Scotland Women's Football Team

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Rachel Corsie has played her final home game as Scotland Women captain and former team-mate Leanne Crichton reckons very few can emulate the important leadership role the retiring captain has played.

The exiting Aston Villa centre-half, who has 155 international caps and played at Euro 2017 and the 2019 World Cup, said earlier this week that it "feels like the right moment" to give up playing after nearly a year out through injury.

"There are very few that will lead the way Rachel Corsie has led and that's a sad reality," former international midfielder Crichton told BBC Scotland.

"There's only been two or three maximum in my entire career that have had the fortune to play alongside and experience that and understand the demands and the expectations and how they perform off the pitch as well as on it - and she's been impeccable.

"She is an absolute stalwart and I can tell you right now that the national team would not be where it is in terms of the experiences and moments and the success that we've had over the last two decades had it not been for somebody like Rachel Corsie."

Crichton also hopes Corsie is able to stay involved with football, if she wishes to.

"I would love to see her remain in the game in some capacity, just because I know how much value there is in having somebody like her around," she added.

"But, again, that's over to the SFA, that's over to the national team, or it's over to, you know, previous clubs that perhaps she's played at that understand the wealth and value that there would be in keeping her around.

"So, I mean, the future, regardless of what it is, it's absolutely bright."

Scotland fans, were you at Hampden on Friday night or following the action from home? Either way we want your views on the performance.

What did you make of Melissa Andreatta's first game in charge? How are you feeling about the future under the new boss? How big a miss will Rachel Corsie be when she hangs up her boots?

Have your say on Andreatta's first game in charge

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Scotland boss Melissa Andreatta: "There's one thing to be training and doing what we're doing, players executing what we're asking of them in a training session and it's another thing to do it in a match, particularly one with that context behind it.

"I think I have a good baseline now to understand where we're at and some areas to work on to get where we want to be.

"We were the better team in many moments in that second half but we all know in international football you have to be doing that consistently. That's what it takes in tournament football to go deep and that's what we want this team to be.

"I really believe in this group and what's it's going to take now is a lot of work to continue to find the areas I can help this team to realise their potential and go to another level. The belief isn't down, I'm not shaken by the result, I'm even more passionate about supporting this team to realise their goals.

"In the second half I saw more of that ability to break lines, get into good areas in the final third and create chances. That's the positive part and that's something we want to keep building on.

"Me as a person, the past is the past now and I'll always look forward, take those learnings and think what we can do next.

"That's what I've learned about this group, something we both share is this deep commitment to being the best we can and willing to do whatever it takes to do that. The belief is still there, it's just going to be a lot of hard work."

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland

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Since the appointment last month, the Melissa Andreatta era has brought about enthusiasm, freshness and hope.

After only a matter of days, it is unfair to expect such attributes would be showcased in abundance, but the feeling at half-time was all too familiar.

The Scots were so far off the pace it was startling. With sarcasm in the stands mounting, questions were being asked… Is Pedro Martinez Losa still here at Hampden?

There was no urgency, no impetus and no imagination. Lauren Davidson and Freya Gregory struggled to have an impact out wide, while Hibernian striker Kathleen McGovern was only able to put in a power of running and take in the occasional long ball.

It was the latter pair's first international starts, while Brann's Lauren Davidson was never in-favour of Martinez Losa, but their inexperience was telling against a well-gelled Austrian outfit.

There was a marked, and much-needed, improvement when Andreatta called on the cavalry. Kirsty Howat, debutant Mia McAulay, Martha Thomas and Emma Watson all brought about the buzz that was hoped for on the opening whistle.

Meanwhile, Rachel Corsie, on the centre-half's final Hampden appearance before retiring, showed why she bows out as one of the best.

There was a new-found calmness in the backline when the captain came on at half-time, while her leadership was telling.

That is what Scotland will miss most in this new area. Corsie has an ability like no other in the squad to lift, galvanise and encourage this young group.

In the past few days, she has spoken of her desire to retire at the top. If that is to be her last Scotland outing, on her 155th appearance, she has done just that.

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Scotland have to be "hungry" in tonight's Nations League game against Austria, says former goalkeeper Gemma Fay.

It's a new dawn for the SWNT with new boss Melissa Andreatta taking charge of her first game as they search for their first points of this Nations League A campaign.

The Scots have lost all four of their Nations League games so far, most recently suffering hefty, back-to-back defeats to Germany.

Former Scotland keeper Fay is hopeful of seeing an improved Scotland at Hampden tonight.

