OTHER SPORT

CRAIG'S SCOT A MEAN MACHINE

Craig Gordon celebrates

Friday September 14,2007

By Iain Macfarlane

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Hero keeper Craig Gordon reckons Scotland have now become a lean, mean football machine.

And his only regret from a glorious Group B campaign so far is that he didn’t have a quid on Scotland completing a dream home and away double over France!

Gordon was once again as cool as a cucumber during the fraught climax to Wednesday’s thrilling 1-0 win over France.

And while James McFadden grabbed all the immediate headlines with his sensational winner, the springboard for victory was created by the defence.

We're becoming mean in defence and that's a great platform for you in international football

Craig Gordon

With Gordon showing nerves of steel and displaying impeccable handling under pressure and the central defensive duo of Davie Weir and Stephen McManus unflappable, Scotland were able to claim a precious clean sheet.

Since conceding two goals to world champs Italy in Bari in March, Scotland have kept clean sheets against Austria, the Faroes and France on the road and at Pittdorie against South Africa.

He said: “Our good defensive record continues.

“We lost a goal from a penalty against Lithuania but that's the only one Scotland have lost in five games now stretching back to Italy in Bari.

“We're becoming mean in defence and that's a great platform for you in international football.

“And with the quality we have in the team further forward then we are always capable of nicking one.

“We've big guys in there who love to head the ball and they did that all night in the Parc des Princes.

“It is great for me to have the likes of David Weir and Stephen McManus in front of me.

“Those two, and others, were willing to put their bodies on the line to block shots or attempted crosses - that is all vital in a clean sheet.”