Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon vows to continue Scotland career and looks ahead to 2024 and 2026

The 39-year-old goalkeeper insists he hasn’t had any thoughts about retiring from international football and is already setting his sights on qualifying for Euro 2024.

Gordon’s outstanding performance against Ukraine on Wednesday was his 67th appearance for Scotland, taking him level with Christian Dailly as the ninth most-capped player and just two shy of David Weir and Kenny Millar in joint seventh. But his Hampden heroics were not enough to keep the nation’s World Cup 2022 dreams alive.

Although the end of a qualifying campaign often prompts older players to consider their international futures, Gordon has no intention of hanging up his Scotland gloves any time soon.

“It wasn’t in my thinking at all,” he said. “You’ll need to ask the manager if he wants to continue picking me. I’ll just keep playing and see what happens.”

Gordon will be 43 when the 2026 World Cup is held in Mexico, Canada and the United States, which means his last chance of playing on that stage has probably now gone. But the Hearts No1 is not ruling it out yet. “Who knows,” he replied. “You never know. We’ll see.”

For now, the goalkeeper’s focus is firmly on Scotland’s three Nations League Group B1 matches over the next ten days against Armenia, home and away, and the Republic of Ireland in Dublin.

One of the few players to emerge with credit against Ukraine, Gordon knows Scotland must play better against potentially awkward opponents.

“They are all going to be close matches and difficult ones,” he added. “We need to play well. If we play well we always fancy our chances. If we have an off day we know we can get beat.”

Winning the group would mean both promotion to League A and a play-off place should Steve Clarke’s team fail to qualify for Euro