Cuthbert: We have to trust VAR system
● Striker proud that she gave the nation something to cheer and is eager for more
Scotland forward Erin Cuthbert says teams have to trust in the VAR system after the penalty which set England on their way to a 2-1 World Cup win over Scotland in Nice.
England’ s opening goal came from the spot after a contentious hand ball, missed by the referee but picked up by VAR officials.
Cu th bert said :“I’ m 40 yards away from the decision so I can’t see why it was made – but it was looked over by so many people in the VAR room. You’ve got to trust the decision they make is correct.”
Scotland’ s second game in Group D is against Japan in Rennes on Friday and Cu th bert says the team must be able to deal with such setbacks.
The 20- year-oldCh elsea star added: “We have to cope with adversity because there are going to be hard moments in games. That’s what we have to take into the Japan game on Friday – and possess the ball better.”
Despite the defeat, Cuthbert, the youngest member of the Scotland squad, was thrilled by the occasion. She said: “It was absolutely incredible to walk out for your country for the first time at a World Cup. It’s everything I dreamed of as a little girl and I was quite emotional at the national anthem.”
The feeling of history has yet to sink in for Claire Emslie after scoring Scotland’s first goal in a women’s World Cup.
The for ward struck in the second half of her side’s opening match against England on their World Cup debut, as Shelley Kerr’s charges threatened to upset the auld enemy in Nice.
Getting a result proved narrowly out of reach in the 2-1 Group D defeat but nothing could stop Emslie from revelling in her moment in the sun – with plenty of Scottish support for company as she latched onto a clever Lisa Evans pass.
“It hasn’t sunk in yet. All I ever wanted from when I was a little kid was to play football for my country, so just being at a World Cup is a dream, let alone scoring the first ever goal,” said the 25-year-old.
“When the ball went in I don’t even think I celebrated, I just tried to grab the ball to try to see if we could score another one and try to get a result. I can’t believe it right now, but hopefully there will be many more to add from the team in the future.
“It was brilliant to hear the echo from the fans coming back to us – seeing so many of them come out in their kilts and their Scotland shirts with their flags was magic.
“It is amazing that we have been able to inspire the nation to come out here and give them something to celebrate and the support from the fans has been top class.”
Emslie’s former Manchester City team-mate Nikita Parris opened the scoring in France, tucking home a penalty awarded by the video assistant referee for a handball in the penalty area.
Scotland struggled to come to terms with the set back and were two down before the break, Ellen White doubling the lead with a neat finish. But Scotland regrouped and came out firing in the second half, with Emslie’s goal no less than they de served, providing a major confidence boost ahead of games against Argentina and Japan.
“The VAR decision threw us a bit and it is tough to go down so early to a penalty, so I think that affected us a bit,” said the Orlando Pride striker.
“That was the first game I have ever played with VAR. I have seen it used on TV, but it wasn’t a great star t and I found it really confusing.
“There are positives to take from the second half and it was great that we scored a goal so hopefully there will be more of those to come in the next games.
“Women’s football is getting bigger and bigger and Fifa have done a great job so far.
“France have been brilliant at accommodating us and the fans have been magic so it has been a really enjoyable experience so far.”
“Seeing so many of the fans come out in their kilts and their Scotland shirts with their flags was magic”
CLAIRE EMSLIE
SSE, the energy behind Scottish women’ s and girls’ football. Official partner of the Scotland Women’s International team and proud sponsor of the SSE Soccer Centres and the S SE Scottish Women’s Cup.