up,' he said.
'There will definitely be teams after a goalie of that type, without a doubt. I'm sure he'll get a club, no problem.
'It's up to all the goalies around the national team to get games. It's been difficult for a few this season to get the number of games at club level to force their way into Scotland reckoning.
'But next season it all changes and there will be a few guys moving club. And every situation changes at every club. So, it's starting afresh and having to work for that all over again.
'Absolutely, he will be [challenging to be Scotland number one]. I have absolutely no doubt that he will be.'
Gordon now has 81 caps for Scotland, keeping 34 clean sheets along the way, but his desire to keep going is not driven by a want to see himself climbing the all-time appearance list, but a desire to appear at a World Cup in a Scotland jersey.
'Yes, I'm still going,' he said.
'I want to play as well as I can for as long as I can, however long that may be.
'I'm in the top five [for appearances] now. There's a few just below me that I think will probably catch me one day. But certainly, for me, it's not all about the numbers. It's about still playing well and helping the team. If I'm not doing that, then I don't want to be just chasing numbers.
(Image: SNS Group / SFA) 'We're going into the qualifying campaign, and from start to finish, you have three months, and you know if you're going to the World Cup or playoffs, or wherever you may be after that.
'September, October, November, two games in each. At the end of that you could know whether you're going to the World Cup or not. It's coming all over in the space of six months, and that includes the warm-up to it.
'The last game [against Greece] was disappointing. After a very good result and a good performance away, we didn't hit those heights back at Hampden. It's something that we want to get together, address, and try and not let that happen again.'
*Craig Gordon was speaking at a launch event for Scotland Supporters Club (SSC) members for the new JD Buchanan Street Store, which is now open.