Scotland join the top table

Scotland’s women will be among the top-seeded nations when the draw for the 2021 European Championship qualifying campaign takes place early next year.

Shelley Kerr’s side are now ranked ninth in Europe as per the Uefa Coefficients Overview, which will be used to determine the draw. There will be nine qualification groups, meaning the Scots will avoid higher-ranked countries like France, the Netherlands and Spain.

Scotland are hoping to reach a third consecutive major tournament, having reached Euro 2017 and qualified for the 2019 Women’s World Cup. England, who top the Uefa rankings, are likely to qualify automatically as hosts.