Scotland Women's Football Team

Image source, Scottish FA

Four goals from Martha Thomas drove unbeaten Scotland to a comprehensive victory against Israel that extended their lead at the top of Group B2 in Euro 2025 qualifying.

The Tottenham striker scored two either side of half-time in Scotland's second meeting with Israel in four days behind closed doors.

Thomas slotted the opener in Budapest, Hungary, after another impressive start from Pedro Martinez Losa's side before heading in a second on the end of an outstanding team move.

Her team-mates could have chipped in with a few in between but the striker settled any nerves with a third following good movement and added a fourth with her head.

Once the 28-year-old was substituted, Chelsea Cornet took the reins and emphatically netted her first international goal with a smashed effort late on.

Read the full report here

Image source, SNS

Scotland boss Pedro Martinez Losa was delighted with Scotland's performance in their 5-0 victory over Israel.

It was a slow start for the Scots in Budapest but they powered to victory with Martha Thomas scoring four before Chelsea Cornet opened her international account late on.

"We are very happy with the performance and very proud of the team," Martinez Losa said.

"It was a proper team performance with some circumstances to deal with throughout the game but that's what a team is there for.

"The players have shown this level in training and they had the opportunity to show what this team is about and show what they want to be.

"We are more proactive in the final third and Martha is a player who can be very effective from crosses and that's something we managed to do.

"The opponent started with energy and tried to do something different to get something from the game, but we very quickly sped up the tempo of the game we corrected some areas that we struggled in a little bit in the last match and it was an excellent performance.

"The team have been working so hard and I'm so pleased they got the result today because they want to do the nation proud.

"It was very important for us not to concede any goals, be solid defensively and I think we showed that today.

"We were all very disappointed with the goal we conceded at Hampden on Friday but that shows the high standards we have so we were just pleased that today we were capable to keep the ball out of the net."

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, Scottish FA

The double-header against Israel sandwiched in the middle of the fixture list was always viewed as a must-win pair of games, with the hope of a good few goals too.

Scotland completed the task at hand with relative ease, barring a few scares on Friday which were handled well by Lee Gibson in goal.

Martinez Losa’s side looked back to their old selves. The confidence was no doubt knocked by the poor Nations League campaign and the Pinatar Cup was not as successful on the pitch as some would have hoped.

However, going undefeated in the first four Group B2 games has allowed the Scots to smile again and play some lovely stuff, despite missing key operators.

Across both games, the front three of Hanson, Thomas and Emslie have particularly impressed, and their link-up play has been joyous. They seem settled and connected, which will be key if next summer’s Euros are eventually reached.

With Erin Cuthbert rested, captain Corsie shifted into the midfield and made the position look her own. Her natural instinct to sit deep allowed Sam Kerr to roam forward and influence the top end of the pitch alongside Cornet.

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland at Budaorsi Stadion

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When asked what she was expecting in Tuesday's rematch against Israel, Jane Ross replied: "Our goal is go and win the game and stay top of the group."

It's as simple as that, she assured me.

The 34-year-old is used to being at the top. A trophy-laden spell with Glasgow City was followed with successful stints down south in the Women's Super League with both Manchester clubs, as well as West Ham.

Since returning to Scotland, Ross has been a part of the growth of her childhood club, Rangers, in the SWPL.

She hasn't slowed down on the international scene either and made her 150th appearance in the dark blue on Friday. Unsurprisingly, the overriding emotion was pride.

"It’s a huge honour," she said after the squad's final training session before taking on Israel in Hungary.

"I love representing my country, to have done it once was a dream come, to reach 150 caps is amazing."

Since making her debut in 2009, Ross' role has evolved, parallel to the game. Most recently she's been added to the 'leadership' team as one of the elder stateswomen of the squad.

How did that come about?

"It’s just kind of happened, if I’m being honest!" said Ross.

"Obviously having that leadership role within the group, I’m there for the younger players if they ever need anything and I bring what I can experience wise to the group."

