GLASGOW, Scotland (AP) — Scotland’s 43-year-old goalkeeper Craig Gordon will play in the World Cup alongside teammates who were not yet born when he made his international debut in 2004.
Scotland manager Steve Clark announced his 26-man squad for the country’s first World Cup in 28 years on Tuesday, with Gordon one of three goalkeepers who have played just four league games for the club all season.
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If Gordon takes the field in North America, he will become the second-oldest player in the World Cup’s 96-year history. Egypt goalkeeper Essam El Hadary was just 45 years old when he entered the 2018 World Cup.
Gordon played three games for Heart of Midlothian in January, with the long-time Scottish Premiership leaders beaten by Celtic on Saturday but has been dealing with a shoulder injury. Two other goalkeepers, likely Nottingham Forest’s first-choice Angus Gunn and Rangers’ Liam Kelly, are also largely out of favor at their clubs.
Clark has two options on the wings in 20-year-old Ben Gannon-Doak from Bournemouth and 19-year-old Findlay Curtis, who has impressed at Kilmarnock on loan from Rangers in recent months.
Hearts captain Laurence Shankland has also been selected and will lead Scotland’s attack in their World Cup opener against Haiti in Boston on June 14.
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Scotland will also face Morocco in Boston and Brazil in Miami on June 24.
Napoli’s Scott McTominay leads a strong group of midfielders playing for the Italian club, but Clark did not include Udinese’s Lennon Miller, who was an expected pick.
The centre-backs include Wanderers’ John Souttar, whose brother Harry Souttar will make his second consecutive World Cup appearance for Australia.
The team is captained by veteran Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson, who will leave Anfield at the end of the season.
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Scottish quartet:
Goalkeepers: Angus Gunn (Nottingham Forest), Craig Gordon (Heart of Midlothian), Liam Kelly (Rangers).
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Defenders: Aaron Hickey (Brentford), Nathan Paterson (Everton), Andy Robertson (Liverpool), Kieran Tierney (Celtic), Grant Hanley (Hibernian), Jack Hendry (Etifaq), John Souttar (Rangers), Scott McKenna (Dinamo Zagreb), Dom Heim (Wrexham), Anthony Ralston (Celtic).
Midfielder: Scott McTominay (Napoli), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Billy Gilmour (Napoli), Ryan Christie (Bournemouth), Lewis Ferguson (Bologna), Kenny McLean (Norwich City), Ben Gannon-Dock (Bournemouth), Findlay Curtis (Rangers).
Forwards: Lawrence Shankland (Heart of Midlothian), Lyndon Dykes (Charlton), Che Adams (Torino), George Hurst (Ipswich), Ross Stewart (Southampton).
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AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup