Gordon eyes finals to keep up appearances

NOBODY in the present Scotland squad requires any other incentive for victory over Norway tomorrow than the prospect of reaching the World Cup finals for the first time in 12 years. But there are one or two for whom qualifying for major championships may be crucial to establishing individual records.

At 25, Craig Gordon is expected to win his 35th cap at Hampden and the big Sunderland goalkeeper is entitled to nourish the hope of one day surpassing Jim Leighton's mark of 91 appearances, or even the hallowed 102 of Kenny Dalglish, the only Scot in history to have reached the century. James McFadden (aged 25 and 40 caps) and Darren Fletcher (24-39) are others with genuine pretensions to the distinction, but the universally recognised truth that goalkeepers enjoy greater longevity and are less at risk to injury than outfield players – England's and Italy's record holders, for example, are Peter Shilton and Dino Zoff – would seem to give Gordon a potentially telling advantage.

The former Hearts goalkeeper is aware of the possibilities, but highlighted the difference between the current barrenness and Leighton's productive time, when the latter participated in three World Cups between 1986 and 1988.

"When you look at it, you can see there is a chance for some of us to win a lot of caps," he said. "Some of us already have between 30 and 40, and could quite conceivably go on for another six or eight years. Hopefully, as a goalkeeper, I could go on for even longer. But it's impossible to say how many any of us could get, there are so many factors involved.

"You would certainly have to be very lucky and I think you would also probably have to get to the finals of major championships if you were to get anywhere near to 100. All the preparation matches and the tournament itself would push the caps on. Jim Leighton has 91 caps but I'm only just over a third of the way there. There's a long way to go. Jim's total came at a time when Scotland were qualifying regularly for tournament finals, and you have to remember that Andy Goram got 43 during the same period.

"So, apart from fitness, form and opportunity, there is the competition to consider. And, over the years, there will certainly be competition. But what we need to do is get back to qualifying for the big championships if any of us are to get anywhere near the number of caps we're talking about."

Whether or not Gordon or any of the other contenders go on to set records, he is aware of the benefit to Scotland of having so many players with so much experience at such a relatively early age.

"International teams keep evolving," he said, "with different players showing form in different seasons and pushing their way in. There are also young players, like Steven Fletcher, coming through from the under-21 team. Although some of us are pretty young ourselves, we already have enough experience to be a help to the newer lads. Generally speaking, though, I think there is more experience in the squad now and playing in different environments against various styles of opponents can only improve us. The priority right now, of course, is to beat Norway. If we can do that, I'm sure it will give the Norwegians a lot to do to get back into contention in the group.

"It sounds easy when you say it, but it will be harder to go out and do. And, even if they do lose, they're not the type to throw in the towel. I feel the group is pretty open, even if most people expect Holland to win it. But we certainly haven't given up hope of winning it. We have still to play them twice and, if we can get ourselves into second place, we can perhaps put some pressure on them.

"Holland had a good result when they won in Macedonia, but, like us, they found it tough. It was a difficult few days for us after losing that opening match, but we showed the character that exists in the squad by coming back to beat Iceland in Reykjavik."

Clearly, the frustration of the failure to reach championship finals in the ten years since France 98 was deepened by the promising, but ultimately futile run in the qualifying series for Euro 2008. There is in Gordon a sense that South Africa 2010 may be more attainable.

"Any time is a good time to reach the finals," he said. "But we were so close the last time that we want desperately to go the extra yard and actually get there. The thing is, this could prove to be the last chance for any of us, even at a young age, to reach one of these championships. In this game, you simply never know."

FACT BOX

• In 79 years, Scotland have faced Norway 15 times and lost only twice. Both sides share 50 goals between them.

• In the Fifa rankings Scotland are 26th and Norway are 39th.

• The last time the two sides met, Scotland were ranked 62nd and Norway 38th.

• Norway haven't lost in Glasgow in 30 years in five visits.

• Scotland's thrashed Norway 6-1 in 1963 with Denis Law scoring four and David Mackay two.

• Darren Fletcher made his competitive debut for Scotland at Hampden against Norway in the 1-0 defeat in 2004.