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Scotland stopper Gordon 'desperate' to defeat Ukraine

3 minute read

Craig Gordon admits he ‘loves playing for Scotland’ - and feels the squad are in a ‘better frame of mind’ for upcoming games with Ukraine and Republic of Ireland.

Picture: AAP Image

Scotland take on Ukraine on Wednesday night and are lying second in the UEFA Nations League Group B1 after two comfortable wins over Armenia.

Hearts goalkeeper Gordon admits those victories have lifted the mood in the camp, which was at a low ebb after a defeat to Ukraine at Hampden ended their World Cup hopes.

The 39-year-old, who made his senior Scotland debut in 2004 and won his 70th cap against Armenia, says it is still a ‘huge honour’ to play for his country.

“I just love playing for Scotland,” said Gordon. “It’s the highest level that you can play at, really, and every time I am fortunate enough to go out and play for Scotland is a huge honour for me.

"It motivates me to keep playing well for Hearts and to be able to be involved in the national team. I don’t want to give my place up easily.

“I’ve fought so hard over the years with different goalkeepers to earn as many caps as I have and I want to keep going and get as many as I can. 

“As long as my body feels good and I’m still able to play, I will try and continue to play as long as I can.”

Ukraine enter the game as slight favourites after two wins and a draw in their opening three games, in which they have scored five goals and conceded just one.

Gordon, who is hoping to recover from a knee knock, feels Scotland are a different animal to the one Ukraine beat at Hampden - and their sights on securing top spot.

He added: “Hopefully we have got a lot more players who are in a better frame of mind, better condition, than we were at the end of last season.

“There were a lot of tired players trying to grind it out at a difficult stage of the season. A lot of players had played 50-60 games already leading up to that, and it’s impossible to keep going at the very highest level when you have to play that amount of games.

“There were a few players who had disappointing ends to the season and it was very difficult then to lift it to go again.

“However much mentally you want to do it, physically when you have played that amount of football, it is difficult to do.

“Hopefully we are in a better position now. We will be desperate to go out there and put that right and get ourselves to the top of the group.

“It’s a new season now, everyone has gone through pre-season and started their seasons so hopefully we are all in a good place and ready to give everything we have got to get the points we need.”