Scotland Women's Football Team

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Scotland caps Eilidh Adams and Emma Watson have been named in Michael McArdle's Under-23 squad for this month's friendlies against Sweden and Italy.

Hibernian striker Adams, who gained her three full caps under McArdle when he was interim head coach earlier this year, was again omitted from Melissa Andreatta's A squad, having missed the head coach's first camp in the spring.

Teenager Watson, who burst onto the scene in 2023, was one of four changes from the Australian's senior squad, which was named on Wednesday.

The 19-year-old, who is on loan at Crystal Palace from Manchester United, has three goals in 12 senior appearances, but this is her first under-23 call-up.

Celtic goalkeeper Lisa Rodgers and Newcastle United attacker Jasmine McQuade have also received their first call-ups.

Defender Georgia Brown and forward Mia McAulay, who were both involved in the last under-23 squad, are part of the senior squad to take on Morocco and Switzerland.

McArdle's side will host the Swedes at Stark's Park on Thursday, 23 October (19:00 BST) before travelling to Florence to face the Italians four days later (13:30).

Scotland's Caroline Weir scored twice in Real Madrid's 6-2 Women's Champions League win over Roma. (Herald - subscription required), external

Read Thursday's Scottish gossip

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland at Hampden Park

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Head coach Melissa Andreatta has been speaking to the media after announcing her Scotland squad for this month's friendlies against Morocco and Switzerland.

Here are the points:

• This is "the right time" to call up Under-23s defender Georgia Brown for the first time because she brings "an aerial threat, composure and an ability to play".

• These friendlies present "an opportunity to really look at players, our playing idea and things we think are going to help us for World Cup qualification".

• The trip to Casablanca "replicates going from the south of Brazil to the north", something Scotland might need to do should they qualify for the 2027 World Cup, and therefore "exposes everybody to the potential challenges".

• Following Rachel Corsie's retirement, Andreatta hasn't named a new captain and wants to "take time" in making the decision.

• Andreatta wants to "embrace the awesome challenge" of reaching a first major tournament and these friendlies offer "a great opportunity" to prepare.

• She adds "the support of our world-class, passionate supporters, could be the edge" in achieving their dream.

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Scotland defender Jamie-Lee Napier has become former Rangers manager Jo Potter's first signing at Crystal Palace.

Full-back Napier, 25, joins Palace - who were relegated to WSL 2 last season - on a two-year deal after captaining Bristol City in the second tier.

The former Chelsea defender - who was named SWPL player of the year in 2018 after scoring 22 goals in 33 appearances for Hibs - says she "shares the club's values, goals and ambitions".

Napier will have a familiar face in fellow Scotland international Chloe Arthur, who has been at Palace since 2022.

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Scotland should take a "long, hard look at ourselves" for failing to reach this summer's Women's Euro 2025, says former goalkeeper Gemma Fay.

Fay, Scotland's most capped player with 203 appearances, says the nation simply "must have aspirations" of getting back to major tournaments after failing to qualify in their previous three attempts.

Since reaching the 2019 World Cup, the Scots have missed out on back-to-back European Championships and the 2023 World Cup.

Asked on BBC Sportsound how Scotland take that next step, Fay responded: "We have to. We have to have the aspirations if that's where we want to be.

"We should be at these finals, and the ones before, and we should take a long, hard look at ourselves as to why we're not."

Now led by head coach Melissa Andreatta, Fay has been encouraged by the new boss' start after being appointed in April.

A narrow home defeat to Austria consigned the Scots to Nations League A relegation, but a draw away to the Netherlands prompted praise.

"It was good performance against the Netherlands," Fay added. "I like [Andreatta's] style. It goes back to that mentality. We always have pride in how we fight.

"I like the initial things I've seen from her, but the challenge she has is now is how she gets the quality of opposition for this team to be able to compete against [Nations League] A teams."

We asked for your views on Scotland's 1-1 draw away to Netherlands in their final Nations League outing and Melissa Andreatta's second match in charge.

Here's what some of you said:

Iain: It's the first time in recent years that I've seen a Scottish women's team have a go. Great to watch the second half especially.

Colin: A great performance from the Scottish Women. Well deserved. We move on.

Gordon: Definitely an improvement, great second half.

Scott C: What a fantastic battling performance. So much improvement.

Miller: Well off the pace defensively for the first 20 minutes but grew into the game. Intensity was much better in the second half. Great to see Mia McAulay, Kathleen McGovern, Emma Lawton and Kirsty Maclean doing well, four promising young players.

Dave: The best I've seen from this team in years, that took the game forward instead of sitting back and waiting.

Liz: Much better game, especially second half! Great to see.

Douglas: Much-improved performance from the sometimes dire stuff over the last few years. Making things happen instead of hoping they would happen. Restoring my faith in watching some exciting football again from them.

Pat: Let's give credit when it's due. Erin Cuthbert was immense.

Jim: Four halves of football, and you could see the improvement in each half. That second half was the best I've seen Scotland play in at least five years. Good to see a system where Caroline Weir and Cuthbert looked like the world-class players they are.

Ellie: Lots more energy and promise under the new coach, hopefully a start of a good new era in Scottish football.

