Gordon relishing Oranje challenge

Craig Gordon says Scotland will give it ‘everything we’ve got’ in Wednesday’s must win World Cup qualifier against Netherlands.

George Burley’s side go into the game on a high after beating Macedonia 2-0 on Saturday to move into second place in Group 9.

Scotland keeper Gordon cannot wait for the game against the runaway group winners and says everyone will be up for the challenge.

He said: “It’s set up for an amazing night on Wednesday and we will give it everything we’ve got.

“Who knows what will happen? It’s a one-off game, it’s our cup final to try to get to the play-offs and anything can happen in football.

“They’ve got nothing to play for now and we’ve got everything to play for. It will be a great atmosphere and everybody will be right up for the game. We will give it our best shot.”

But Scotland will be without the suspended James McFadden for the game after the striker picked up a yellow card against the Macedonians.

Gordon added: “It’s obviously a big loss for us but we said at the start of the week that it was going to be a squad game and that everybody was going to have to be behind each other.

“It just means that somebody else will come in now and get an opportunity. We would love to have him available but Scotland never do it the easy way and it’s par for the course.

“We move on and the rest of the boys stick together. I’m sure James will be behind us and we look forward to the game.”

The Sunderland goalkeeper believes the atmosphere on Wednesday is set to match the visit of Italy when Alex McLeish’s Scotland side narrowly failed to qualify for Euro 2008.

“I think it will be pretty close to that,” said Gordon.

“It will be a great night and the crowd is looking forward to it now. We will rest and recover from this game and the fans, coaches and players will all be looking forward to it.”

Gordon is desperate for the win against the Dutch, adding: “It’s for the whole nation, it’s for everybody.

“Everybody is desperate to get to a World Cup and the players are desperate to test themselves at that level.

“It’s the pinnacle of anybody’s career to go to a World Cup and we are desperate to get there.”