STAR DUO CAN FIRE SCOTS TO GLORY
Boss targets regular place on world stage
PEDRO Martinez Losa has identified Erin Cuthbert and Abi Harrison as the catalysts to ensure qualification for major tournaments is the norm for the Scottish women’s national team. The squad have spent this week preparing for Friday’s rearranged FIFA World Cup qualifier against Ukraine in Rzeszow, Poland, knowing a win would effectively guarantee a play-off position behind Group B leaders Spain.
And while it would give Scotland the chance of back-to-back participation at the World Cup, it wouldn’t remove the prospect of a frustrating summer as they watch the European Championships unfold in England.
‘It is painful for all of us,’ said Martinez Losa. ‘It is painful to see other nations who have qualified.
‘We think we belong to this level, but we are also aware that the women’s game is progressing and what worked four years ago now needs to evolve.
‘We want the team to qualify consistently for tournaments. The word “consistently” is important for me here.
‘You can qualify one time but then how do you take that to the next level? The first step is to establish a high-performance culture — that is created on the values and behaviour that are aligned to the objectives.
‘We cannot achieve excellent results if we don’t have excellent characters and excellent behaviours.
‘Like the All Blacks or any other successful team, you have to shape the culture at the best level possible and that gives you the opportunity to be successful consistently.’
Cuthbert revealed recently she is already ‘sick’ of hearing about the tournament in England this summer from her Chelsea teammates, although there will be some salve from the midfielder given the personal contribution she made to a season that delivered a WSL and FA Cup double.
Cuthbert will be 24 next month but has long established herself as a pivotal cog — and voice — within the national side.
‘She has transformed her potential into world-class performances for her club and for us,’ said Martinez Losa.
‘She is still very young and, in my opinion, she is one of the top talents in the world for the future — we are very lucky to have her. We have helped her to develop in one side this year.
‘We believe in her leadership qualities and in her ability to play in the middle. I know she can play in other positions but naturally I think she is a midfielder who can lead the play.
‘She has many attributes. She has had a consistency this year domestically and internationally and we know that she is happy to play in any position.’
Scotland needed a stoppagetime leveller from Harrison when they played Ukraine at Hampden back in November. The 24-year-old Bristol City player is another whom Martinez Losa has identified as being capable of stepping up a level.
‘Abi is a key player because she is a totally different player from all the others that we have,’ he added.
‘What we want is for her to get involved in the squad and in this environment and we can help her to take her football to the next level considering that she has been the top scorer and best player at Championship level in England. We think there is a player there who has the potential to reach all the levels.
‘For sure, she can play in WSL. She has the ability to do that but every player we work with has the pathway to make sure we improve.
‘She has the ability to score goals, which is so important a part of football.’