Scotland Women's Football Team

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland

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Hearts head coach Eva Olid has outlined her ambitions to abolish the "boring" talk of "the top three" in Scottish women's football.

The Spaniard's side have taken points off Celtic, Rangers and Glasgow City this season, including a win against the Ibrox outfit, on their way to securing back-to-back fourth place finishes.

And while Olid - whose team are the underdogs in Sunday's Scottish Cup final against Rangers - is aware progress must be made "little by little", she has set her sights high on ruffling feathers at the top table.

"We want to win more consistently against them," she said. "We celebrated big the win against Rangers but we want that to be normal, we want to do it more often.

“We want to stop talking about the top three, that’s the objective. It’s so boring. ‘Top three, top three, top three’, we want to stop that.”

Should they stun Rangers at Hampden, Olid believes it could be a catalyst to signing players of the calibre she needs to mix it among the three Glasgow clubs constantly.

“It’s important professional players trust us to come here as a project to keep growing," Olid added.

“A win would give us more opportunities, we could attract more top players that we need to compete against the big teams. It would just bring such confidence and belief… all positives.

“We have to believe we can beat them, because if not, what is the point? But at the same time, we have to enjoy, we don’t have any pressure."

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland

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"She's close".

That was Pedro Martinez Losa's response when asked about Amy Gallacher's absence from his recent Scotland squad.

The Celtic forward has not been selected for the upcoming matches against Israel in the Scots' Euro 2025 qualifying campaign.

That's despite amassing 47 goal contributions, making both the PFA Scotland SWPL team of the year and player of the year shortlist, and scooping Celtic's player's player of the year award.

How much more does one need to do?

It's been a special season for the 25-year-old. She has spearheaded Celtic's charge towards their first league title, which they remain in pole position to grasp this coming Sunday.

Her impressive performances on the domestic scene were rewarded with a Scotland debut back in September, and she was part of the last camp, although unused against both Serbia and Slovakia.

Martinez Losa noted on Wednesday she was "part of the group of players considered". The Spaniard added, "she is a talented player who can bring a lot to the team," and on that front, there can be no doubts. Her numbers do the talking.

Which is why her exclusion from the squad, at this stage of her superb season, is a bit of an eyebrow-raiser.

If Celtic get the job done and wrap up their maiden SWPL title, Gallacher's name will surely be in the spotlight again.

Not for her omission though, rather her outstanding contribution to their success.

Scotland head coach Pedro Martinez Losa says his personal view on playing Israel "doesn't matter" after naming his latest squad.

Adam Binnie
BBC Sport Scotland at Hampden

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Pedro Martinez Losa believes the scheduling of matches is unsustainable and a "big aspect" in the high number of ACL injuries experienced in the women's game.

The Scotland head coach was speaking of the hectic schedule his players face as he named his squad for the upcoming Euro 2025 qualifying double-header against Israel.

The squad is without five players - Sandy MacIver, Fiona Brown, Christy Grimshaw, Caroline Weir and Emma Watson - sidelined with ACL injuries, which the Spaniard linked with the lack of recovery cycles for players in between games.

"It’s a concern in terms of the multifactorial aspect that causes this type of injury," he said.

"In my opinion, scheduling is very important. We need cycles of five or six days in between the games when the players come to international camps and then go back to clubs.

“We have evidence in our data that says that a lot of players in our squad find that international games are three times more demanding in terms of the physical demands, the distance they cover and the levels of stress, as is when you represent your country.

“We come back to science, football requires a minimum of five or six days to be totally recovered to give the athletes time to recover their body, to complete the refuel of the body and to give them time to work hard again on their athletic development.

“Sadly, when you go back to the calendar, these cycles don’t have very often, and players have to play three games in one week.

“It is multifactorial, but one of the biggest aspects that we can modify and control is the scheduling and the amount of games.”

Adam Binnie
BBC Sport Scotland at Hampden

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Scotland head coach Pedro Martinez Losa named his squad for the upcoming Euro 2025 qualifiers against Israel and addressed the media.

Here are the key points from his press conference:

• He's "really excited" to welcome back forwards Kirsty Hanson and Martha Thomas after the pair missed the opening two group games through injury.

• With five players (MacIver, Brown, Grimshaw, Weir and Watson) out with ACL injuries, Martinez Losa said the frequent issue of ACL injuries in the women's game is "multifactorial" but a "big aspect" is the scheduling of games.

• Martinez Losa says that international matches are three times more demanding than domestic fixtures and that the football calendar needs to be addressed to protect the players.

• The head coach says Scotland have been "put in a position by Uefa" to play against Israel and "whether I feel comfortable playing against them or not doesn't matter, it is my duty to lead Scotland".

