Scotland women's national football team

The Scotland women's national football team represents Scotland in international women's football competitions. Since 1998, the team has been governed by the Scottish Football Association (SFA). Scotland qualified for the FIFA Women's World Cup for the first time in 2019, and qualified for their first UEFA Women's Euro in 2017. As of July 2019, the team was 22nd in the FIFA Women's World Rankings.

Scotland
AssociationScottish Football Association
ConfederationUEFA (Europe)
Head coachShelley Kerr
CaptainRachel Corsie[1]
Most capsGemma Fay (203)[2]
Top scorerJulie Fleeting (116)
FIFA codeSCO
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 21 1 (26 June 2020)[3]
Highest19[4] (March 2014; September 2018)
Lowest31[4] (March 2004)
First international
 Scotland 2–3 England 
(Greenock, Scotland; 18 November 1972)[5][6][7]
Biggest win
 Scotland 17–0 Lithuania 
(Glasgow, Scotland; 30 May 1998)[8]
Biggest defeat
 England 8–0 Scotland 
(Nuneaton, England; 23 June 1973)[9]
World Cup
Appearances1 (first in 2019)
Best resultGroup stage (2019)
European Championship
Appearances1 (first in 2017)
Best resultGroup stage (2017)

History

Church documents recorded women playing football in Carstairs, Lanarkshire, in 1628.[10] Scotland first played a women's international match in May 1881.[10] Women's football struggled for recognition during this early period and was banned by the football authorities in 1921.[10] Club sides who were interested in using their grounds for women's football were subsequently denied permission by the Scottish Football Association (SFA).[10] The sport continued on an unofficial basis until the 1970s, when the ban was lifted.[10] In 1971 UEFA instructed its members to take control of women's football within their territories. The motion was passed 31–1, but Scotland was the only member to vote against it.[11] Football in Scotland has traditionally been seen as a working class and male preserve.[12]

Scotland's first official match, a 3–2 defeat to England, took place in November 1972.[5][6][7] The team was managed by Rab Stewart. The 1921 ban on women's football was lifted in 1974, and the SFA assumed direct responsibility for Scottish women's football in 1998.[12] Scotland have participated in most international competitions since the ban was removed. The team's standing has improved significantly in recent years, reaching an all-time high of 19th place in the FIFA Women's World Rankings in March 2014.[4][13][14] They reached their first major tournament finals when they qualified for UEFA Women's Euro 2017.[15] The team followed this up by qualifying for their first World Cup finals tournament in 2019.[16] Following their qualification, the Scottish Government announced they would provide funding to allow all the players to train full-time in the lead up to the World Cup, a welcome announcement as several players do not play professionally.[17] Their final home match (against Jamaica) before the 2019 World Cup saw a record attendance for the national team of 18,555.[18]

Claire Emslie scored Scotland's first World Cup goal, netting in their 2019 opener against England on 9 June.[19] After losing their second game, 2–1 against Japan, Scotland needed to win their third game against Argentina to qualify for the last 16 as a third-placed team.[20] They appeared to be heading for qualification when they took a 3–0 lead, but they conceded three late goals to draw 3–3 and exited at the group stage.[20]

Record
Scotland playing a 2015 World Cup qualifying match in Sweden

World Cup
Main article: Scotland at the FIFA Women's World Cup
Year Final Tournament Qualification
Round Pld W D L F A Round Pld W D L F A
1991Did not enter
1995Did not qualifyGroup – 4th[21]6006322
1999Unable to qualify[22]
2003
2007Did not qualifyGroup – 3rd8224420
2011Group – 2nd8611245
2015Play-offs128043812
2019Group – 4th301257Group – 1st8701197
Total1/830125742233168866
*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.
FIFA Women's World Cup history
YearRoundDateOpponentResultStadium
2019 Group stage9 June EnglandL 1–2Allianz Riviera, Nice
14 June JapanL 1–2Roazhon Park, Rennes
19 June ArgentinaD 3–3Parc des Princes, Paris

