Our girls are off to the World Cup finals
SCOTLAND’S women showed their male counterparts how it should be done by qualifying for next year’s World Cup in France — a feat our men’s team has failed to achieve for two decades.
It was never going to be straightforward — when is it ever for Scotland? — as Shelley Kerr’s side needed to better group rivals Switzerland’s result to guarantee qualification.
But goals from Kim Little and Jane Ross either side of Megi Doci’s equaliser meant the final whistle was greeted with Scottish celebrations as the Swiss had already been held to a 0-0 draw in Poland.
Kerr was understandably emotional in the aftermath as her players celebrated on the pitch in the wake of an exhausting double-header which saw them beat the Swiss in Paisley last Thursday and then conquer tired legs against Albania yesterday.
And she insisted that qualifying for next year’s World Cup finals for the first time proves Scottish women’s football is going from strength to strength.
‘It’s not often I’m lost for words but I’m really emotional,’ said Kerr. ‘The whole week has been draining for the players and the staff, but, in my heart of hearts, I genuinely believed that Poland would get something out the game against Switzerland and we’d beat Albania.
‘We’ve done it the hard way during the campaign but we’ve shown great maturity and determination to succeed.
‘There are so many people to praise such as the clubs who have got all the players physically prepared to be such a great condition.
‘These moments don’t come along too often, so I’m absolutely ecstatic and it’ll take a while for it to sink in that we’re off to our first World Cup.’
Scotland captain Rachel Corsie added: ‘At the final whistle, it was hard to know what to do. It was just an incredibly surreal feeling. The girls deserve it as there’s been so many key moments in this campaign that have shown what we’re about. ‘We need to enjoy that and we will because we deserve to. ‘We were extremely disappointed to lose the goal before half-time as it was extremely sloppy and unnecessary, putting us under a little bit of pressure but that’s typical Scotland.
‘We always felt comfortable in the game and we created more than enough chances to win it. We knew that second goal was coming and we believed that it would. We persevered and, once we got it, we controlled the game well.
‘This is by far the best moment in my career. The World Cup is the pinnacle of football and to have the opportunity to go over there and be on that stage with the best teams in the world is going to be incredibly special.
‘I’m so incredibly happy for every single one of the girls who have played their part.’