Scotland Women's Football Team

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland at Bolt Arena, Helsinki

Image source, SNS

On the eve of one of the most decisive games in Scottish women's football history, everyone is "calm," insists Caroline Weir.

The Real Madrid midfielder will lead Scotland out in their make or break match against Finland to decide who will make next summer's European Championships.

It's "a massive honour" for the 29-year-old to stand in for injured captain Rachel Corsie, but she knows she's in "a team of leaders" who share the responsibility.

"It's not just on one or two people, I'm surrounded by leaders and I know that everyone is going to be giving their best and leading by example," she told BBC Scotland.

"We've been together as a group for a long time with the staff as well, so it's a relaxing environment.

"Everyone is keeping calm, of course, and I think knowing what we have to do makes it easier. Having a clear game plan to stick to is what keeps people relaxed."

That plan, of course, is to reach a major tournament again after a six-year wait.

"It's everything for a lot of players," Weir added. "There's a lot [riding on it], of course it's a game of football and that's how we are going to approach it, but we know what's on the line and I think it would be everything to so many players, to the country, if we qualify."

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland at Bolt Arena, Helsinki

Image source, SNS

Pedro Martinez Losa is "confident, excited and has plenty belief" his players will get the job done in Finland tomorrow and qualify for next summer's European Championships.

The Scots face a winner-takes-all tussle in Helsinki after a goalless draw in Friday's first leg.

But the head coach is confident his side will have "better solutions" to the challenges their hosts face due to their "strong mentality".

"I'm confident and excited," the Spaniard told BBC Scotland. "I believe in my team. I believe this team is capable.

"We have individuals who are capable of helping us in the key moments, but we also have a strong mentality in the squad that will keep us emotionally stable and compete at the highest level."

Scotland have not made a major tournament in six years and it was against Finland their hopes of reaching the 2022 Euros were ended.

Martinez Losa admitted "both sides know each other well" which perhaps played into Friday's "not pretty game" but is confident it will all come together on Tuesday.

"We always want to do it at the best level for all our fans, 100%, but I hope everybody understands the scenario is not as simple as that," he added.

"I understand it was not a pretty game that we wanted to play, we all dream to play or we were planning to play but I am pretty sure we are going to improve from that game."

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland at Bolt Arena, Helsinki

Image source, SNS

Head coach Pedro Martinez Losa has been speaking to BBC Scotland before Scotland's play-off final second leg against Finland tomorrow night.

Here's what he had to say:

• Martinez Losa is "confident and excited" his team can "take the last step to transform this great opportunity into a great moment."

• The head coach said there will be a lot of "50-50" challenges in the game as the sides are so serious and similar,

• He said the 'winner-takes-all' nature makes "the motivation easier".

• On criticism from Friday's performance, Martinez Losa said he knows it "was not a pretty game" and it's "not the way we dreamed or planned to play," but football is "not simple".

• Striker Martha Thomas, who struggled with illness last week is "good and much better".

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland in Helsinki

You can't fly to a cauld country on 1 December and not head straight for the Christmas markets, right?

A wee jaunt through the Helsinki version was the cold calm before the serious storm as Scotland take on Finland in a winner-takes-all match at the Bolt Arena tomorrow night.

It was all a bit safe and subdued at Easter Road in Friday night's home leg, but there's no more time to keep the cards close to the chest.

It's now or never. Scotland must show their hand... mines are freezing.

Finland's home record is rather superb. Italy came this year and left with nothing while the Netherlands and Norway could only nick a point.

The last team to win here? Scotland.

They had a right good time that day, they'll need another of similar ilk if they're to return to the top of the European football tree...

We asked for your thoughts on Scotland's goalless draw with Finland in Friday's Women's Euro 2025 play-off final first leg.

Here's what you said:

David: Ultimately, it was a disappointing game. Finland appeared to be content to soak up any pressure and hit on the break; an away team’s prerogative. However, Scotland’s lack of creativity in the final third is an issue, Too often the final ball was ineffectual as Finland resolutely repelled attacks. It’s not a disaster but a bit of a let-down given the pre-match hype. I wish they’d just play with a swagger and believe they can win.

Scott: I thought the players were too nervous. No energy, no closing down, and they never looked as if they were going to score. Need 120% improvement if they're going to qualify. Emma Watson must start too.

Neil: Another disappointing result for Scotland and the same old issues came to the fore. A lack of pace on the right, no guile in midfield, and we are missing a clinical striker. Does the manager not watch the SWPL or the WCL? Emma Lawton and Shannon McGregor have been revelations this season in both and yet are nowhere near the squad.

Derek: Scotland’s game was based on giving the ball away, that’s never going to work. Erin Cuthbert tried to get things going, but the rest were a shambles. No quality, no ability, no technicality and no chance.

Caity: I think it was a good game but we need to work on controlling it and finishing it. Overall, very good and the girls should be very proud of themselves!

Scotland boss Pedro Martinez Losa discusses his side's performance in their 0-0 draw with Finland on Friday night.

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Captain Caroline Weir says Scotland are ready for the second leg of their Euro 2025 play-off in Finland.

After being held to a 0-0 draw at Easter Road, the Scots travel to Helsinki needing to win if they want to book their place in next year's tournament in Switzerland.

"We always want a little bit more but it's always strange playing two legs," Weir told BBC Scotland.

"It's the first leg, I think we'll take it. It's still all to play for. There are some things to learn from and go into Tuesday. I think overall we have to be positive.

"The support was great. We have time to reset, refocus and recover tomorrow. It's a quick turnaround, I think it's a challenge but one that we're ready for."

Scotland goalkeeper Eartha Cumings says the pressure is off Pedro Martinez Losa's side when they travel to Finland on Tuesday.