Olympics
Main article: Great Britain women's Olympic football team

At the Olympic Games the International Olympic Committee charter only permit a Great Britain team, representing the whole of the United Kingdom, to compete.[23] As London hosted the 2012 Summer Olympics, a Great Britain team was entered and two Scotland players (Kim Little and Ifeoma Dieke) were selected for the squad.[24][25]

The (English) FA indicated in June 2013 that they would be prepared to run women's teams at future Olympic tournaments, subject to one of the home nations meeting the qualification criteria (i.e. being one of the top three European nations at the Women's World Cup).[26] Following objections from the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish football associations, and a commitment from FIFA that they would not allow entry of a British team unless all four Home Nations agreed, the FA said they would not seek entry into the 2016 tournament.[27] An agreement was reached between the four associations ahead of the 2020 tournament, and qualification was secured by England reaching the semi-finals of the 2019 World Cup.[28]

European Championship
Year Final Tournament Qualification
Round Pld W D L F A Round Pld W D L F A
1984Did not qualifyGroup – 2nd631298
1987Group – 2nd64022410
1989Group – Withdrew
1991Did not enter
1993Did not qualifyGroup – 3rd401315
1995Group – 4th6006322
1997Unable to qualify[29]
2001
2005Did not qualifyGroup – 3rd84041916
2009Play-offs104151911
2013Play-offs105232416
2017Group – 3rd310228Group – 2nd8701307
2021Qualification in progressGroup E2200130
Totals1/12310228602952614295
UEFA Women's Championship history
YearRoundDateOpponentResultStadium
2017 Group stage19 July EnglandL 0–6Stadion Galgenwaard, Utrecht
23 July PortugalL 1–2Sparta Stadion, Rotterdam
27 July SpainW 1–0De Adelaarshorst, Deventer

Unofficial competition
  • World Cup
  • European Competition

Other tournaments
Year Competition Result GP W D* L GS GA Ref
1976Three Nations Championship2nd210136
1979European CompetitionGroup201102[35]
1992Varna Tournament7th320152[36]
1999Albena Cup2nd513197[37]
2000Albena Cup5th4211105[38]
2000Celt Cup3rd2101271[39]
2000Veenendal Tournament3rd201135[40]
2002Algarve Cup10th420248[41]
2006Torneo Regione Molise3rd200208[42]
2008Cyprus Cup6th410355[43]
2009Cyprus Cup7th410328
2010Cyprus Cup7th4103310
2011Cyprus Cup4th411224
2012Cyprus Cup9th420268
2013Cyprus Cup5th421176
2013Brazilian Invitational4th4004410[44]
2014Cyprus Cup4th4220107
2015Cyprus Cup7th420277
2017Cyprus Cup5th421165
2019Algarve Cup5th320152[45]
2020Pinatar Cup1st330061[46]
Total72281133124117
*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

Media coverage

Scotland women's internationals have been televised by BBC Alba and broadcast by BBC Radio Scotland.[47] BBC Radio Scotland presenter Tam Cowan was temporarily taken off the air in 2013, after he criticised the use of Fir Park for women's internationals in his Daily Record column.[48] In a November 2013 interview with The Independent newspaper, Laura Montgomery of Glasgow City FC suggested that media coverage of women's football in Scotland often reflected sexist and misogynist attitudes. This is due to a preponderance of "stupid male journalists", according to Montgomery.[49]

Stadium
Ravenscraig Stadium hosted the first official match played by the Scotland women's team, in November 1972.

