Scottish Women's Football

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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

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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

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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.

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Liv McLoughlin is looking forward to a "massive" future with Rangers after making her loan move permanent.

The 19-year-old midfielder spent last season on loan from Aston Villa, helping Jo Potter's side to SWPL Cup and Scottish Cup success, and will now be with the Glasgow club until 2026.

“I’m really excited, I think the next few years are massive for me and to be joining a club like Rangers, I can’t wait to get going," McLoughlin told club media, external.

“Coming on loan here and enjoying it so much and playing and being a big part of the team, that has really helped my decision to stay.

“The factors of being so far away from home was playing on my mind, but when you are surrounded by good people in the team it makes it easier.

“I think winning silverware is massive for me and the team, hopefully we can go on to win more next season.”

Head coach Potter says McLoughlin will be a "huge asset" for the club and added: “Liv is someone who fitted seamlessly into the squad and we believe she will only get stronger as she matures and develops."

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Celtic fan favourite Natasha Flint has completed a permanent move to newly-formed American side Tampa Bay Sun.

The English striker spent the second half of the 2023-24 season on loan from Liverpool, scoring 11 goals in 14 league appearances to help Celtic win their first SWPL title.

It was Flint's second loan spell at the Glasgow club and she once again topped it off with silverware, having lifted the Scottish Cup in 2023.

Following the conclusion of her contract with Liverpool, the 27-year-old makes the switch to Tampa Bay Sun ahead of their debut season in the inaugural USL Super League.

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.

Partick Thistle's latest singing Courtney Stewart is desperate to be back playing football after being told she'd have to quit.

Stewart had a trial stint with Thistle last summer but after a seizure couldn't make the switch to Petershill due to the medical condition.

The former Newcastle United player has been working hard to get back to full fitness and has become Brian Graham's first signing of the summer.

"I'm back with a vengeance and raring to go," the midfielder told club media.

"Last year I was told to stop playing so I know how it feels for football to be taken away.

"At such a young age it was hard to hear so to be given that opportunity again, I feel blessed.

"Everything about the club is everything I want to be part of. I've been brought up with good morals and the place shows it."

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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

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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

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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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Montrose and Aberdeen picked up the most points from losing positions in the SWPL last season.

Both sides secured their safety in the top flight having both finished in the bottom half of the table.

The Dons won 13 points from losing positions while Montrose came from behind to pick up 16 points.

They were the only bottom-six sides to pick up more than 10 points when trailing and won more than any of the top-six teams.

Title winners Celtic took five points from losing positions while Rangers picked up 10.

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Spartans have confirmed the signing of Hearts midfielder Erin Rennie on loan for the upcoming SWPL campaign.

Rennie has made the switch across Edinburgh for the duration of the 2024-25 season.

Talking about her move, the 21-year-old told club media, external: “I’m delighted to sign for Spartans.

"Jack [Beesley] and the club are ambitious in terms of the direction that they want the club to go in and I want to be a part of that.

"I’m looking forward to meeting the team and getting started.”

Manager Jack Beesley added: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Erin to Spartans.

"Attracting a player of her calibre is a great coup for the club and outlines our ambitions to progress.

"She is a player who will bring creativity, intelligence and a huge desire to win and whose drive, high standards and high level of professionalism will compliment our existing group very well.

"We are confident Erin can make a really positive impact next season, as well as Spartans providing the ideal environment for her to continue her development.”

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After returning to Rangers, Leah Eddie is eyeing the first silverware of her career next season.

The defender became Jo Potter's first summer signing, putting pen to paper on a two-year deal with the Glasgow side.

The 23-year-old returns to Rangers having left for Hibernian back in 2018, but she is yet to lift a trophy in her professional career.

"Rangers have obviously been successful last season, I would love to be a part of that and it is something I would love to add to my career," she told RangersTV, external.

"I have not experienced winning any silverware in my career so far. Hopefully the next season will be the first and it can continue from there.

"I am hoping to bring leadership attributes to the team and just first and foremost get in and get sorted and hopefully hit the ground running."

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Having become SWPL champions for the first time, Amy Gallacher says Celtic now want to make their mark in Europe.

Gallacher scored the dramatic title-clinching goal on the final day against Hibs, which guarantees a spot in next year's Champions League.

And the 25-year-old forward is hoping for a glamour draw.

"We need to enjoy this moment first, enjoy the summer, but when we come back it feels like the start of something that can be bigger," she told Celtic's official podcast., external

"We want to continue winning leagues, winning trophies, but also the Champions League, I think the next step is getting a big team and playing them at Parkhead, I think that would be massive for the club.

"But I think it's important to enjoy the summer and we'll come back raring to go in July."

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Celtic's first ever league title is made "even more special" by the journey the club has been on says captain Kelly Clark.

The defender joined the Glasgow club back in January 2013 and has seen the side progress from part-time, to full-time, to Scottish Cup winners and now to league winners.

"Throughout my time I've had the opportunity to leave and potentially walk into a changing room where I'd be guaranteed a league winners medal at the end of it," Clark told the official Celtic FC podcast, external.

"I don't know what it's been about the club but I've never had it in me to do that.

"I've always wanted to play for Celtic, even when things weren't great. 10 years ago when I signed things weren't brilliant but the difference between then and now is unimaginable.

"No matter what offer came in, no matter what the situation was here, there's just something about the place. The way of life, the obsession all the fans have, I never wanted to leave.

"I didn't have it in me, I don't have it in me. I feel like I'm as obsessed as everyone who comes in here on Saturday.

"The journey that we've been on to get to this, to win the league, to have won everything we could've won in Scotland, to play in the Champions League, it just fills me with pride.

"I don't think people really understand how difficult it was when we first came here. To think back to what I signed for and to compare it to what we did on Sunday, I'm so delighted for everybody that's been a part of the journey. It just makes it even more special."

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Hibs signing Stacey Papadopoulos is hoping to help build on a successful end to the 2023/24 season.

The defender put pen to paper on a pre-contract with the Edinburgh outfit and will link up with Grant Scott's side this summer, joining from Australian side Western United.

“In one of my first meetings with Grant [Scott] and Stewart [Hall], I said watching from afar, I felt like the team were moving in an upwards trajectory," she told HibsTV, external. "That’s something I want to be a part of.

“I played in Europe a few years ago and learned so much from that experience. The motivation to be the best I can be is what brought me here.

“I want to give my best for the team and make sure that we’re able to compete in every game, finish higher in the table and compete with the bigger sides.”

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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.