Scotland v Belarus 2026 FIFA World Cup, WM, Weltmeisterschaft, Fussball Qualifier 12/10/2025. Group C Andy Robertson 3 - Scotland during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between Scotland and Belarus at Hampden Park, Glasgow, United Kingdom on 12 October 2025. Editorial use only , Copyright: xRaymondxDaviesx PSI-23024-0049
Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon has admitted the heartbreak of missing out on the Scottish Premiership title last month will stay with him permanently.
The 43-year-old veteran stopper is currently in Charlotte with Steve Clarke’s squad ahead of Scotland’s Group C opener against Haiti this weekend.
Gordon caused controversy last week when he took to social media to describe Celtic’s title triumph as an “injustice,” drawing fierce anger from fans of his former club.
Speaking from Scotland’s World Cup base camp, Gordon stood firmly behind his comments and reiterated the depth of his frustration over the final league standings.
He said: “I don’t think you ever will (get over it). It’s time to look to the World Cup now and those things will remain in the past. There’s nothing anyone can do about it.”
Gordon acknowledged that footballers must push through personal disappointment, while making clear his feelings about the title race would not simply fade away with time.
He added: “The feelings that everyone has are their own feelings. I’ll have them forever but it happens in football, you have to move on.”
The veteran keeper has defied considerable odds just to be present at the tournament, having battled back from injury to earn his place in Clarke’s squad as its oldest member.
Gordon cited Scotland’s qualification campaign, including a significant match against Denmark, as a major motivating factor in his determination to recover and make the trip to the United States.
He said: “I’ve made a few comebacks in my career and this was another one I wanted to make. I wanted to do everything I could to make it here, especially after the night against Denmark and the feelings everyone had.”
Gordon is competing directly with Angus Gunn for the starting goalkeeper position, with Gunn having been given the number one shirt ahead of the tournament’s opening fixtures.
Despite that signal, Gordon insists no definitive decision has been made and that he remains fully focused on pressing his case through training performances over the coming days.
He said: “There’s been no indication whatsoever (about who starts in goal). I’ll train as well as I possibly can over the next few days and see who the manager picks.”
Gordon has also been quick to praise Hearts and Scotland teammate Lawrence Shankland, who recently secured a high-profile move to Rangers before departing for the World Cup.
He described Shankland as a genuinely complete forward whose game has evolved well beyond pure goalscoring since first arriving at Tynecastle.
Gordon said: “He’s no longer just a goalscorer, he links the game really well and he brings other players into play a lot more now than he probably did at the start of his career.”
The experienced keeper believes Shankland’s growing leadership qualities, particularly since being handed the captaincy, have made him an increasingly influential figure both at club and international level.
He concluded: “He’s quite a complete forward now in terms of what he can bring to a team. He’s in great form just now and hopefully he can continue that through the World Cup.”
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