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“I’ll Definitely Beat Him to That” – Craig Gordon Drops Bombshell on How He Plans to Outshine Luka Modric
Craig Gordon has boldly declared his intentions to outshine Real Madrid’s Luka Modric, promising, “I’ll definitely beat him to that” as he outlines his plans for achieving a major personal milestone.
The shirt with the number 75, presented to Craig Gordon during a special ceremony after Scotland’s match against Finland in May, has already been consigned to the past. With Gordon’s international career extending unexpectedly, the memento might soon be overshadowed by one commemorating his 80th cap.
Looking further ahead, the future remains uncertain. By the time World Cup qualifiers begin, Gordon will be 42, surpassing the likes of Pat Jennings and Dino Zoff, who both retired from international football at 41. Jim Leighton, Scotland’s record-capped goalkeeper, retired at 40, though by then he had amassed 91 caps. Gordon’s ultimate tally remains unknown, particularly as his current contract with Hearts expires in the summer, potentially leaving him without a club.
Despite the possibility of breaking Leighton’s Scotland goalkeeper record, Gordon remains pragmatic. “That still seems a long way away right now,” he says. “I’ll focus on the next set of matches, try to get through those, and then think about the next opportunity in March. At this stage of my career, I prefer to focus on short-term goals and playing well.”
This focus on the present is no surprise, given Gordon’s unexpected return to the international fold. He had expected to be watching from home, but after an injury to Angus Gunn, he was called back into action, setting a new record as Scotland’s oldest-ever international player during the 2-1 defeat to Croatia.
Even Croatian star Luka Modric, who became Real Madrid’s oldest-ever player at 39, was impressed. Modric, who first faced Gordon when they played for Spurs and Sunderland, jokingly admitted, “That was the first time in five attempts he managed to beat me, so he eventually got me!” Gordon appreciated the compliment and quipped, “Hopefully, this week I’ll beat him to being the oldest player on the pitch.”
Gordon is set to earn his 78th cap tomorrow night against Croatia, moving into the top five of Scotland’s all-time capped players. A 79th cap is likely to follow against Poland three days later, marking another milestone in a career that began with his international debut in 2004. Tomorrow will mark the third time Gordon faces Croatia, with fond memories of his first encounter in 2008, a 1-1 draw during his 30th cap.
Reflecting on his early days, Gordon recalls, “I remember Kenny Miller scored for us. I think Niko Kranjcar opened the scoring for them with a squiggly shot. I had a decent game and made a few saves.”
When the time does come for Gordon to bid farewell to international football, he hopes for a more fitting send-off than his emotional appearance against Finland in May. At that match, Gordon had been informed by manager Steve Clarke that he would not be part of Scotland’s Euro 2024 squad, but agreed to a cameo appearance in a final warm-up match. Emotions ran high as he replaced Gunn in the 70th minute, only to see Scotland squander a 2-0 lead and draw 2-2.
It wasn’t the ending anyone envisioned, but fortunately, Gordon’s story isn’t over. In fact, just last month, he recorded his 32nd international clean sheet in a goalless draw against Portugal, which included a performance against Cristiano Ronaldo.
As for the shirt commemorating his 75th cap, Gordon still keeps it. “75 is a significant number,” he says. “You get medals for 25 and 50 caps. I’m not sure if there’s one for 75, but it’s a big milestone. At the time, I thought that might be my last cap, so I’m grateful for how things have worked out.”
Given Scotland’s limited goalkeeper options, Gordon has resisted retiring from international duty, offering his experience and presence whenever needed. He also spoke about club and international teammate Lawrence Shankland, who has struggled with his form this season. Shankland has scored just once, against Ross County in September, a goal Gordon helped set up by causing confusion during a late corner when Hearts were trailing.
“I’ve seen how great he can be, day in, day out,” Gordon says. “I just hope he remembers how good he is. When he’s confident, everything he touches turns to goals. He’s a fantastic player, and I’m sure he’ll get back to scoring. I did my part by going up for that corner—consider that an assist!”
