Scotland Women's Football Team

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."

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Scotland midfielder Caroline Weir has returned to Real Madrid training five months after she ruptured her ACL in a Nations League draw against Belgium.

The 28-year-old required surgery and has been on the sidelines ever since but Real Madrid have taken to social media, external to share pictures of Weir back in training.

Weir's return is a big boost to Scotland as they prepare for their Euro 2025 qualifying campaign that gets under way in April.

Leanne Crichton catches up with Rachel Corsie to chat about Scotland's Pinatar Cup campaign.

They recap the last two matches, give insight from the Scotland camp and look ahead to next week's Euro 2025 draw.

Listen and subscribe to full episodes here.

Scotland head coach Pedro Martinez Losa: "I am very happy with the performance. I think we had a very complete game in possession, out of possession, the levels of commitment were very good at high pressing and counter-pressing. There were so many arrivals in the final third and that efficiency in the final third that we discussed before, but, we played against a very serious opponent who play very good football and I think it was a very good test that helps us to develop the team.

"The mood is okay and stable. We wanted to win, we were excited about that, we had worked a lot as players and staff for that but at the end, the lottery of the penalties created the disappointment.

"In the second half we were ready for other scenarios because the wind would condition a lot of our ability to get out of the press but I think we were excellent in many moments. We dominated the opponent, even with the substitutions they brought a lot of energy and had an incredible impact on the team, every player was assuming the role.

"We needed a little bit of recovery and reconnection from the competitive aspect and I think we are totally connected now and believe in what we can do.

"We are competing against Finland who are in League A right now, we beat them before, we had a feeling now that we could be the better team. Before my arrival, the feeling was not so good when we competed against Finland and were eliminated from the Euro qualifiers, not even able to play the play-offs. Now it is about a pattern of competing well against Finland, against Belgium but we want more.

"I think being a national team head coach there is always the pressure of getting results, about playing well and winning games. These two friendly matches were helping us to reconnect with those feelings, to make sure we all have confidence in that.

"Now the real pressure football-wise and competitive wise comes when you want to qualify for the Euros. "

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Scotland defender Sophie Howard spoke to BBC Scotland following the defeat on penalties against Finland in the Pinatar Cup final, which followed a 1-1 draw.

"They had one chance in the first half and they capitalised, which is frustrating, disappointing and not good enough from us, but the fact that we came back shows who we are," she said.

"We are Scottish, we have neglected that a bit in the past and I think today was a massive shift to come back and we dominated most of the game.

"I think we deserved to win in the 90 minutes."

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Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland in Pinatar

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Head coach Pedro Martinez Losa believes Scotland are in "the best scenario" as they prepare for their Pinatar Cup final against Finland.

The Scots are searching for their second success in the tournament, having been crowned inaugural winners back in 2020. They're also looking to enter the upcoming Euro 2025 qualifiers - which begin in April - in the best shape, and the Spaniard believes they are on course to doing just that.

“Every camp has a new dynamic," he told BBC Scotland.

"I think it was great that on the first day we were building better levels of execution, better levels of standards then to today, I think it was probably one of the best training sessions in terms of energy – that is something we can repeat and build.

"We always have that feeling on the last day of camp that we would like a little bit more time, but we are here to win games and prepare the group for that. This is the best scenario where we can be."