Scots’ French connection
tickets sales and distribution of briefs, a crowd or around 20,000 could be attracted to the national stadium – four times the record high for a women’s international in this country. “It’s been absolutely brilliant,” she said of the momentum that built through the qualifying campaign wherein she believes here team “captivated” the nation. “If we get that support, it’s well deserved.”
Kerr talks of creating a legacy to f u r t h e r t h e d e ve l o p me n t o f a s p o r t t h a t , i n t e r ms o f p r o - file and credibility, has been transformed in recent years.
They are operating at a leve l a wor l d [ c u p ] a p a r t f ro m t h e Ap r i l n i g h t i n 198 9 when she made her debut for the national team in a 3-0 defeat by England at Stark’s Park.
“I had to pay £50 to stay in a hotel in Edinburgh and I didn’t have the whole Scotland tracksuit to wear. I wore the top and someone else wore the bottoms. So you can imagine how I’m feeling today.” Scotland’s women will have a certain je ne sais quoi at next month’s World Cup thanks to one of the country’s most successful national bosses.
Shelley Kerr has received pointers from a number of major figures in the game about ensuring preparations are meticulous for the finals, including meeting with Northern Ireland manager Michael O’neill to hear of his experiences of leading his country in the Euro 2016 tournament in France.
However, a suggestion from Craig Brown, pictured, who led Scotland in France 98, demonstrated a unique eye for detail that served him so well across seven years in charge of the national team.
“Craig actually said ‘have you thought about getting the players to learn a bit of French because you will have to engage and it might get the locals onside?’ Kerr said.
“And do you know what, through sportscotland and their support, a lot of the players have done basic French lessons. The uptake from the players has been phenomenal. I think it is a good idea, if you can engage with the local community.
“There are so many little things that maybe I wouldn’t have thought of that have been really helpful.”
Sunday, 9 June, Allianz Riviera, Nice
Friday, 14 June, Roazhon Park, Rennes
Wednesday, 19 June, Parc des Princes, Paris