"We're going to be hungry, we're going to be at them," Fay told the BBC's Scottish Football podcast.

"And that's what I hope we see tonight is an aggressive Scotland, because that's one of our real strengths - being aggressive out of possession, winning the ball back and then using our quality on the counter.

"That was always kind of what we did when we had Kim Little and Julie Fleeting and I'm not harping back to the days of old. I'm just saying that was a recipe for success.

"And we still have those types of players. We have Erin Cuthbert, Kerr and Weir. We have Martha Thomas up front. We've got some exciting young talent, players like Kathleen McGovern working her way in, who thrives on counter-attacking football."

McGovern joined Hibs from Edinburgh rivals Hearts last summer and was an important part of the squad that lifted their first SWPL title in 18 years.

"McGovern's been at a breath of fresh air this season," Hibs assistant, and former player, Joelle Murray told the Scottish Football podcast.

"She's had an unbelievable season. She's someone who, off the pitch, can galvanise the team. She's very central and she's a core member of the team. She'll pick you up if you're down.

"So from that side of things, an unbelievable person. But as soon as she steps on onto the pitch, it's very much business. It's go time. And I love that about her.

"For someone so young, she's so mature. She got 25 goals across the season. And I'd like to think if she gets a chance tonight she'll take it because she's extremely clinical in those situations."

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Scotland defender Emma Lawton insists it feels like a "fresh start" under new head coach Melissa Andreatta and says everything is geared towards qualification for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.

The national side must defeat Austria at Hampden by two clear goals on Friday and hope results go their way when they face the Netherlands next week if they are to retain hope of remaining in Nations League Group A.

After missing out on this year's European Championship, Lawton is clear the main prize is qualifying for the next major competition.

"It's kind of a reset for us," she said.

"Our focus now is qualifying for the World Cup. This is the kind of start of it, these two games.

"We're trying to stay in League A, which is a big goal for us, so hopefully we can put out performances that will let us do that."

With captain Rachel Corsie retiring after this double-header, Lawton was keen to pay tribute to her influence.

"I think she's been huge for Scotland for a number of years now," the PFA Player of the Year explained.

"She's a great leader. She's our captain. I think this is the first time I've ever had the chance to kind of properly meet and play with her.

I'm loving doing that on the training pitch, trying to learn as much as I can.

She'll be a big miss for us, but we've got some other great leaders within there that will help us move forward."

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

New Scotland head coach Melissa Andreatta has been talking with the media before her first game in charge, the Nations League A visit of Austria to Hampden on Friday.

Here are the key points:

• On captain Rachel Corsie, who retires after the double-header against Austria and the Netherlands: "What a legend! It's been super humbling to to work with her and the professionalism of Rachel is what's really stood out and her willingness to share her experiences with both players and staff."

• Andreatta adds: "All she's focused on is her role and what the team needs to do to play the way we want to."

• The Scotland boss believes the loss of Corsie's leadership going forward will tell but says the transition has been "occurring naturally" in her absence: "People have had to step up and there's actually been a lot of support around the leadership group to do that. In their own right they're leaders at club. So they've had a lot of opportunity to lead both at club and country."

• The former Australia assistant insists Scotland can stay in the Nations League top tier despite a poor run of results.

• She adds: "I only see opportunity and yes, there's going to be tough times and there's a lot of progress to be made, but we believe we have what it takes and we're going to fight."

• Andreatta admits it's natural that confidence may have dipped given recent results but the players "believe they can do something and it's just putting all the pieces together in order for us to match that belief with the performance and the results".

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland

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"Two wins."

Rachel Corsie isn't asking for much from her final week of football.

The Scotland captain will retire once Nations League matches against Austria and Netherlands are out the way, and in the spirit of "slowing the week down", Corsie's full focus is on the games at hand.

A win by two clear goals on Friday against Austria at Hampden, who beat the Scots 1-0 on matchday one, would give Melissa Andreatta's side a chance to preserve their League A status, should the Austrians subsequently lose to Germany.

It's all the motivation the retiring 35-year-old needs.

"Two results that keep us in Group A, I think that's the collective ambition," the defender said.

"Selfishly, my own ambition and motivation is to be here and give everything on the pitch, off the pitch, at every opportunity because I think the result on Friday is one we can get that puts us in a good position where we can be on the front foot.

"We can be in control and then we lead ourselves into Tuesday which, if we get a good result on Friday, becomes a game where you relish that a little bit more."

