SO SPAINFUL
Bridge Too Far for brave Scots as they bow out on goal difference in gaffer Signeul’s final game
SCOTLAND bowed out of the European Championships last night – shy of just one goal but never shorn of self-confidence.
Their final Group D clash against Spain was played at the home of Go Ahead Eagles in Deventer but really should have been switched to Arnhem.
It proved, as suspected, A Bridge Too Far for Anna Signeul’s squad in the Swede’s last game in charge but what a fist they made of it as they claimed their first ever win against the Spaniards.
Liverpool midfielder Caroline Weir scored just before half-time and, with England defeating Portugal 2-1, who knows what might have happened had Leanne Crichton’s volley from point blank-range in 50 minutes not flown inches over the bar?
The Scots needed to win by two to reach the last eight but their goal did lead a charmed life as keeper Gemma Fay, likely playing her last game for the team after 203 caps, made a string of fine stops.
The Tartan Army, who numbered around 1,500, cheered the Scots to the rafters on the final whistle.
However, it was another agonising exit for our national team at the group stages of elite-level competition.
But Signeul was proud of her side’s efforts and reckons they are now a shoo-in for the World Cup.
She said: “It was fantastic how we fought. They are such small margins.
“I am so proud of them because today we showed what we are about. It has united Scotland for girls and women’s football. It is a good time to leave as manager. Now they will qualify for the World Cup, I am sure about that.”
They may have suffered ignominy in the 6-0 defeat against the Auld Enemy in their first group game but the Scots restored their pride even if, once again, it was too little too late.
Mind you, the game was very nearly up for the Scots after just four minutes when Spanish skipper Marta Torrejon fired a free-kick straight at Fay, who let the set-piece squirm through her fingers and saw the ball bounce off the post.
The Scotland keeper made amends soon after when she held a long-range effort from Silvia Meseguer as the Spaniards dominated possession.
However, their neat play across the pitch came without penetration in key areas as the five Scottish midfielders closed space and the defence, well marshalled by Rachel Corsie and Iffy Dieke, held firm.
The flip side of the Spanish possession was the Scots failed to build decent phases of play and Erin Cuthbert was left too isolated as the solo striker.
Spain battered the Scotland goal as half-time approached and Corsie helped team-mate Fay our of jail with a goal-line clearance after the keeper had flapped at a deflected shot into the six-yard box.
However, Scotland’s most capped player made immediate amends with a brilliant stop, pushing away a header from Jennifer Hermoso.
She excelled moments later with a diving save, pushing a powerful header from Irene Paredes off an Alexia Putellas corner on to the base of her post.
However, Fay rode her luck when she rushed too far from goal and deliberately handled five minutes before the break, an offence Czech ref Jana Adamkova wrongly decided merited only a yellow.
The Scots took inspiration from their skipper when Leanne Crichton sent Cuthbert scampering through on goal.
Spanish keeper Sandra Panos read the danger as she rushed from goal but could only knock the ball into the path of Weir who took a touch and hit a left-foot shot through the legs of a defender and into the net.
The Spaniards were rattled and as England went 2-1 up against Portugal in Tilburg, Crichton blazed a great chance over the top from six yards.
As the second half progressed the Scots’ goal was being pummelled.
Striker Maria Faz knocked a header into the side net, glanced another wide and also screwed a shot wide when she should have hit the target. Meseguer hit the bar and Fay saved a Putellas header.
Sadly, though, the Scots couldn’t grab the vital second goal to progress.
Keeper Fay said: “Nobody gave us a chance. But we were inches off that one we needed. I am so proud of the girls.”