Scottish Women's Football

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, Colin Poultney/SWPL

If this tie were taking place last season, you'd be forgiven for thinking it was the most likely place for an upset.

Glasgow City had their fair share of ups and downs last season while Partick Thistle were punching well above their part-time weight.

Although previous scorelines wouldn't have you believe it, the two Petershill Park teams have looked close in their meetings over the years.

But Glasgow City look a force to be reckoned with this term.

They're top of the SWPL, one point clear of Rangers in second and four clear of Hearts in third, plus they've scored 59 goals and only conceded four - no other team has conceded fewer.

Leanne Ross' side have won five of their last six league games - the best record in the division.

Thistle on the other hand haven't enjoyed the greatest start to the new season. They've picked up just one victory in their last six and have only scored 18 goals - 15 fewer than Motherwell above them.

But Brian Graham's team tasted cup success last season, making it to the final of the SWPL Cup and even equalising against Rangers before ultimately going on to lose 4-1.

Image source, Malcolm Mackenzie/SWPL

Sunday's Scottish Cup match between Edinburgh rivals Hibs and Hearts will be their third meeting of the season and, as usual, it's totally unpredictable.

The first match between the pair this season was a resounding 4-0 win for Hearts at Easter Road - a wake up call for Grant Scott's side who are hoping to close in on their rivals this season.

That victory suggested the second meeting at Tynecastle would end up in another Hearts' win.

Enter Rosie Livingstone. The youngster came on in the 60th minute and marked her return from injury with a stunning goal with 10 minutes to play which sealed all three points for Hibs.

Hearts and Hibs are separated by three points in the league table although the former have scored more, won more games and conceded fewer goals.

In terms of shots on target (including goals), Hearts have only had one more - 114 compared to Hibs' 112. In defence, Hearts have only conceded seven goals from 105 shots conceded while Hibs have conceded 13 from 102 shots faced.

Up top, Hibs' strikers Eilidh Adams and Kathleen McGovern have scored 26 goals between them while Bayley Hutchison and Georgia Timms have netted 14 together.

But, Eva Olid's side have scored significantly more goals from midfield and clearly have a threat all over the pitch, while Hibs' threat is more focused in attacking areas.

Last season, Hearts lost out in the final of the competition to Rangers and will be eager to get back to that place and go one better. While Hibs have lifted the trophy eight times in their history but not since 2017.

The next step in the development of both teams is to add some silverware to the trophy cabinet but only one of them will go a step closer on Sunday.

Image source, SNS

Spartans forward Hannah Jordan has won the SWPL player of the month award after scoring all four of her team's goals in November.

The 20-year-old, who has eight goals in 15 appearances this season, netted a hat-trick against Montrose and the equaliser in a draw with Queen's Park as Spartans picked up four points from a possible nine.

Jack Beesley's side are eighth in the table, six points clear of the relegation zone.

Hamilton's Josephine Giard won the SWPL 2 award for the second time this season. The forward scored in all three games - reaching the 50-goal mark for the club - to help Accies sit eight points clear at the top.

We asked for your thoughts on Scotland's play-off defeat to Finland.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Margaret: These players do not deserve to be at the finals of any tournament. Sack the manager. Bring in some young players and go again for the next tournament.

Graham: Sad truth is they are simply not good enough, the so called star players did not perform and Finland over the two games deserved to win and they are bang average team so what does that say about Scotland?

Lisa: We have gone backwards under Pedro Martinez Losa, women's football has improved a lot and we haven't kept up. Tactics were questionable and unless we're against smaller teams, he cannot get the best out of the quality players. We didn't get any luck tonight but it's a much bigger problem than luck.

Gordon: Team let down badly by Caroline Weir in both games against Finland. Miles off the pace and deliveries were shocking. Reputation shouldn't guarantee anyone a place and Erin Cuthbert playing too deep. Manager should have a long hard look at himself.

Danny: Another very poor performance, with our so-called stars failing to turn up again. The truth is we have little quality in the team. At least we will now get rid of the manager, three years too late in my view. He is totally incapable of getting the best out of even average players.

