Hostile warning to Scotland’s women
SCOTLAND Women’s national team coach Pedro Martinez Losa admits he is expecting a “hostile environment” as they begin their Euro 2025 qualifying campaign tonight.
The Dark Blues set out on the road to Switzerland with a trip to the Dubocica Stadium in Leskovac to face Serbia.
Israel and Slovakia are also in Scotland’s group as they bid to reach their first major tournament since 2019.
However, Martinez Losa knows they have been handed a challenging opener.
“Serbia is a very difficult opponent,” he said. “We expect a hostile environment. We are preparing for that.
“We have improved a lot. We want to be more clinical in the final third. Now is the moment for competition.
“We want to get the results so we want to use the experience and the best situation of every single player to make sure we can provide the best performance, the best situation for the players to come in.”
In terms of team news, Scotland are missing Christy Grimshaw and Hayley Lauder who both drop out through injury.
Christie Harrison-Murray and Brogan Hay return to the group along with Kirsty Smith and Sarah Ewens but Martha Thomas and Kirsty Hanson are also sidelined for this camp.
Meanwhile, England coach Sarina Wiegman believes Leah Williamson is ready to make her long-awaited return in tonight’s qualifier against Sweden which is taking place at Wembley.
Williamson trained on her own on Tuesday after coming off at half-time of Arsenal’s Conti Cup final win over Chelsea on Sunday.
However, she trained with the group on Wednesday and, if she makes it through a session unscathed, she will be in contention to make her first Lionesses appearance in 12 months.
She has not featured for her country since suffering an ACL injury last April, having pulled out of a training squad in March with a hamstring strain.
“We need to manage it a little bit. She had a full training session on Wednesday, she will be on the pitch today, so that looks really good,” Wiegman said.
“We know where she has come from, she is still building but she is in a good place and she is ready, if she comes through today okay.
“It’s just really good that she is back, first of all for herself because she is so excited to come back, that means she is fit, it is good to have a quality player in the squad.
“We are in a good place already and now we are in an even better place.”