With six years of WSL experience, and a title with Man City in addition to a hoard of honours with Glasgow City, she has plenty of wisdom to impart.

Having reached the 150th-cap milestone on Friday, Scotland and Rangers striker Jane Ross says it is a "huge honour" to hit the tally.

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland in Budapest

Image source, SNS

Pedro Martinez Losa hailed the "professionalism" of Scotland goalkeeper Lee Gibson who recently lost her number one spot to Sandy MacIver before her injury.

The Manchester City shot-stopper ruptured her ACL in the opening minutes of Scotland's Group B2 opener against Serbia and was replaced by Gibson.

The Glasgow City goalkeeper kept a clean sheet against Slovakia, in her first start since the 6-0 defeat to England before backing it up with an "outstanding" performance against Israel in Friday's 4-1 win.

Gibson pulled off three wonderful saves to deny Israel at clinical moments in the match, and they didn't go unnoticed by the the head coach.

"Her experience and leadership is unbelievable for the group," the Spaniard said in advance of their second meeting with Israel in four days.

"She always took every situation with professionalism and with the best interest of the group, putting the team in front of her own interests and we really appreciate that.

!It makes our work with the young ones easier and we are very proud of that and I am very happy she put that performance in on Friday night.

“She was outstanding, but it was never in doubt."

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland in Budapest

Image source, SNS

Pedro Martinez Losa spoke to us in Budapest following Scotland's final training session before their Euro 2025 qualifying match against Israel in Budapest tomorrow.

Here are the key points the head coach made:

• After Friday's win against Israel took Scotland top of Group B2, he said "that is probably where we expected to be" after two wins, and one draw.

• The Spaniard was pleased to see four goals scored and said "new solutions" for the squad to score had been worked on and found.

• His sole focus is on Scotland and how they can improve from Friday, noting he wants more "competitiveness" and to eradicate "the slipping of standards in moments".

• The head coach highlighted Lee Gibson's performance on Friday as "outstanding" and added her leadership in the group is "unbelievable".

• He confirmed his full squad is available for selection after Leah Eddie joined the team from the Under-23's after Sarah Ewens picked up an injury.

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Leah Eddie has been drafted into Pedro Martinez Losa's Scotland squad, replacing new Rangers team-mate Sarah Ewens.

23-year-old Eddie became Jo Potter's first signing of the summer on Thursday as the defender returned to the Glasgow club following a five year-stint at Hibs.

With two international caps already, she will now join up with the national team ahead of their behind-closed-doors Euro 2025 qualifier against Israel in Hungary on Tuesday.

Scotland thrashed Israel 4-1 in a protestor delayed first encounter on Friday.

Forward Ewens has also two caps, but has now dropped out of the squad.

Image source, SNS

Scotland boss Pedro Martinez Losa praised the focus of his team in the 4-1 victory over Israel that moved them top of their Euro 2025 qualifying group.

"I want to raise the professionalism of the team," he said.

"Not only the focus of the players but also the staff in challenging circumstances. Our main focus and inspiration is for Scotland to qualify for the Euros and we have to be at the top of the group, where we are now, we have to win games and that's what we remained focussed on"

"I've always been proud of this team. Obviously when we put in a good performance I think it's a good reward and it's a good moment to recognise Jane Ross for 150 caps, we were celebrating that in the dressing room"

"The way we played in the first half was excellent. We created a lot of opportunities and I think that's something we want to repeat."

"I've already said, I cannot control speculation. My focus is and has been here."

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

Scotland moved top of their group after overcoming Israel in a Women's Euro 2025 qualifier that was played behind closed doors and delayed by a protester at Hampden Park.

The Scottish FA decided not to allow spectators in to the national stadium because of security concerns.

Hundreds of protesters gathered pre-match outside the stadium over Israel's military operation in Gaza while an individual breached security and chained himself to a goalpost to delay kick-off by 30 minutes.

When the game got under way, Scotland were rampant in one of their finest first-half performances under manager Pedro Martinez Losa, who has been linked with the vacancy at Lyon.

Read the full report here.