Rivalry helps in Scots game plan

CAPTAIN Gemma Fay insists an innate sporting hostility towards England has prepared Scotland perfectly for tonight’s highstakes clash in Utrecht.

The 200-cap goalkeeper laughed off the revelation that England Women had watched clips of Braveheart, the Hollywood interpretation of the life of Scottish knight William Wallace, as part of a history lesson in the build-up to both teams’ European Championship opener.

And t h e Pe r t h - b o r n 35-year-old said the Scots would be raring to get at Mark Sampson’s World Cup bronze medallists, admitting she has never played a bigger match.

Fay said: “I don’t think we need a history lesson in any sort of English culture. It’d be interesting to see their reaction to Mel G i b s o n ’s accent in Braveheart — it’s a bit dodgy.

“When you’re born i n Scotland, you’re born into the Scotland-England rivalry in sport.You all know about it, be it football, rugby or whatever.

“We know the rivalry, it’s one that excites us but it’s not going to overshadow what we’re here t o do, which is to go out and look to win this opening game at the Euro Championships.”

Fay, w h o m a d e h e r Scotland debut as a 16-year-old, added: “It’s the biggest game of my career, and probably t he most exciting as well.”

Scotland are making their first appearance at a major overseas finals, in what is Anna Signeul’s sign-off as head coach.

Gemma Fay is excited about tonight’s game.