Pedro is using the pain of missing Euros as a spark for women’sworld Cup bid
Pedro Martinez Losa admits he and his players are not looking forward to next month’s Women’s Euro Finals in England.
After successive qualifications for Euro 2017 and the World Cup in France two years later, Scotland will watch the tournament from the sidelines.
That follows a dismal qualifying campaign, which saw the top- seed Scots finish third in their group behind Finland and Portugal.
Adding insult to injury, the Portuguese got a late pass into the Finals when Russia were axed from the tournament by UEFA.
“It’s painful for the staff, the players, all of us,” admitted Martinez Losa ( below), who replaced Shelley Kerr as Scotland head coach last year.
“We think we belong to this level, but we also know how fast the women’s game is progressing.
“We have to make sure we follow the same direction, and be at the same level.
“The aim is to qualify consistently for tournaments – and the word ‘consistently’ is the most important one.”
Next up is the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, and Scotland can make a significant step towards the southern hemisphere if they beat Ukraine on Friday.
Spain have already qualified as Group B winners, but Scotland will be more or less guaranteed to finish second – thus securing a play- off place – if they take the three points at the Stadion Miejski in Rzeszow.
The postponed game was switched to Poland because of the Russian invasion.
Ukraine gave Scotland a big fright in November’s corresponding qualifier at Hampden.
A goal in time- added- on by Bristol City striker Abi Harrison was required to snatch a 1- 1 draw, and prevent a damaging home defeat.
The 24- year- old, who is a product of Celtic’s youth academy and won six
cup- winners’ medals with Hibs before moving south in 2019, has become a
Scotland starter for the first time under Martinez Losa.
“She’s a key player because she’s totally different from all the other players we have,” the Spaniard said.
“We have Martha Thomas and Jane Ross, but Abi is the most-clinical player in the box in front of goal.
“She was the top scorer and voted best player in the Championship in England last season, but we think she is a player who has the potential to reach all the levels.”
Everything has changed for Ukraine since the Hampden draw.
Most of their players were with just two clubs in K hark iv, but are now spread throughout a dozen European countries as a consequence of the Russian bombardment.
They haven’t played together since the war started in February, and even with two games in hand, they need to beat Scotland to have any chance of finishing second and reaching the play-offs.
The squad was reunited in Rzeszow, which is near the border with Ukraine, on Tuesday.
They will stay in the Polish city until June 28, when they play a second Group B game against Hungary.
Scotland have all their key players available for Friday, including Caroline Weir.
The midfielder has left Manchester City after four successful years, and is rumoured to be joining Real Madrid.