Scots seeking to bounce back against Finns
SHORN of their leader and needing a victory to breathe life into their qualifying bid, there’s no doubt Scotland have their backs to the wall. But assistant manager Andy Thomson insists there’s no sense of panic in the women’s squad ahead of tonight’s European Championship Group E crunch match with Finland at Easter Road.
The 1-0 defeat to Portugal in Lisbon last Friday was their second loss in a row and, with three games remaining, Scotland are in third place with nine points, four behind the Finns and Portuguese.
As they bid to avenge a 1-0 loss to Finland in October, they will have to cope without the touchline presence of head coach Shelley Kerr, who is self-isolating following a Covid scare.
‘It is always part of a coaches job to lift players after disappointment, especially when this is a group that isn’t used to losing back-to-back games,’ said Thomson, who will again take charge in Kerr’s absence. ‘We have made sure the atmosphere has been positive and we haven’t got carried away. We are still a good team.
‘We have to defend better and when we get opportunities that is where we need to be more ruthless.’
Winger Claire Emslie is out because of injury but Christie Murray is available now after having to self-isolate. Veteran Jennifer Beattie, meanwhile, wants to keep Scotland’s fate in their own hands. ‘It would be disappointing (not to qualify ourselves) because of the quality we have,’ said 129-times capped Beattie.
‘Momentum is huge, so to come off the back of being at the last two major tournaments and not to qualify would be hugely disappointing. ‘It is a privilege to be in the position to know what it is to miss out and to know what it is like to qualify. We would be gutted if we didn’t make the Euros but that fuels the fire because we want this more than anything.’
● Scotland v Finland, 7.30pm at Easter Road. Live on BBC Alba.