The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)

Scotland women hit for six at Euros:

Euro 2017: Veteran keeper Fay calls on Scots to retain focus for Portugal clash

- John skilbeck

ENGLAND 6 SCOTLAND 0

Arsenal’s Jodie Taylor fired a hat-trick as England’s Lionesses roared to victory over Scotland in Utrecht.

However, Scotland captain and goalkeeper Gemma Fay said her team would not let the result get them down ahead of their second Group D game against Portugal.

Fay said: “We’re not hiding anything tonight. England are one of the best teams in the world and they proved that.

“This is a tight-knit group and we’ve had our ups and downs over the past year preparing for this tournament, so we’re used to having to regroup and it won’t get us down.

“We’re proud every time we put this jersey on and we’ll stand up and be counted in the next game.”

The World Cup bronze medallists made the perfect start to their quest to become European champions for the first time, inflicting a 6-0 defeat on outclassed opponents.

Taylor played the starring role, with Ellen White, Jordan Nobbs and Toni Duggan also getting in on the scoring act.

England striker Jodie Taylor said she felt “pretty cool” after her historymak­ing hat-trick got her side’s Women’s European Championsh­ip campaign up and running in style and Utrecht.

Taylor’s exploits in the 6-0 win over Scotland made her the first England woman to score a hat-trick in a major internatio­nal tournament – and the first England player since Gary Lineker in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.

Taylor said: “It’s pretty cool and it’s quite special – I wasn’t aware that it was the first hat-trick in a major competitio­n.

“It was a tough start for us, it was a bit shaky in the first 15 or 20 minutes so it was nice to get a couple of early goals on the board.”

Ellen White, Jordan Nobbs and Toni Duggan completed the scoring for England who will look to maintain their momentum in their next Group D clash with Spain.

Taylor added: “Spain have had a really good six months, they did really well in the Cyprus Cup earlier this year so they’re coming into the tournament guns blazing, so it should be a really good match-up.”

England: Bardsley, Bronze, Houghton, Bright, Stokes, Scott, Moore, Nobbs, Kirby (Parris 64), White (Carney 74), Taylor (Duggan 59).

Scotland: Fay, Frankie Brown, Dieke, Barsley, Arthur, Corsie (Love 76), Evans, Crichton, Weir, Fiona Brown (Clelland 46), Ross (Cuthbert 63).

Referee: Esther Staubli (Switzerlan­d)

 ?? Pictures: Getty/PA. ?? England’s Steph Houghton clears the ball during a Scotland attack.
Pictures: Getty/PA. England’s Steph Houghton clears the ball during a Scotland attack.
 ??  ?? Scotland captain Gemma Fay is looking to the next game.
Scotland captain Gemma Fay is looking to the next game.

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