Scotland Women's Football Team

Erin Cuthbert says Scotland are "close" to qualifying for another major tournament.

2019 was the last time the national side featured in a major competition after qualifying for the Women's World Cup.

They take on Serbia, Slovakia and Israel in the first part of their Euro 2025 qualifying campaign and Cuthbert insisted qualifying is a must.

"I feel like the squad is ready," she said. "We are in a good place, we've had a couple of years under Pedro and know the way he wants to play.

"I do feel like we are close, we just have to go and make it happen. I've been there, done it, been through all the youth age groups.

"I know what it means to play for Scotland, to be in a major tournament and it is maybe just about instilling the feeling of winning and what it means to qualify in the other players because it really is a once in a lifetime experience."

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Amy Canavan
BBC Scotland in Leskovac, Serbia

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Pedro Martinez Losa praised the “energy and passion” his players have brought to this camp, and called for them to take that positivity onto the pitch.

Scotland are looking to kick off their Euro 2025 qualification campaign with a win away to Serbia, and to also end their seven-game winless run in competitive matches.

“The dynamic of the team is very good,” he said ahead of Friday night’s game.

“Players that have come in who are not used to being in the national team are coming with energy, with passion, with pride to play for Scotland and the ones who are more experienced who are here know how it expensive it is to be in the team and how much it costs to have the Scotland jersey.

“That is the energy we want, and we want to transform that into the game.

“We have to give full confidence to all the players. When you are called up by the national team, it’s a unique moment in your life, no matter who you are.

“Yes, when the players who are out injured recover we will be very happy but at this moment in time, we are happy with this group.”

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland reporter in Leskovac, Serbia

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Scotland head coach Pedro Martinez Losa caught up with us out here at Dubocica Stadium, where his side will take on Serbia tomorrow night in the opening game of their Euro 2025 qualification campaign.

Here are the key points he made:

• Martinez Losa said his group want to create a "culture of no blame and no excuses," as he highlighted the players missing from this camp due to injury.

• He said his squad are full of energy and passion, and he wants them to take that into tomorrow night's match.

• The Spaniard said "this is probably the most challenging game of the group".

• Serbia are, according to the Scotland head coach, a nation progressing and one who compete well.

• He added that only Hibernian defender Leah Eddie would not make the game tomorrow.

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Captain Rachel Corsie insists Scotland are aiming to top their Euro qualifying group.

Scotland come up against Serbia, Slovakia and Israel in the first round of qualification for Euro 2025.

Corsie knows the pressure is on the Scots to be the best.

"Within our group we want to finish top and I don't think that would change, no matter who was in the group," she said.

"We are in League B, we want to get back to League A and to do that we want to finish top. That has always been our focus.

"There is the external weight of 'Scotland are the highest rank so they have to finish top', but we want that anyway.

"We are in control and that is something we have to take ownership of.

"There are a number of players in the team that know what it's like to play in the big games and some of the younger ones have that energy and excitement that I think fuels some of the older ones too."

Leanne Crichton and Rachel Corsie discuss Erin Cuthbert's importance for club and country

Scotland head coach Pedro Martinez Losa offers support to 17-year-old Partick Thistle goalkeeper Ava Easdon after her performance in the SWPL Cup final drew criticism from Joey Barton.

Scotland international Erin Cuthbert tells the BBC's Behind the Goals podcast she is "buzzing" about playing at Stamford Bridge with Chelsea but insists she's "not just a big-game player".

Scotland boss Pedro Martinez Losa has spoken out in support of Partick Thistle goalkeeper Ava Easdon.

Easdon, 17, was in goals for Thistle's 4-1 SWPL Cup final loss to Rangers but was mocked on social media by Joey Barton amid criticism of the women's game from the former England midfielder.

“We have to have a strong opinion on supporting Ava, obviously,” Martinez Losa said.

“A young player, who is 17 years old, who is competing excellently this season for her club.

“If we want players like her to develop and play in the national team, we have to create a safe environment where they are going to play and make mistakes.

"We have to understand that mistakes are a part of the evolution.

“I just want to show my support from the head coach position of the national team. I want to show my support to a player who is playing exceptionally.

"She is very brave to compete in a final. She has been put in that position, she is dreaming of being a football player, as are many girls in the country. And, by the way, she is playing very well.

“The women’s game’s culture is a totally different scenario where we want that togetherness, we want that atmosphere where girls can attend games, families can attend games. That’s the image we want to provide.

“But also internally we have been working so hard to create these safe environments. The only thing we can do is learn from this process and show the support to the player who is involved.”

