Gratitude no good to Cuthbert in Helsinki

Erin CuthbErt has much to thank Anna Signeul for but she won’t be extending any gratitude to her former international manager in helsinki this evening. Shelley Kerr’s side face Group E leaders Finland aware that a win would enable them to leapfrog the hosts, who are currently just one point ahead of Scotland having played a game more. Former Scotland manager Signeul is in charge of the Finns and any appreciation Cuthbert has for the manager who first called her into the international side is tempered by the desire for the points that could go a long way to opening the door to a third successive major tournament. ‘Anna gave me my first chance at international football, so of course i am grateful,’ said the striker. ‘i have a lot of respect for Anna, who also took us to out first major tournament but all that respect stops before the whistle. ‘it is just another team and another team we have to beat and it doesn’t matter who the opposition players are or who the manager is. ‘We have an advantage in that we might know how Anna will set them up and what their game plan is going to be but, equally, she knows all of us as players so we might have to think of doing something tonight.’ Scotland have lost just one goal since their frustrating World Cup campaign in France 18 months ago and could make history tonight if they make it eight games without defeat. there have been 16 goals scored so far in the three European Championship qualifiers played — an 8-0 win over Cyprus accounts for half that tally — with Kerr appreciative of the defensive solidity that she believes has been added. ‘in previous campaigns we have given away cheap goals and the players have taken that on board,’ she said. ‘Every team has players who can hurt you but we really have focused on transitional moments in games and so far we have done exceptionally well. We expect a well organised team with good players but we have a common goal; to top the group and get to another finals. ‘When you play a double header you have to get the three points from the first one and then go forward. ‘We have no injuries, so it’s a fully fit squad.’