Scotland Face Czechia with World Cup Hopes still in Sight
Scotland look to feature in the FIFA Women’s World Cup next summer - but the route to Brazil will be one full of challenge and require belief and their best performances yet.
Scotland’s men’s team saw their first World Cup since 1998 over this past summer, while the women’s team competed in their first and only Women’s World Cup two tournaments ago in 2019. That campaign ended in the group stages with a draw to Argentina, followed by them failing to qualify for the 2023 tournament - but with an impressive roster of acclaimed players and success in their European qualifiers thus far, the team seem likely contenders for making it to Brazil next summer. If they see out Czechia, Scotland will face the winner of Lithuania vs Sweden, they still have a long road yet to see the World Cup stage.
The Road to these Playoffs
In the first round of qualifiers, Scotland went against Belgium, Luxembourg, and Israel, coming away top of their group with a goal difference of 22 - the most of any group. The team won score-heavy matches against Israel and Luxembourg, though drew with Belgium in both legs.
This brought them into the autumn qualifiers, where they will aim to be one of eight European teams who qualify for the tournament from the playoffs; joining Denmark, Spain, Germany and France, who have already qualified from winning their respective groups.
The team is scheduled to face Czechia away on the 9th of October, then at home on the 13th.
Head coach Melissa Andreatta named her squad for the upcoming qualifying fixtures in late September and spoke positively of her ambitions for the team following their match results and quality in training.
A Talented Squad:
Goalkeepers: Sandy MacIver, Eartha Cumings, Lee Gibson.
Defenders: Georgia Brown, Jenna Clark, Nicola Docherty, Sophie Howard, Emma Lawton, Rachel McLauchlan, Amy Muir.
Midfielders: Chelsea Cornet, Erin Cuthbert, Sam Kerr, Kirsty Maclean, Maria McAneny, Miri Taylor, Caroline Weir.
Forwards: Lauren Davidson, Claire Emslie, Freya Gregory, Christy Grimshaw, Kirsty Hanson, Kirsty Howat, Mia McAulay, Kathleen McGovern, Martha Thomas.
Five players from that 2019 WWC squad remain on the call-up sheet today: Claire Emslie, Erin Cuthbert, Caroline Weir, Nicola Doherty, and Sophie Howard. Since then, the team have seen an increase in players from top leagues (WSL, NWSL), with attack seeming a particular strength within squad depth.
Having recently signed for OL Lyonnes from Real Madrid, Ballon d’Or nominee Caroline Weir scored a hat-trick in both qualifier games against Israel. Further strength comes from Tottenham’s Kirsty Hanson, who scored a brace in the club’s WSL opener against West Ham, and netted 12 overall in the 25/26 season with Aston Villa - a key player in the club’s success.
Sandy MacIver is the likely choice in goal, coming from top NWSL side Washington Spirit after a successful season of stepping up as their starter.
Chelsea captain and midfielder Erin Cuthbert remained sidelined from a knee injury in the season thus far, though the call-up means she is back on the international stage. A huge boost for the Scots as they chase World Cup dreams.
Czechia’s Challenge
Though Czechia came away with an impressive 18 goals from their first round of qualifiers in League C of the UEFA qualifiers, Scotland played in League B, they conceded far more, including a 3-1 loss against Wales. Their squad includes the likes of former Arsenal and Tottenham goalkeeper Barbora Votíková and Roma goalkeeper Olivie Lukášová. Liga F side Real Sociadad also have Klára Cahynová who scored 4 goals for Czechia in qualifying. Nineteen of the Czechia squad play for either Sparta Prague or cross-town rivals Slavia Prague, the rest play for 6th in the 1. Liga Women (Czechia’s highest women's league) Slovácko.
Andreatta and the squad will likely see these games as a viable chance to prove themselves, and hopes are high that they will be named as one of the successful eight leaving this stage towards the tournament.