Craig Gordon dedicates Scotland World Cup spot to people who helped on dark days

Craig Gordon focused on the people who had helped him through the dark days as he savoured the fulfilment of his two-decade-long campaign to get Scotland back to the World Cup.

The Hearts goalkeeper made his Scotland debut in May 2004, six years after the country was last represented on the biggest stage.

He featured heavily in failed campaigns to get to the 2006 and 2010 tournaments and then had a four-year hiatus from international football as he battled a knee injury that looked highly likely to end his career.

After making a hugely successful comeback with Celtic, Gordon was then back at the heart of the 2018 and 2022 campaigns, playing in the play-off defeat by Ukraine for the latter.

Gordon’s Scotland career looked over again after he failed to make the Euro 24 squad but he was back as number one for the Nations League campaign.

There were further twists and turns as a neck injury potentially spelled the end of his career.

But he was back in goal for Saturday’s 3-2 defeat by Greece in his first game in six months, and made some more impressive saves in Tuesday’s 4-2 win over Denmark as he finally helped Scotland achieve their dream six weeks before his 43rd birthday.

“It’s so much,” the former Sunderland keeper said. “It’s everything that everybody’s worked for. All the staff, all the players, everybody that’s connected.

“We were up celebrating with our families. They go through a lot as well to put up with us being away from home, chasing this dream.

“I’ve chased it for 20-odd years and never managed to do it. Everybody that’s put up with that, all the downs and having to pick me back up, this is for everyone.

“What a night, what a night. I’m so fortunate to be out there, to enjoy that with the players.

“The stadium was incredible. That noise when we scored the fourth, everybody was in the corner, the players, staff, we didn’t even hear the full-time whistle, we were still celebrating the goal.

“What a feeling. I’ve been here for over 20 years trying to achieve this. It’s probably my last year to be able to finally get there, to say that we’re going to a World Cup, it’s incredible.

“To feel that, it almost makes it all worthwhile. All the heartache, all the difficult times we’ve had when we’ve got so close. All the injuries, all the hard work, all the comebacks to give it that one last shot to try and get to a World Cup.”

Gordon paid tribute to head coach Steve Clarke, whose words of encouragement were part of the reason why the goalkeeper extended his career into this season.

“He gave us a great speech at the hotel before we left, mentioned a few of the tougher times, and how we felt and what we’ve gone through together over the years that he’s been manager, mentioned some good times as well and the feelings of those,” Gordon said.

“Everybody that walked out of that hotel was ready to do whatever it took. We stayed calm even when it went to 2-2. We still felt we could get that one last chance. It was brilliant to be part of.”