• It is the Spaniard's "dream to see a full crowd at Hampden for a SWNT match because Scottish fans are the best in the world".

Israel's women's team should be banned from taking part in the women's Euro 2025 qualifiers ahead of their match against Scotland, a Greens councillor has said. (The National), external

Read Monday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

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Erin Cuthbert has been named as the Scottish Football Writers' Association women's international player of the year.

The 25-year-old set up Sophie Howard's winner against Slovakia in a Euro 2025 qualifier last week, and scored in a Nations League draw against Belgium last December to take her international goal tally to 22.

The Chelsea midfielder was shortlisted for the award alongside Rachel Corsie and Nicola Docherty.

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Man City have confirmed Scotland goalkeeper Sandy MacIver ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament while on international duty.

MacIver had to be subbed off in Scotland's 0-0 draw with Serbia and City have now confirmed it was an issue with her ACL.

The 25-year-old has undergone successful surgery this week and will begin her rehabilitation with the club.

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Erin Cuthbert says a much-needed Euro 2025 qualifying victory over Slovakia gives Scotland "a good stepping stone to kick on".

Pedro Martinez Losa's side were without a win in eight competitive games, but Chelsea midfielder Cuthbert provided for Sophie Howard to head in a crucial winner at Hampden to ease growing pressure.

Scotland now have four points from two qualifiers and sit second in their group.

"There's been a lot going against us at the minute," Cuthbert said. "We're missing a couple of players, but the players we have here got the job done.

"Four points after two games is not bad going and it gives us a good stepping stone to kick on now.

"It's never ideal when there's a lot going against you, a lot of negative talk in the media, but it's up to us to turn it around and get the results."

On her international captain Rachel Corsie reaching 150 caps, Cuthbert added: "That's something to be celebrated, 150 is just unbelievable."

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Scotland captain Rachel Corsie was relieved Scotland managed to pick up all three points against Slovakia.

Corsie made her 150th appearance as Pedro Martinez Losa's side eked out a narrow 1-0 win over their opponents at Hampden.

"Results have been difficult and tonight I think we just really needed to win," Corsie said.

"The last few games we've played there have been a lot of good things but everyone looks at the scoreline and so do we.

"Tonight Slovakia made it difficult, the levels have gone up so much. I think once we got the lead we were comfortable and it's just a good feeling to get three points.

"There's probably still a bit of work that needs doing but we found a way tonight and that's the most important thing.

"I'm really proud of every single one of the caps, it's a really good feeling to play for my country."

Thomas Duncan
BBC Scotland at Hampden

This was a big game for Martinez Losa and his players. A run of one win in nine games and 18 months without a competitive victory has brought criticism, which the Scotland manager suggested was unfair, and even motivated by an agenda.

However, the results and performances have spoken for themselves and scoring goals has been a continuous struggle. The last time Scotland scored more than once in a competitive outing was in September 2022 against the Faroe Islands.

This performance still had some of the hallmarks of a team struggling for consistency and confidence - namely poor finishing and slow tempo. But crucially this time they got the job done in the absence of some key players.

Rachel Corsie's shift to midfield - on her 150th cap - added enough guile to get Scotland into better positions than they managed out in Serbia, and Howard again proved her worth in the box.

This was a nudge in the right direction for Scotland, who are top seeds in their section. But they will need to improve further if they want to negotiate the play-offs which come with a top-three finish, and reach the Euros in Switzerland next year.

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Sandy MacIver will miss Scotland's meeting with Slovakia on Tuesday but manager Pedro Martinez Losa has scant details of the goalkeeper's injury.

The 25-year-old Manchester City player was taken off during Friday's 0-0 draw away to Serbia.

"The update is that I think there will be more tests," said Martinez Losa.

"We don't even have the results yet and I'm not even sure it is for me to give the information about the results, but I don't have that information yet."

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Fiona Brown says Scotland team-mate Christy Grimshaw will come back "even better" after her ACL injury.

The AC Milan midfielder confirmed that she suffered an ACL tear during her 99th game for the Italian club last weekend and had to withdraw from the Scotland squad.

"I am just gutted for Christy on a personal level," Brown said.

"It is a huge blow for us and a huge blow to her club.

"The positive side of things is that this type of injury is way too common, but the rehab works, it's a solid process and solid operation.

"I've been through it three times, so I know that for a fact. It is a tough process, but she is surrounded by love and surrounded by support and it's a good club.

"I know personally that that goes a long way. That will be some sort of comfort, although it won't take away the frustration.

"She is a strong willed girl, she is determined and positive - one of the most positive people in the squad.

"I think she will fly through it and she will come back even better."

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