The first official match played by the Scotland women's team was hosted by the Ravenscraig Stadium, an athletics facility in Greenock.[5][6] The team now normally plays its home games at (men's) club stadiums. Venues used in recent years include Fir Park in Motherwell, Tynecastle Park and Easter Road in Edinburgh, and St Mirren Park in Paisley.[48][50]

Hampden Park in Glasgow is the traditional home of the men's national team and is described by the Scottish Football Association as the National Stadium.[51] A Scotland women's international was played at Hampden for the first time in October 2012, when it hosted the first leg of a European Championship qualifying playoff against Spain.[52] Earlier in 2012, Hampden had hosted matches in the Olympic women's football tournament. In May 2019 the team attracted a record attendance for a women's football match in Scotland, when 18,555 were present at Hampden for a World Cup warm-up friendly with Jamaica.[18]

Players
Main article: List of Scotland women's international footballers

Current squad

The following 24 players were named in the squad for the 2020 Pinatar Cup.[53][54][55]

Caps and goals are current as of 10 March 2020 after the match against Northern Ireland.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Lee Alexander (1991-09-23) 23 September 1991 23 0 Glasgow City
1GK Jenna Fife (1995-12-01) 1 December 1995 5 0 Rangers
1GK Shannon Lynn (1985-10-22) 22 October 1985 31 0 Vittsjö
2DF Rachel Corsie (captain) (1989-08-17) 17 August 1989 116 16 Utah Royals
2DF Nicola Docherty (1992-08-23) 23 August 1992 22 0 Rangers
2DF Hannah Godfrey (1997-07-17) 17 July 1997 3 1 Tottenham Hotspur
2DF Sophie Howard (1993-09-17) 17 September 1993 18 1 Reading
2DF Hayley Lauder (1990-06-04) 4 June 1990 103 9 Glasgow City
2DF Emma Mitchell (1992-09-19) 19 September 1992 62 7 Tottenham Hotspur
2DF Kirsty Smith (1994-01-06) 6 January 1994 40 0 Manchester United
3MF Lizzie Arnot (1996-03-01) 1 March 1996 32 2 Manchester United
3MF Rachael Boyle (1991-12-20) 20 December 1991 34 0 Hibernian
3MF Leanne Crichton (1987-08-06) 6 August 1987 68 3 Glasgow City
3MF Lucy Graham (1996-10-10) 10 October 1996 6 0 Everton
3MF Samantha Kerr (1999-04-17) 17 April 1999 1 0 Glasgow City
3MF Amy Muir (2000-03-07) 7 March 2000 1 0 Hibernian
3MF Christie Murray (1990-05-03) 3 May 1990 66 5 Liverpool
3MF Caroline Weir (1995-06-20) 20 June 1995 71 9 Manchester City
4FW Erin Cuthbert (1998-07-19) 19 July 1998 36 13 Chelsea
4FW Claire Emslie (1994-03-08) 8 March 1994 28 7 Orlando Pride
4FW Lisa Evans (1992-05-21) 21 May 1992 83 17 Arsenal
4FW Abbi Grant (1995-12-11) 11 December 1995 7 2 Birmingham City
4FW Jane Ross (1989-09-18) 18 September 1989 132 60 Manchester United
4FW Martha Thomas (1996-05-31) 31 May 1996 2 2 West Ham United

Recent players

The following players have been selected by Scotland within the past 12 months.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
DF Chloe Arthur (1995-01-21) 21 January 1995 21 0 Birmingham City 2020 Pinatar Cup INJ
DF Jennifer Beattie (1991-05-13) 13 May 1991 128 23 Arsenal 2020 Pinatar Cup INJ
DF Rachel McLauchlan (1997-07-07) 7 July 1997 7 0 Glasgow City v.  Albania, 8 November 2019
DF Joelle Murray (1986-11-07) 7 November 1986 48 1 Hibernian v.  Cyprus, 30 August 2019
MF Kim Little (vice-captain) (1990-06-29) 29 June 1990 137 59 Arsenal v.  Albania, 8 November 2019
MF Joanne Love (1985-12-06) 6 December 1985 191 13 Glasgow City v.  Cyprus, 30 August 2019
FW Kirsty Hanson (1998-04-17) 17 April 1998 1 0 Manchester United v.  Albania, 8 November 2019
FW Abi Harrison (1997-12-07) 7 December 1997 3 0 Bristol City v.  Albania, 8 November 2019
FW Jamie-Lee Napier (2000-04-06) 6 April 2000 0 0 Chelsea v.  Cyprus, 30 August 2019
FW Zoe Ness (1996-03-24) 24 March 1996 9 1 Rangers v.  Cyprus, 30 August 2019
FW Fiona Brown (1995-03-31) 31 March 1995 39 2 Rosengård v.  Cyprus, 30 August 2019 INJ