Franny: That was a good positive performance by the ladies. The new coach seems to be instilling a belief in the players, that can only stand us in good stead going forward.

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Hibs striker Kathleen McGovern hopes her maiden Scotland goal is the first of many after opening her account on just her second international start.

The 22-year-old received her first senior call-up for the final Nations League games against Austria and Netherlands and started both under new manager Melissa Andreatta.

The forward, who last month helped Hibs lift their first SWPL trophy in 18 years, scored the equaliser in the 1-1 draw away to the Dutch on Tuesday night as Scotland secured their first point.

"It's been nice to start both games, something I didn't really expect," McGovern said.

"It's been a privilege this week and it was just great to see the ball hit the back of the net. I don't really think it's sunk in yet.

"It was a great delivery by Emma [Lawton], she knew exactly where to put it, and I was just so happy to see it hit the back of the net and get a great result for the team.

"It's been good to work with her [Andreatta], she's had so much belief in me. I've learned so much, especially from her, and the players I've been working with. I hope there's many more to come.

"I was flying on confidence when I first came in. To end the season at Hibs on such a high to then get the call-up was amazing to top off a great season.

"I came in and didn't want to put too much pressure on myself. I feel like that's what I did in training, just showed my ability, and I've been grateful to start the last two games."

After Melissa Andreatta's second game in charge, has your opinion changed on the new manager? What did you make of the 1-1 draw away to the Netherlands?

Let us know your thoughts

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland at Koning Willem II Stadion

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Not that it was a high threshold, but that was Scotland's best performance by a mile against a top-tier side in a fair old while.

For a side who have had challenge after challenge thrown at them - particularly in the last 24 hours or so - there was an energy, enthusiasm and excitement about them.

Melissa Andreatta asked for a fast start and she got it, until they conceded that early goal, of course. When she made a tactical change at half-time, she got a response. When she pushed on for a strong finish from the touchline, she saw it action.

At full-time, smiles were ear-to-ear, hugs were full and happiness palpable. It's been a long time since such feelings were present.

Andreatta promised to support young players upon her appointment and tonight it paid dividends.

Kathleen McGovern, 22, showed the qualities Scotland have craved from a number nine. Kirsty Maclean, 20, provided the perfect balance in midfield to the magic of Caroline Weir and Erin Cuthbert. Mia McAulay, 18, on her first start carried the Scots up the park with her pace.

There was so much to like about the performance, attitude and application of a side who stared adversity in the face.

It's early days in the Andreatta reign, but if this proves to be benchmark she says it is, then better days are ahead.

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Captain Caroline Weir says "all eyes are on the 2027 World Cup" after Scotland closed out a disappointing Nations League campaign with a 1-1 draw against the Netherlands.

The Scots travelled to Tilburg already relegated from Nations League A, the top tier of the competition, following their 1-0 defeat to Austria at Hampden on Friday night.

Despite conceding early, Kathleen McGovern's equaliser proved enough to snatch a promising point to the team ranked 10th in the world.

"We're happy with that result," the midfielder said.

"We did have chances to nick it, especially in the end, but the Netherlands also had chances. To come away from home and get a point, it's massive for us.

"In the end it doesn't mean anything for this campaign but going forward it's huge. It gives us confidence, we set a new baseline there we need to run with it and push on.

"It's been a tough campaign, we always knew it was going to be tough, but we finished the campaign off very well tonight.

"We had some challenges getting here, some logistical things which I think makes it even more impressive. I'm really proud of the performance of the players, the staff. we gave it everything tonight and to come away with the draw we're really proud of that.

"It wasn't ideal preparation but these things happen. We stuck together, you can see this group is special, we tried to be positive and at the end of the day we had 90 minutes to play, no excuses and I think we proved that tonight. I'm really proud of not just the performance but how we approached the game.

"Mel [Andreatta] has come in with so much energy, enthusiasm and she's so positive. She has so much belief in us and I think today showed that. It's a start, there's a long way to go but all eyes are on that World Cup in 2027. There's a lot of football to be played but draws like tonight really help.

"It's in Mel's mind, it's in my mind, that's what we're all here for. This performance is one we're going to come back to, be proud of and it's a benchmark for this squad."

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Scotland boss Melissa Andreatta tells BBC Scotland: "With that performance we earned that result.

"Especially when you think about the last 24 hours that we had, I think that showed what this team is about. That was established long before me but they put in a great performance tonight.

"We've talked a lot about belief. There's things that can happen that are out of your control but if you can focus on what you can control, the football, then you can get the result.

"I was really pleased. I think we did start well then the Netherlands started to dominate. We did a tactical change, got a foothold back in the game and we were unlucky to conceded that chance but I think we dominated the second half and were unlucky not to win.

"The growth of this team with only five or six sessions, players finishing seasons, I'm excited now to take all this in. We have a bit of a break and we'll start again in October and get a chance to look at players who aren't even here. This is a good way to finish this campaign.

"There's nothing like being in the environment, being involved in matchday. I think now it's about consolidating the learnings and maximising the strengths of everyone in this team."

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Kirsty Maclean was outstanding in the middle of the park as Scotland ended a disappointing Nations League campaign with a promising 1-1 draw in the Netherlands.