As if the former Glasgow City centre-back needs any greater incentive to enjoy this week, though.

"I'm trying to slow down the days. I'm like we're already at Tuesday lunchtime," she added.

"Everyone says it hits you after, so I'm sort of braced for that but I'm just trying to be here and make it as normal as possible.

"You have to know that it can't last forever. I'd love it if it could but it can't and now's the right time."

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Spend five minutes with Rachel Corsie and it will become apparent she loves nothing more than representing Scotland.

The captain, who has represented her country 154 times and led them out at the 2019 World Cup, will retire from football following one final week in international camp.

The defender has had a Scotland return at the forefront of her recovery from a knee injury which severely hampered her club-season with Aston Villa and kept her out of international selection since July.

The former Glasgow City centre-back, who has the chance to pull on the dark blue jersey at Hampden one more time on Friday against Austria in Scotland's penultimate Nations League A game, says playing for her country is "the best thing I've ever done in my life".

"Without doubt, the best thing I've ever done in my life is playing and getting to represent my country," she said.

"There is nothing I've experienced in sport like that. That's been something for me that I'll treasure and take with me for the rest of my life.

"There's something special about being Scottish. I think it has been the one thing that's been the light that I've needed at times to keep going, to want to keep pushing.

"I'm just so delighted that I'm going to be included, I get to be involved, and I'm looking forward to it."

Aberdeen-born Corsie represented Scotland at the two major tournaments they have reached and noted qualifying for the World Cup after a win in Albania as "one of her favourite moments".

"One of my favourite moments and the moment I think was the most euphoric, that brought the biggest joy, was when we qualified for the World Cup in Albania," she added.

"I have like a very vivid visual still in my head of just the moment the referee blew for full-time. Those feelings are just unmatched.

"You wouldn't have dreamt of playing at a World Cup when I was a kid because you just didn't know that was a thing.

"My career has definitely surpassed everything I thought it would, because I don't even think I thought what I've done was even possible. It certainly wasn't possible when I started."

Scotland head coach Melissa Andreatta explains the "easy" decision to recall captain Rachel Corsie after injury.

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland at Hampden

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Scotland head coach Melissa Andreatta believes Kathleen McGovern is "what Scotland need" after the Australian called up the Hibernian striker to the national team for the first time.

McGovern has 25 goals for the SWPL league leaders this season and has represented Scotland at various youth levels.

At her first news conference as Scotland boss, the Australian said she had taken in Hibs' Edinburgh derby win at Hearts and the forward caught her eye.

"It's a combination of that [what I saw in that game] and just what I would like to do with this team," Andreatta said.

Despite being just 22 years old, McGovern has been on the domestic scene for some time and excelled at city rivals Hearts before joining Hibs in the summer.

After coming through the ranks at Celtic, she spent a season in Germany with SC Sand and built on her fierce finishing and superb strength.

"I think her personality also, what you see on the field and she's a good fit for this team and what we need in this point in time," Andreatta added.

"She's worked really hard for this opportunity and she's deserved it with those performances week in, week out and earned it."

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland at Hampden Park

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Melissa Andreatta addressed the media after naming her first Scotland squad for the Nations League A games against Austria and the Netherlands later this month.

Here are the key things from her news conference:

• The head coach said it was "an easy decision" to recall captain Rachel Corsie, despite the defender not playing for Scotland since July, missing most of the season through injury and leaving Aston Villa at the weekend.

• "True professional" Corsie is "Scotland through and through" and her relief was evident when she was given the news of her selection.

• First-time call up Kathleen McGovern is "a good fit" for Scotland and the Hibs striker has "worked really hard for this opportunity".

• Andreatta says their is "a hunger" within the players to represent Scotland, "get to the next level and achieve their goals".

• The penultimate Nations League A game against Austria is "a real opportunity to show everyone what we're all about".

• The head coach hasn't spoken to former Scotland international Kim Little, who is set to captain Arsenal in the Champions League final on 24 May but the midfielder is definitely someone she wants "to connect and speak with".

Captain Rachel Corsie returns for Scotland for the first time since July following injury as head coach Melissa Andreatta names her first squad.

There is also a first call up for Hibernian striker Kathleen McGovern, who has 25 goals for the Scottish Women's Premier League leaders, while Rangers captain Nicola Docherty and two club-mates - winger Brogan Hay and forward Kirsty Howat - are recalled.

What do you make of Andreatta's first squad? Are you happy with the first-time call-ups and Corsie's return?

Give us your thoughts here.