Weir relishing dream Dunfermline homecoming

Caroline Weir is in line for her 113th Scotland cap against Morocco on Friday

As realising childhood dreams go, Caroline Weir has done better than most.

Grainy family footage shows a bairn in a Zinedine Zidane Real Madrid shirt battering a football against a fence with a painted white goalframe. That bairn now gets to call the Spanish city home, like her hero did.

At Euro 2017, Weir scored the goal which secured Scotland's first - and only - win at a women's major tournament. Her name is firmly etched in history.

In the last few months, she's ticked off a Ballon d'Or nomination, too. The first - and only - female Scot with that accolade to her name.

Next Tuesday, though, she's set to fulfil perhaps the pick of the personal bunch as she prepares to run out for Scotland against Switzerland at East End Park in her home town of Dunfermline.

Melissa Andreatta's side play the second of their two October friendlies in Fife - after facing Morocco in Casablanca on Friday - and the Madrid midfielder cannot contain her excitement or hide her pride at taking the national team to the home of the Pars.

"It really has been a dream of mine to play at East End Park for Scotland since I was really young," the 30-year-old said.

"So for that to - hopefully - happen next week, is really exciting. When I saw the news, I was buzzing.

"I can't believe it, actually."

'World Cup preparation starts here'

Caroline Weir has had a strong start to the season with Real Madrid

Though Weir is waltzing around camp with enough excitement for the entire squad, Andreatta's crop have cause to be enthused.

Four friendlies before the end of the year - starting in Morocco - provide the national team with an opportunity to start afresh under the Australian's stewardship.

Andreatta's reign kicked off earlier this year with a defeat by Austria and a hearty draw in the Netherlands, but a near five-month wait since then has the Scots eager for more matches under the new head coach.

"How that last camp ended against Holland, a positive performance with really good feelings, it was a bit of a shame that we then had this long gap," Weir said.

"But it's just about picking up where we left off and hoping for similar feelings this camp where we push forward and progress together as a group."

The overarching goal is reaching the 2027 World Cup. No-one, from Andreatta to her players, is hiding that. But it's easier said than done.

"As much as they're friendlies, we want good results this week, we need that," Weir said.

"We need that momentum, confidence and, alongside that, performances.

"Working out exactly how we want to play and what our identity is going to be moving forward with Mel. We want to win and it's all preparation for the World Cup, qualifiers next year, so that's where our focus is, but, obviously, it starts here.

"The way we're speaking about the World Cup is 'we are going to be there'."

'Last time I played on that pitch was a birthday party'

Jim Leishman kept Dunfermline in the SPL in 2005, despite coming in with just three games left

If this is the start of Scotland's journey to the 2027 World Cup, then the working title 'From Casablanca/Dunfermline to Brazil' may need some adjusting.

But you can guarantee Weir will be pushing for the name of her home city to make the cut.

Though she practised her keepie-uppies and Marseille turns with Zidane's number five on her back, Dunfermline are her club.

For 12 years she was a season ticket holder at East End Park and on her returns home, she always gets along to a Pars Foundation session, engaging and encouraging the next generation of footballers from Fife.

When she was their age, Craig Brewster and Stevie Crawford were her heroes, while Jim Leishman celebrating Premier League survival in 2005 and 2006 remain vivid images.

But her most special, savoured memory is the last time she graced the hallowed turf.

"The last time I played on that pitch was actually a birthday party," Weir revealed.

"Dunfermline went through a phase of having artificial grass about 15 years ago, so that's my last memory on the pitch.

"[Wee Caroline] would be really buzzing about this.

"I'm really excited and looking forward to next week, where hopefully, we can get a good crowd and good result."