Craig Gordon has admitted he feared he would miss the World Cup after enduring a series of injury setbacks that threatened to derail his career.
The 43-year-old will be the oldest player at the 23rd edition of the mundial which kicks off on Thursday, but had his dreams almost ended at some point in his career.
Gordon will also become the second oldest player at a World Cup, as he hopes to play a key role for Scotland after they sealed qualification for the first time since 1998.
“Oh, without a doubt I thought this opportunity would pass me by on more than one occasion,” Gordon said.
“So to finally be here, to be part of something this big, to finally see it, it’s a huge moment for any player in their career.
“And especially for me. For the many years, I’ve been trying to get here, to finally be here on the edge of the tournament starting properly. It’s a fantastic feeling.
“It feels like it’s getting real now. The first few weeks have been preparation, everything’s been going really well. And now we’re finally here, we’re the last few days away from getting into the games for real now”, the former Celtic goalkeeper added.
Scotland will compete in group C of the tournament and have a massive chance to open their campaign with a win when they face Haiti in the early hours of Sunday.
“A key factor to that is the special bond the players have, plus the blend of experience and youth”, Gordon said about the squad.
“I think that’s been growing for the last few years. The squad, both on and off the pitch, has just been getting better and better.
“And for me to see these young guys coming through really shows what the future holds for the national team. So it’s great to see them coming in and know that the future is also going to be strong.
“It feels as if we’re strong now, but also these guys coming in and getting a taste of it at this early age is only going to stand them in good stead for their careers and their futures and the good of the national team as a whole”, he concluded.
Scotland will also face Brazil and Morocco at the World Cup, hoping to seal progress beyond the group stages.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