Grant: Poor first leg, absolutely no aggression and a bit unlucky maybe, but tactically I didn't get it after going a goal down. To me the manager can't progress the team any further, change is needed.

Graham: Surely now it is the time for a change of coach. Finland are not an amazing team but they controlled this tie and qualified comfortably. They looked fitter and better drilled. Certain players "cannot miss" this tournament apparently. Well, they are missing it, and since the players can't be changed, it's the coach who needs to. We need fresh ideas.

Mary: Big names did not turn up. Same as their performance at Easter Road last week.

Former Scotland goalkeeper Gemma Fay says the national side do not have a "clear identity" under Pedro Martinez Losa.

The Scots failed to qualify for their third major tournament in a row following Tuesday night's 2-0 defeat by Finland in the Euro 2025 play-off.

"I'll be honest, I've been struggling to pinpoint what their identity is," Fay told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"Scotland has always unashamedly built teams around our best players. When I was playing, we built it around Julie Fleeting. She was the star, she was the difference maker.

"Everybody talked about Kim Little in attack, she was actually our best defender. We played this transition game because that's what she was so good at.

"And then you come to this generation and it should be built around getting the ball to our midfield, allowing our wide players to get high and wide, bodies in the box to finish. And I think we've struggled to do that.

"We struggled to see the likes of Erin Cuthbert, Caroline Weir and Sam Kerr being that anchor there and if we don't get the ball there and they can't impact the game then we struggle.

"Yes, we won games in our qualification campaign but we didn't dominate games enough. So I do get a little confused when Martinez Losa speaks - he can't seem to find something to hang his hat on, and I think that's come across.

"I don't think we have evolved as much as we could and should have."

Captain Rachel Corsie and former midfielder Leanne Crichton give their reaction to the Euro 2025 play-off defeat by Finland.

Corsie tells us what the atmosphere was like in the changing room post-match and what the defeat means for her future as a Scotland player.

Give it a listen on the BBC's Behind the Goals podcast

Image source, SNS

Caroline Weir says Scotland "gave everything" in their play-off final defeat to Finland in Helsinki.

The Scots, who failed to bring any advantage from the first leg, were caught our early by the home side who adapted to the freezing conditions seamlessly while Scotland stuttered to a 2-0 loss.

In Rachel Corsie's absence, Real Madrid midfielder Weir led Scotland out at the Bolt Arena, and said her side "couldn't have done much more".

It now leaves Scotland without a major tournament appearance in six years.

"I think we did everything, this game came down to a couple of moments that weren't in our favour," the 29-year-old told BBC Alba.

"The team couldn't have done much more. Unfortunately we've not done enough and it's a really tough one to take.

"It's really hard to digest at the moment, it wasn't our night. We've worked so hard in the last couple of years to be in this position and unfortunately we couldn't take that final step.

"The players have worked so hard but it wasn't enough."

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland at Bolt Arena, Helsinki

Image source, SNS

Pedro Martinez Losa said Scotland "must stick together" after their "regretful" failure to qualify for next summer's European Championships.

The Scots fell to a 2-0 defeat in Finland and will now watch a third major tournament in a row from home.

However, the Spaniard insisted the squad "deserved" to be there, though admitted they can "always do more".

"We started the game in difficult conditions," the head coach said. "After the goals I thought we dominated the opponent, created enough changes to score but football is like that. We had a shot that hit the post, a potential penalty but the girls fought until the end.

"This is an opportunity for the players to lead each other through a difficult moment.

"I don't know how you can teach the players to play on a frozen pitch. They are used to playing in these conditions, especially in the first minutes. It caused a couple of adjustments for us. You always can do more.

"There are regrets because we wanted to qualify, so the biggest regret is the outcome. We needed to win more games or get more goals than Finland and we didn't do it.

"I need to analyse the game and analyse myself, now though I will prepare the team in the same way.

"The immediate future, as we discussed in the dressing room, is to stick together. We wanted to enjoy the tournament together but it is also an opportunity for the players to inspire."

Scotland suffered play-off heartache again and failed to reach next summer’s Euro 2025 finals as they fell to defeat in a freezing Finland.

