McArdle 'proud' ahead of first Scotland game
Women's Nations League, League A, Group 1: Austria v Scotland
Venue: Innviertel Arena, Ried Date: Friday 21 February Kick-off: 17:00 GMT
Coverage: Watch on BBC Sport website & iPlayer, plus follow text updates on BBC Sport website & app
Interim Scotland head coach Michael McArdle says "it's a chance for us to try new things" as he prepares to take charge of the national team for the first time in Friday's Nations League opener away to Austria.
McArdle, who was the Scottish FA's head of women's elite football, has taken over until a permenent successor is found after Pedro Martinez Losa was relieved of his duties following the failure to reach the Euro 2025 finals.
Despite their play-off defeat by Finland in December, the Scots have been promoted back to the Nations League's top flight, where they will also face Germany and the Netherlands.
McArdle says it is a "proud moment" to lead a side who "relish testing ourselves at the highest level".
The former Ayr United assistant must do without key midfielder Erin Cuthbert, who was injured playing for Chelsea.
But he had already marked the end of four years under Martinez Losa by making nine changes to the squad that featured against Finland, calling up four uncapped players.
"It's just a chance for us to try new things as well and freshen up our approach," McArdle said.
"There's some new players that we think can add to the group moving forward - and there's some others who've earned the opportunity through their performances, both at club and at country, at younger levels as well.
"Obviously a freshness for the players in the way that we work, but everyone's enjoyed the approach."
Scotland were relegated after their first League A campaign in 2023, but they are back among the elite after an unbeaten Euro qualifying campaign the following year.
The 10th-ranked Dutch visit Hampden on Tuesday, but first up are Austria, a team who sit six places above the Scots in the world rankings.
Friday's hosts also have a new manager in former Bergheim boss Alexander Schriebl, appointed after Irene Fuhrmann left her role after they too missed out on a spot in Euro 2025 following a play-off defeat.
The Scots won the only previous meeting between the sides - 1-0 after extra time at Hampden in 2023 - a result that secured a World Cup play-off they would go on to lose to Republic of Ireland.
"It makes it a little bit more unpredictable," McArdle said of the change in the dugout.
"But we've got a lot of experience playing Austria across various age groups and national team level. So we understand the bits of their identity that won't change and the behaviours of their style of play.
"The new head coach, Alexander, we've studied also. So, putting both together, we can do our best to predict what we can, but tomorrow evening is a lot about us."
Team news
Cuthbert will be a major loss, the Chelsea midfielder's injury shedding more experience to a squad from which McArdle had already omitted Jenna Fife, Nicola Docherty, Kelly Clark, Shannon McGregor, Jamie Lee Napier, Amy Rodgers, Emma Mukandi, Lisa Evans and Brogan Hay.
Pushing for a debut is Celtic full-back Emma Lawton, who has been garnering praise for her meteoric rise from part-time football with Partick Thistle to scoring in the Champions League for Celtic.
Asked what the 23-year-old brings to the squad, McArdle replied: "Energy, directness. A real positive energy and that ability at the highest level as well to play at high intensities for long periods of time."
Newcastle United utility player Freya Gregory, Heart of Midlothian midfielder Eilidh Shore and Hibernian forward Eilidh Adams are other new additions hoping to impress.
Rangers midfielder Mia McAulay and Hibs goalkeeper Erin Clachers have both been called up previously but are yet to make their debuts.
Austria are without RB Leipzig defender Julia Magerl and Austria Wien's Katharina Schiechtl was called up in her place.
St Polten midfielder Sophie Hillebrand has also had to pull out at short notice, with Magdalena Rukavina from First Vienna filling in.
Match statistics
Scotland are back in Europe's top tier after topping their European Championship qualifying group ahead of Serbia, Slovakia and Israel.
Austria finished third in their Group A section behind Germany and Iceland but above Poland.
Scotland beat Hungary but lost to Finland in the Euro 2025 play-offs, while Austria beat Slovenia but lost to Poland.
The Scots had won seven games in a row before drawing the first leg of their play-off 0-0 with Finland, while the 2-0 second-leg defeat ended a nine-game unbeaten run.
Austria are playing for the first time since losing 1-0 home and away to Poland.
Scotland have played Austria once previously - a 1-0 win at Hampden in the 2023 World Cup play-off semi-final before losing to Republic of Ireland.
Abi Harrison, the striker now with Celtic, scored Scotland's extra-time winner against Austria.
Austria are currently 18th in the world rankings, six places above Scotland, both sides having dropped one place.
