Scotland are seeking to move on from their Nations League disappointmentVenue: Pinatar Arena Football Centre, Murcia, Spain Date: Saturday, 24 February Kick-off: 13:05 GMTCoverage: Watch on BBC Alba & iPlayer, follow live text coverage on the BBC Sport website & app
Scotland are ready to “get to the next level” after “deeply honest and ruthless” reflections on their Nations League campaign, says head coach Pedro Martinez Losa.
They have two Pinatar Cup friendlies – against Philippines on Saturday and Finland or Slovenia on Tuesday – before Euro 2025 qualifying starts in April.
“It’s about reconnecting, building confidence,” Martinez Losa said.
Speaking to BBC Scotland, he added: “The competition has been hard on us in many aspects in the last few months but it is also about the players believing.
“Camp from camp, you get the same squad pretty much, but not all the players are the same because they come in different moments of form.
“But we really wanted to create a good atmosphere so the first step when they arrive here is that they are happy, and after that, everything else can come.”
Scotland defeated the Philippines in last year’s Pinatar Cup with goals from Lauren Davidson and captain Rachel Corsie. Despite that, and the belief “we are a better side”, Martinez Losa stressed the need to remember “Philippines were at the World Cup, and we obviously weren’t”.
Experienced striker Ross ‘honoured’ to be back
Jane Ross was out of football for 17 months with an ACL injury
One of the few players who is with the squad in Spain but wasn’t involved in the previous campaign is Rangers striker Jane Ross.
The 146-cap forward missed the inaugural Nations League because of her anterior cruciate knee ligament (ACL) injury, but fit-again Ross is “honoured” to be back in the international set-up.
“It’s something that was a goal of mine when I got injured and was going through the rehab,” the 34-year-old said.
Ross has made an emphatic return to life with SWPL leaders Rangers, scoring 11 goals in nine games, and while she said it “would be the dream” to net on her international recall, she is simply appreciating the game again.
“I am just first and foremost enjoying being back,” said the former Manchester United player, who is involved in her first SWNT camp in 21 months.
“It’s something you can take a little bit for granted when you’re fully fit and continually going, so to have a period of time to reflect and look at certain things and to get a greater appreciation for the game back again, I’m just loving being back on the pitch again and being able to play.”
While the sight of Ross, whose 62 Scotland goals put her behind only Julie Fleeting in the all-time charts, is a welcome one, Scotland are still without influential midfield pair Caroline Weir and Emma Watson, who are working through their own ACL injuries.
Ross’ return is proof for the duo there is light at the end of the tunnel, but she stressed the importance of discovering why so many female footballers are experiencing it.
“The research needs to be done into it to work out what is causing it to happen to so frequently, that’s the biggest question we need an answer to,” she added.
“If we try and get to the bottom of that and reduce the amount – I don’t know if we will ever be able to eliminate from the game – but reduce the frequency, then that’s something.”
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2024-02-23 18:08:15
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