Watch highlights of Scotland's 1-0 win over Serbia

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland at Firhill Stadium

Scotland ended their Euro 2025 qualifying group campaign unbeaten after a narrow win over Serbia that secures their promotion to League A of the Nations League.

Both sides had already booked their places in the play-offs for next summer’s tournament in Switzerland, but the top spot and undefeated tag was up for grabs.

Kirsty Hanson’s close-range finish ensured it was Pedro Martinez Losa’s side who finish on top, after the Aston Villa winger pounced on Martha Thomas’ cute dummy.

While the bragging rights stay in Scotland, both will now turn their attention to Friday’s draw, which will decide their respective opponents for the Euro play-offs taking place in October.

Kirsty Smith stressed pre-match that Serbia – the only side they had yet to beat in the group – would be facing a different Scotland to the one that drew 0-0 in Leskovac back in April.

The right-back, on her 55th appearance for her country, nearly translated her talk on to the pitch when she came inches away from netting a spectacular opener as goalkeeper Milica Kostic tipped her long-range strike on to the crossbar.

Scotland continued to find joy down the right, cheered on by the 3,068-strong support behind them in Maryhill, and they eventually gave the fans a reason to get on their feet when Hanson prodded home after Thomas left it to her to finish Lisa Evans' cross.

The home side nearly went behind before then when defender Violeta Slovic headed goalwards after Eartha Cumings flapped at a deep free-kick, but thankfully for the hosts the effort nestled behind the net.

Cumings also palmed away Jovana Damnjanovic’s fierce effort shortly after the break, setting the tone for a competitive half to end the campaign.

Erin Cuthbert, on her 70th Scotland cap, came close from the edge of the area with a strong strike only to be denied by Kostic, while Cumings beat away Jelena Cankovic’s shot to secure a hard-fought home win.

Player of the match - Eartha Cumings

SNS

Eartha Cumings, in her first competitive home game, pulled off a string of strong saves to keep a third consecutive clean sheet in her three appearances in the campaign.

Morale-boosting campaign capped off with steely win - analysis

Job done. Every job done.

Play-offs secured, undefeated campaign and promotion to League A confirmed.

Not without another challenge at Firhill with Serbia, as expected, getting into Scotland's faces, but as the players and staff have said post-match, it's the sort of tactics they will come against later in the year.

Martinez Losa's side had to dig deep and defend more than they have done in the four games against Slovakia and Israel respectively - and did so fairly soundly.

There was the odd scary moment, but given the time of season for the bulk of these players, a little slowness can be expected.

There was no such trait in the celebrations after the final whistle, though, which shows how morale-boosting this unbeaten campaign has been.

This squad are in a far better place than they were at the beginning of the year, on and off the pitch.

The mood is different, the togetherness is even more evident and the confidence is brimming.

Six games, five wins, one goal conceded. Bring on the play-offs.

What they said

Scotland head coach Pedro Martinez Losa: "The last three or four games, we have shown we are at a good level. The staff and players now believe we can beat everyone at this moment in time.

"100% [we are in a better place]. The mentality is different. We know there are areas we need to improve to reach the next level.

"It’s been hard work and I think the mentality of the group, in terms of learning, not being based on frustration, has improved. We could have found plenty of reasons today to be frustrated, but we don’t care, because we are confident in what we can do well."

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