Kerr delighted to have Sturgeon on board as funding helps bolster squad

ball do esn’t go in the net by chance,” said Kerr, who has been out to France to double check hotel and training facilities ahead of the team’s departure.

“Sometimes things go your way and sometimes they don’t but I’ve said repeatedly, in my experience as a player and a manager ver y rarely do you not come away with what you deserve.

“So the luck thing? No, I am c o mf o r t a b l e w i t h t h e Fi r s t Minister being our patron and coming to that game.

“She takes an active role, she spends a lot of time making sure she is up to speed with things.”

But while the leader may be something of a jinx as a fan, Kerr b elieves that the extra finances awarded to the Scotland women’s national team in the wake of topping their qualifying group and securing their place in this summer’s finals, means that the squad will travel to France in the best possible shape.

T h e a d d i t i o n a l f u n d i n g , announced in September, has allowed the players not currently on professional con - tracts to train full-time from Januar y through to the tournament in June.

“She is the first to speak posi t ive l y i f we h ave a p o s i t ive result and the suppor t from the Scottish Government has been great as well,” added Kerr.

“S o s h e’s a h u g e a dvo c a t e o f wh a t we a r e d o i n g w i t h the women’s game and without her support we wouldn’t have been able to prepare the home-based players as well as we have.”

A f t e r S c o t l a n d ’s o p e n i n g match against England, Kerr’s side will face fur ther Group D fi xt u res against Japan in Rennes on 14 June and Argentina at the Parc des Princes in Paris five days later.

T h e S c o t s’ f i n a l wa r m- u p match before the World Cup is against Jamaica at Hamp - den Park on 28 May.