Notes:

  • INJ = Withdrew due to injury

Honoured players
Main article: Scottish FA International Roll of Honour

The SFA operates a roll of honour for every female player who has made more than 100 appearances for Scotland.[56] The Scottish Football Museum operates a hall of fame, based at Hampden Park, which is open to players and managers involved in Scottish football.[57] Rose Reilly (2007) and Julie Fleeting (2018) are the only women to be inducted so far. Sportscotland operates the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame, which has inducted some footballers, also including Reilly.

Recent results and forthcoming fixtures
Main articles: Scotland women's national football team 2010–19 results and Scotland women's national football team 2020–29 results

2019 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
Main article: 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 2
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Scotland 8 7 0 1 19 7 +12 21 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup
2   Switzerland 8 6 1 1 21 5 +16 19 Play-offs
3  Poland 8 3 2 3 16 12 +4 11
4  Albania 8 1 1 6 6 22 −16 4
5  Belarus 8 1 0 7 5 21 −16 3
Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers

2019 FIFA Women's World Cup
Main article: 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup

Scotland were drawn in Group D.[58]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  England 3 3 0 0 5 1 +4 9 Advance to knockout stage
2  Japan 3 1 1 1 2 3 −1 4
3  Argentina 3 0 2 1 3 4 −1 2
4  Scotland 3 0 1 2 5 7 −2 1
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers

UEFA Women's Euro 2021 qualifying
Main article: UEFA Women's Euro 2021 qualifying Group E

Scotland were drawn in Group E.[59]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Finland 4 3 1 0 16 2 +14 10 Final tournament — 27 Oct 18 Sep 8–1 4–0
2  Scotland 2 2 0 0 13 0 +13 6 Final tournament
if among three best runners-up
(play-offs otherwise)		 1 Dec — 22 Sep 23 Oct 8–0
3  Portugal 2 1 1 0 2 1 +1 4 1–1 27 Nov — 1 Dec 27 Oct
4  Albania 5 1 0 4 3 17 −14 3 0–3 0–5 0–1 — 27 Nov
5  Cyprus 3 0 0 3 0 14 −14 0 22 Sep 18 Sep 23 Oct 0–2 —
Updated to match(es) played on 11 March 2020. Source: UEFA

Coaching staff

See also

References
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  2. "Scotland captain Fay announces international retirement". Scottish Football Association. 22 August 2017. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  3. "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking". FIFA. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  4. "Scotland". FIFA. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
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  6. "How Scotland's first women's football team made history to battle the Auld Enemy". Daily Record. 16 December 2018.
  7. "The history of women's football". The Football Association.
  8. Travers, Raymond (1 June 1998). "Heaven 17 for flower of Scotland". The Scotsman. Archived from the original on 11 June 2014. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
  9. England 8–0 Scotland, England Lionesses
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  21. The European Championship acted as a qualification tournament for the World Cup.
  22. Scotland were in "Class B" of European qualification and were therefore unable to earn qualification for the World Cup finals.
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  24. "SQUAD OF 18 WOMEN'S FOOTBALLERS SELECTED FOR TEAM GB". Team GB. 26 June 2012. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
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  40. Veenendaal Tournament 2000 rsssf.com. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  41. Algarve Cup 2002 rsssf.com. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
  42. Torneo Regione Molise 2006 rsssf.com. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
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  53. @ScotlandNT (18 February 2020). "Shelley Kerr has named her Scotland squad for next month's Pinatar Cup. Read more: scotfa.co/pinatarcupsq #SWNT" (Tweet). Retrieved 18 February 2020 – via Twitter.
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