Eddie & Maclean in Scotland squad for final qualifiers
Leah Eddie (left) and Kirsty Maclean will hope to help Scotland progress through the play-offs and reach Switzerland next summer
- Published
Rangers pair Leah Eddie and Kirsty Maclean have retained their places in Scotland's squad for July's final group games in the qualification process for Women's Euro 2025.
Midfielder Maclean, 19, was sidelined with injury since January and had not featured for the national side in 2024 before she earned her seventh cap against Israel in May after replacing the injured Rachel McLauchlan in the squad.
Defender Eddie, 23, has also kept her spot in Pedro Martinez Losa's pool after coming in to the last squad for another Rangers player Sarah Ewens, who dropped out because of injury.
Scotland travel to Slovakia in the penultimate game of the campaign on 12 July before facing Serbia at Partick Thistle’s Wyre Stadium four days later.
Both matches will be available live on the BBC Sport website & app, plus the iPlayer though BBC Scotland and BBC Alba.
Martinez Losa's side are unbeaten in qualifying and sit joint top of Group B2 with Serbia on 10 points after three wins and a draw.
Because they are in a group in League B of the draw, the Spaniard's side will next face two rounds of play-offs in order to reach Euro 2025.
Sixteen teams will compete in the finals of Euro 2025 across eight venues in Switzerland from 2 to 27 July next summer.
Scotland squad for Euro 2025 qualifiers
Jenna Clark (Liverpool), Kelly Clark (Celtic), Chelsea Cornet (Rangers), Rachel Corsie (Aston Villa), Eartha Cumings (Rosengard), Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea), Nicola Docherty (Rangers), Leah Eddie (Rangers), Claire Emslie (Angel City), Lisa Evans (Bristol City), Jenna Fife (Rangers), Lee Gibson (Glasgow City), Kirsty Hanson (Aston Villa), Brogan Hay (Rangers), Sophie Howard (Leicester City), Kirsty Howat (Rangers), Sam Kerr (Bayern), Kirsty Maclean (Rangers), Jamie-Lee Napier (Bristol City), Amy Rodgers (Bristol City), Jane Ross (Rangers), Kirsty Smith (West Ham United), Martha Thomas (Tottenham Hotspur)
'It's our job to bring joy'
After a modest start to the campaign - a draw against Serbia that added to the pressure on Martinez Losa - Scotland have responded well to secure a passage to the play-offs.
His side swept aside Israel in the double header in the previous international window in May and June and the head coach is eager to build on that positivity.
"The last camp, from a football perspective, was one of the best," he said.
"Correcting things from previous games, getting rewards for finishing opportunities, defending, more entries into the box, counter-pressing. It was a complete performance.
"We have developed the culture and mindset of the group together. You bring energy from one camp to another and we have the confidence and the energy of the last camp. Now we have to reset again and be prepared."
Martinez Losa said he "had goosebumps every time I heard the national anthem" as Scotland's men competed in Euro 2024 - and hopes to bring similar tournament excitement to the country next summer.
"It’s always our job to bring joy to Scottish football fans," he added.
"There is no guarantee we will qualify yet but we have the feeling we are preparing well and giving the chance.
"The energy of all the fans who travelled to see their country play, that’s something I really want to be part of."