Pedro Martinez Losa’s side – who could only secure a 0-0 draw at Easter Road in the first leg - headed to Helsinki with the hope of qualifying for their first major tournament in six years, but started slow and were promptly punished.

Natalia Kuikka had the freedom of the Bolt Arena to line up a belting long-distance shot, before Nea Lehtola smacked her strike in off Sophie Howard’s face to deceive Eartha Cumings and send Finland on the way to the finals.

The opener had been brewing, but the second was a sucker-punch.

Did you make the trip out to Finland or were you following the match from home? Have your say on Scotland's performance., external

Scotland defender Sophie Howard insists Scotland "will go again" despite the disappointment of missing out on another national tournament.

After a goalless draw at Easter Road on Friday, Tuesday's second leg defeat to Finland denied the Scots from getting to their first major tournament since 2019.

"I think we're just really disappointed," Howard said of the Scots' failure to make their third tournament in a row.

"We wanted so much more and we didn't achieve it. As a team we feel like we gave it everything.

"I wouldn't say we let ourselves down because we're in this together, we're just massively disappointed.

"I feel like every single player on that pitch gave everything and I think we deserved to win with the way we played.

"I think it's important that you allow the emotions to be disappointed, it just shows how much it means to us.

"To think about how we can recover from this would be wrong, we're allowing the tears, and there have been many tears, but give it some time and we can look at how we can come back from this and lift each other up because that's what this group is about.

"The whole national team is ready to pick one another up and go again."

Image source, SNS

Scotland boss Pedro Martinez Losa: It's frustrating and it's painful and it's going to be painful for a long time.

"I have the responsibility to show and appreciate the efforts of the staff. Life sometimes is not fair and these players have been fighting for a long time to inspire the nation and take the team to a major tournamnet. We feel we're on the borderline.

What I can control is my commitment to the players, all the decisions I don't control them. I prefer to stay right with myself and the work that has been done.

"What the future brings is not in my control. I signed a contract, I have a commitment to the staff and the players, there's no reason not to continue."

Image source, SNS

In a disappointing night for Scotland, Kirsty Hanson looked the most likely to make a difference. Every time she got the ball she looked to get forward and was unlucky not to find herself on the scoresheet, or at least to grab an assist.

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

This was a re-run of a horror film.

Scotland have starred in this movie too many times, and while there was a bit of belief their recurring role was over, they ended up front and centre of it again.

For all the confidence, calmness and composure exuded in camp this week, such traits were not on show in Helsinki.

Nor were they in the Scottish capital on Friday.

For much of the 180 minutes the sides have played in the last few days, Scotland have been so far off it. As they were in play-off defeat against the Republic of Ireland two years ago.

The Scots did create chances for an hour or so here but, over the course of a mammoth two matches, that was nowhere near enough.

It was said on Friday that Scotland did not want to show everything they have, that they did not want to allow Finland a look at their hand.

It is an ambitious, and alarming, approach and one which will continue to leave many scratching their heads.

That has been a reaction in keeping with much of Martinez Losa’s spell. Whether it be his eyebrow-raising comments, the bland brand of football, or his selections, the head coach need not look far for doubters.

And they will make themselves known after this failure.

Star midfielder Caroline Weir had said it was “everything” to qualify for next summer’s Euros. If that was Scotland giving their all, they are a long way away from returning to the top table.

Image source, SNS

Analyst and coach John Walker thinks the "quality" in Scotland's squad will prove enough to beat Finland in Helsinki and reach Euro 2025.

The sides played out a drab goalless draw at Easter Road on Friday, but Walker expects Scotland to raise their levels with a major tournament spot on the line.

"The idea that Caroline Weir and Erin Cuthbert don't get a major tournament next year would be kind of unthinkable, we've got enough quality," Walker said on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"We're the last team to win in Finland with Scotland and I know Weir and Cuthbert were in the team in those games.

"Weir scored the goal the last time we won there and although the performance was pretty poor, I think Finland were kind of set up to really break well.

"We've got too much quality and I would expect us to show that tonight."

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."