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Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

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Pedro Martinez Losa has unveiled his Scotland squad the opening Euro 2025 qualifiers - but it feels like a missed opportunity to add some youth.

Uncapped Sarah Ewens, 31, is reintroduced, Amy Gallacher is back, and Kirsty Smith returns to the squad for the first time in over a year.

The absence of the injured Martha Thomas is a blow after her three goals in two games in the Pinatar Cup, as is Kirsty Hanson who also misses out with injury.

But there are a number of young talents who have been overlooked for the games away to Serbia and at home to Slovakia.

Jenny Smith and Brogan Hay, two of the younger members of the squad, have been cut from the Pinatar Cup squad.

Mia McAulay has been flying at Rangers and, despite being just 17, would clearly add something exciting for Scotland. Manager Jo Potter has been full of praise for the young forward and even gave her the nod to start in Sunday's SWPL Cup final, where she scored the opening goal.

McAulay has been capped at Under-15, Under-17 and Under-19 level for Scotland and knows what it takes to make the switch to senior football - having signed her first professional contract with Rangers at the start of this season - so she's clearly not fazed by the step up.

The likes of Bayley Hutchison at Aberdeen and Emma Lawton at Partick Thistle are also having standout seasons in the SWPL.

While Gallacher's recall is unsurprising on the back of 22 goals in 22 games for Celtic, the addition of Ewens is a bit of a shock.

The Rangers attacker has been doing well in Potter's side this term but has had to fight with Rio Hardy and Jane Ross for a spot in the starting XI and hasn't really nailed down her place.

Her return of five goals isn't the most impressive but she's got plenty of experience at club level and, given it's her first senior call-up, she'll be desperate to impress.

Rachel Corsie, Erin Cuthbert and Nicola Docherty have been named on the shortlist for the Scottish Football Writers' Association international player of the year award.

Aston Villa and Scotland captain Corsie has been a consistent figure at the heart of defence during Pedro Martinez Losa's side's Nations League campaign.

Docherty was a similarly constant presence, and scored a screamer in the 1-0 friendly win over Australia in the summer.

Meanwhile, Cuthbert has had her injury troubles, but has made an impact and showed her immense quality when she has donned the navy blue of Scotland. Her sensational strike in Belgium was a rare highlight in what was otherwise a disappointing her for Scotland.

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The dates of Scotland’s European qualifiers for Euro 2025 have been confirmed, with all six games taking place between April and July 2024.

Pedro Martinez Losa's side begin their campaign away to Serbia on Friday 5 April, before welcoming Slovakia to Hampden Park four days.

The Scots have just one home game on a Friday night - kicking off the double-header against Israel on 31 May in Glasgow.

A trip to Slovakia beckons on Friday 12 July, before things are rounded off at home to Serbia on 16 July.

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Former Scotland midfielder Suzanne Lappin discusses Scotland's Euros qualification hopes.

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Scotland boss Pedro Martinez Losa says Caroline Weir and Emma Watson could both be available for next month's Euro qualifiers.

Both Watson and Weir have been out since September after they both ruptured their respective ACLs.

Weir was pictured back in training with Real Madrid last week as she ramps up her return to action and Marinez Losa suggested both players could be match-fit in the not-too-distant future.

"We don't know exactly what the timeline is," he said.

"They will potentially be available but there is a difference between being available and being in the best way to compete and we have to respect the different steps [in their recovery].

"They are very motivated and if we can involve them for the first part of the group it will be great for the players. But if not I am sure for the play-offs they will be more than ready."

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Pedro Martinez Losa is confident Scotland can navigate a tricky route to the 2025 Euros after learning their opponents in qualifying.

The Scots were drawn in a group with Serbia, Slovakia and Israel with the first round of fixtures to be played next month, and Martinez Losa admits he would have preferred not to play Serbia.

"We wanted to avoid Serbia to be honest," he said.

"They are a very difficult opponent, very competitive, they did very well against Portugal and Iceland but we cannot change the draw now. We are confident we can beat the three opponents.

"It is challenging because it is international football so we just have to prepare and take it one game at a time but this team is prepared to face these three opponents."

With Scotland in League B, they face the prospect of play-offs after the group stage, but the Scotland boss isn't worried about a potentially complicated route to the Euros.

"It may look complicated but for us it is now clear," he said. "It is about doing well in the group and winning two play-offs.

"We are ready, excited and confident that we can compete against any opponent.

"I think the motivation is the opportunity for players and staff. Representing Scotland is always a privilege and it would be unique for me and all our staff so we are excited and united for that."