Craig Gordon urges teammates to treat Slovenia clash 'like a last chance'

Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon knows he could be facing his last chance to qualify for a major tournament - and has urged his team-mates to treat Sunday's clash in Slovenia the same way.

Gordon won his 50th cap in Scotland's 1-0 victory over Slovakia on Thursday, which pushed them into second spot in Group F of Europe's World Cup qualification process.

The Celtic goalkeeper feared he would never make it to the half-century when a knee injury threatened to end his career prematurely, but his spectacular comeback - as well as Scotland's in this campaign - has given him a chance to make it to the finals.

Belgium's 4-3 victory in Bosnia on Saturday ensured victory in Slovenia will seal a play-off spot, making the game as big an occasion for the Scots in 10 years since Gordon and his team-mates suffered a late blow against Italy at Hampden Park to end their Euro 2008 hopes.

“That was in the early part of my international career and I perhaps thought there might be many more opportunities to come at that stage,'' the former Hearts and Sunderland player said.

“But there hasn't been. And now at 34, nearly 35, it's something that might not come again. For me personally it's a big moment to try and grasp. Hopefully we can all play as if it is our last opportunity and go out there and try and grab it.”

Gordon, who has kept three consecutive clean sheets for his country, added: “We have got ourselves in it, it's not something we should burden ourselves with. It's great to be involved and to have this opportunity to be able to go out there and try and take it. That's what we have to concentrate on.

“We are in a good place and we want to keep that going. We're on a great run, the confidence is as high as it could possibly be, but we are up against a good team. We have to make sure we pay attention to that because they have dangerous players, ones that can hurt us."

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