We’ve got world at our feet
PEDRO MARTINEZ LOSA is confident Scotland can negotiate a complex World Cup play-off route to qualify for next summer’s Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Ukraine beat Hungary on Tuesday and, in the process, secured Scotland’s play-off spot.
However, it is not a straightforward journey.
Scotland will be one of nine European teams in the play-off stage in October.
The three best runners up go straight into round two to await the winners of three single-leg ties.
The two best winners of those finals, based on combined records in the groups and play-offs, directly qualify while the other side enter an inter-continental play-off next February.
Scotland currently sit fifth behind Belgium, Switzerland, Iceland and Austria of the nine sides second in their groups.
Coach Martinez Losa said: “We were very happy, excited and feeling that, yeah, we can do it.
“We are just three games away potentially from playing at a World Cup.
“That is amazing. We did it before so we can do it again three more times.
“This team, I have said from the first day that they will only get better. Over the last eight, nine months, the players have bought into what we want to do.
“Hopefully we can keep the energy and momentum to keep going. We hope all of the fans believe in us too.”
Logistically, a play-off final in Australia would be difficult for Scotland but Martinez Losa said: “It will be a fantastic challenge. If it is the only opportunity we have left I would still hope it falls into our hands.
“We will go to Australia and make sure we qualify.”