What now for Scotland and Martinez Losa?

When Pedro Martinez Losa was announced as head coach over three years ago, Scotland had just failed to qualify for the Euros.

His remit was clear. Get the team back to the top table.

With a talented squad hitting their prime, there really was no wiggle room.

Yet the heartbreak etched across the players' faces in Helsinki on Tuesday night following their Euro 2025 play-off final defeat to Finland, marking three missed major tournaments in a row, was a vivid episode of deja vu.

Two years ago, this squad sat on the Hampden turf, with tears streaming, having been stunned by the Republic of Ireland in their World Cup play-off final.

That was an opportunity missed. And this was another on Martinez Losa's watch.

Throughout the Spaniard's tenure, there has been no shortage of critics or doubters. But in the face of this failure in Finland, even his most ardent admirers must struggle to support.

When the Euros kick off in Switzerland next summer, Scotland will not be part of the conversation.

For now, there will be plenty of talk about what next.

Players and coaches have long said Scotland "deserve" to be on the big stage. No team has that given right. All they, and Martinez Losa deserve right now is to be scrutinised after another "great opportunity" fell through their grasp.

'We should've kicked on and we haven't'

Nearly a year ago to the day, Martinez Losa sat down after a 6-0 home scudding from England and said he was still the man to lead Scotland to the Euros.

It was a humbling horror show at Hampden but he was sure in himself. After Tuesday's tears, he continued to stress his commitment to the cause and his belief in the squad.

Following the 2-0 loss in Helsinki, he said Scotland are "on the borderline of success".

But since he took charge, this squad has grown in age and regressed in accomplishment.

"These players are playing some of the best leagues in the world," former Scotland captain Gemma Fay said on Sportsound.

"What we haven't been able to do is take those raw ingredients and build a winning team.

"I don't love speculating on people, so I won't talk about Martinez Losa. The head coach's job is to get the team to a major finals and he hasn't done it.

"We should have kicked on by now and we haven't."

Rather than kick on, they have stumbled back.

Only once have Scotland beaten a top 30 side in a competitive game under Martinez Losa - a 1-0 World Cup play-off semi-final against Austria two years ago.

In September 2023 Martinez Losa was rewarded with a contract extension to take him through until after the 2027 World Cup.

Eyebrows were raised at a decision that felt somewhat unmerited and unnecessary. Now, it starts to look ridiculous.

The head coach inherited a team with Caroline Weir, aged 26, Erin Cuthbert at 23 and Claire Emslie at 27. Very handy ingredients. But nothing to show for it after another choke at crunch time.

In this play-off final, Scotland were left undercooked, unable to recover from an inexplicably cautious 0-0 first leg in Edinburgh, which handed the Finns the initiative.

The noise around Martinez Losa's position cranked up after the England thumping, but was dialled down during a nine-game unbeaten run this year. Now, it will be yanked back up to the max.

'Change needed' - fan views post Finland defeat

Lisa: We have gone backwards under Pedro. Women's football has improved a lot and we haven't kept up. Tactics were questionable and unless we're against smaller teams, he cannot get the best out of the quality players. We didn't get any luck tonight but it's a much bigger problem than luck.

Grant: A poor first leg, absolutely no aggression and tonight a bit unlucky, maybe, but tactically I didn't get it after going a goal down. To me, the manager can't progress the team any further, change is needed.

Graham: Surely now it is the time for a change of coach. Finland are not an amazing team but they controlled this tie and qualified comfortably. They looked fitter and better drilled. Certain players "cannot miss" this tournament apparently. Well, they are missing it, and since the players can't be changed, it's the coach who needs to. We need fresh ideas.

Stuart: Absolutely shocking Scotland fail to qualify for third successive tournament given the quality and world class players we have. Pedro Martinez Losa has to go. He should have gone after the Republic of Ireland debacle.

Mike: Ultimately PML's reign has been shaped by failure and ought to be ended. Perhaps need some realism on the game as a whole, repeated failure to qualify and a very thin pool in a few positions says Scotland has been left behind mid-ranking nations and are miles back from the big five or six in Europe.