The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Gordon feels criticism of Scotland boss is harsh
Keeper admits defeats by Euro 2016 finalists could have been worse
Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon thinks the Tartan Army should not rush to criticise Gordon Strachan – because the defeats to Italy and France could have been worse.
The Scotland faithful have reacted with dismay after the national side were brushed aside by the Euro 2016 hopefuls in last week’s dispiriting double-header.
The Italians claimed a 1-0 win in Malta while tournament hosts France warmed up for the finals, which kick-off on Friday, with a comfortable 3-0 victory in Metz on Saturday.
The Scots were using the friendly clashes as part of their preparations for the World Cup qualifiers, which start in September, but there was more than a hint of end-of-season malaise about both their performances.
Strachan’s side failed to register a single shot on target against Antonio Conte’s Azzurri in the first match, while there was little threat in the two they mustered against the French.
Celtic stopper Gordon was not part of Strachan’s squad after being rested ahead of the Hoops’ Champions League qualifiers next month, but he was just as disappointed as his team-mates who toiled in their final outings at the end of a long season.
However, the 33-year-old insists the Dark Blues were always going to be facing a tough prospect against two teams bidding to peak in time for the Euros.
The 44-cap keeper, speaking as he was unveiled as an ambassador for the 2017 World Badminton Championships, which are to be staged at Glasgow’s Emirates Arena, said: “It’s always going to be difficult when you come up against sides preparing for big Championships when we’re not.
“But the games probably didn’t go as we’d have looked for them to.
“Obviously not being in the squad, I don’t know what was going on but from a results point of view we’d have liked to have done a lot better in the games.
“But at that time of the season that can happen.”
Asked if the criticism hurled Strachan’s way by some supporters was fair, Gordon, who should be back in the squad when they open their Russia 2018 campaign away to Malta on September 4, replied: “With the calibre of opposition we were playing the potential was there for that to happen.
“Actually the potential was there for worse than that. “It’s difficult to be too critical. “I think once the games get started in September we have to be ready and focused for that and these last two games won’t really give too much of an inkling to what will happen there.
“We just regroup, we get back together and go again for the start of the next qualifying campaign.”