The Scots were held to a goalless draw at Easter Road in the first leg of their Euro 2025 play-off against Marko Saloranta's side.

Next week they travel to Helsinki for the second leg - the winner of which will book their place in next year's finals in Switzerland.

"It was a tough night but I think we feel pretty confident in ourselves defensively," Cumings told BBC Scotland.

"I didn’t feel massively pressured, I obviously wanted to keep a clean sheet but sometimes there’s nothing you can do about it.

"I think I can be a bit of a whinger at the back but I couldn’t do what they do.

"Tonight wasn’t a bad result, the tie is still in the balance. We’ve just got to go away from home and play our best, the pressure isn’t on us."

Scotland's Euro 2025 hopes remain in the balance after a tense goalless draw with Finland in their play-off first leg.

Pedro Martinez Losa's side, hoping to reach a first major tournament on the Spaniard's watch, were second best for much of the contest at Easter Road.

Linda Sallstrom's first-half lob brought out the best in Scotland goalkeeper Eartha Cumings, who also held shots either side of half-time.

The sides will resume at 0-0 on Tuesday in Helsinki, when Scotland women will hope to reach their second European Championship and first major finals since the 2019 World Cup.

And though Finland boast a strong home record, the Scots are unbeaten in nine and won there in a friendly last year.

Were you at Easter Road or following along from home? Have your say on Scotland's performance., external

Image source, SNS

Sophie Howard was immense at the back for Scotland and directed her backline so well. If it wasn't for her, it may have not been such a favourable scoreline.

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Scotland head coach Pedro Martinez Losa names an unchanged starting XI to the one that took the field in their last game, last month's 4-0 home win over Hungary.

Caroline Weir continues as captain in Rachel Corsie's absence.

Scotland: Cumings, Docherty, Howard, Kerr, Weir, Evans, Clark, Smith, Emslie, Thomas, Cuthbert.

Substitutes: Gibson, Fife, Mukandi, Clark, McGregor, Watson, Hanson, Hay, McLauchlan, Rodgers, Cornet, Napier.

Finland: Tamminen, Öling, Koivisto, Tynnilä, Siren, Kuikka, Lehtola, Sällström, Hartikainen, Summanen, Sevenius.

Substitutes: Koivunen, Korpela, Koivisto, Halttunen, Siren, Ahtinen, Alanen, Heroum, Kollanen, Franssi, Leskinen.

Image source, SNS

Martha Thomas insists the previous heartache against Finland "adds fuel to our fire" as Scotland attempt to seal a place at Euro 2025.

Pedro Martinez Losa's side host the Finns in the play-off final at Easter Road tonight - live on BBC BBC Scotland, iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app - before the return leg on Tuesday.

Scotland missed out on Euro 2021 after a 1-0 defeat by Finland four years ago.

"It adds fuel to our fire, to try and help us get there and not relive these summers where we're sat at home and not competing at these tournaments," said Tottenham forward Thomas.

"Every one of us knows we need to completely empty the tank. It's all about doing your job on the pitch, we need to make sure everyone is giving absolutely everything to get over the line.

"You need a squad full of a range of different things, experience, youth, talent, everything, and I think we've really got that here."

Scotland head into the play-off with plenty of momentum after seven straight wins, including a 5-0 aggregate victory over Hungary in the previous round.

"It's given us a huge confidence boost," added Thomas. "Any team in the play-offs is difficult to play against, so to score five and have clean sheets in both games was big for us and we can use that momentum to go into these two games.

"There's been a massive improvement, we've found a way to win, a way to score goals and a way to limit conceding goals and our results show that."

The number of women and girls who are members of football clubs in Scotland has increased by more than 16,500 since the Scotland Women's team last qualified for the European finals. (The Herald), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Scotland manager Pedro Martinez-Losa has been speaking to the media before Friday's Euro 2025 play-off first leg against Finland.

Here are the key points:

• Martinez-Losa says it's "impossible not to dream" of qualifying for the Euros. He adds that seeing the men reach Euro 2024 and the energy of the whole country inspires him to "try and replicate and maybe better" what they did. However, he knows he needs to also think "about one game at a time".

• The team is "in the best position" in terms of results and culture off the pitch, with the Spaniard adding they are "focused" and "prepared".

• He has no doubt this squad can compete in major finals. They are confident given recent results but Martinez-Losa believes they can go to another level.

• These matches are "not like any other game". Scotland have a calm environment within the camp, although he acknowledges things will get more intense as kick-off nears.

• Scotland have taken a lot from the Hungary games, not just the good moments. They need to be fully concentrated against Finland.

• The manager says his players don't need to be reminded about past play-off failures, but he doesn't want a "what if" situation.

Image source, SNS

"Togetherness has been key" to Scotland's progress under Pedro Martinez Losa, says defender Nicola Docherty.

The national side are preparing for a two-legged play-off with Finland, with the prize for the winner a place at Euro 2025 in Switzerland.

The first leg takes place at Easter Road on Friday (19:35 GMT) - live on BBC Scotland, iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app - before the Scots travel to Finland on Tuesday.

"We're going into games with confidence but know they'll be difficult," Rangers left-back Docherty told the BBC's Women's Football Weekly.

"We need to earn the right to be at a major tournament and we really want to try and get on that flight there.

"There's more excitement, I don't think there's that much pressure. Togetherness has been key to where we are. We now just want to take that next step."

Scotland will be without captain Rachel Corsie for both legs and Sam Kerr says the Aston Villa defender is a "massive miss to our team".

But Bayern Munich midfielder Kerr says the group have been boosted by the return of Real Madrid's Caroline Weir.

"Caroline is one of the top players and a top leader as well," Kerr said.

And on Friday's first leg, she added: "We're in Scotland for the first game and it's an opportunity to make a mark. We're going to really push for a good result."