Scottish Women's Football

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Martha Thomas' return has brought confidence back to Pedro Martinez Losa's Scotland squad, says Leanne Crichton.

After missing Scotland's opening two Euro 2025 qualifiers - the goalless draw in Serbia and 1-0 home win over Slovakia - through injury the Tottenham striker has returned in style by scoring five in back-to-back wins over Israel.

Four of those goals came in Tuesday's 5-0 thumping in Budapest and the 28-year-old's tally stands at eight goals in her last four Scotland matches.

Speaking on the BBC's Behind the Goals podcast, former Scotland midfielder Crichton said: "That first international hat-trick is quite significant.

"You don't score many international hat-tricks when you're a Scotland player, especially now, and it's only going to get tougher.

"We've seen the groups Scotland have been drawn in in qualifying phases. In international tournaments it's unlikely you're going to get those chances.

"I just think the confidence overall has improved with having Martha back in the squad, she's a player who thrives on goalscoring."

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Leah Eddie has relished the learning experience of being part of the Scotland squad over the past week.

The defender, who recently joined Rangers from Hibs, captained the Under-23s in their narrow defeat to Denmark before taking Sarah Ewens' place in the senior squad where she was on the bench for the double-header with Israel.

"I've got a completely different role here than I do with the Under-23s," Eddie told the Scottish FA.

"It's good to be in the leadership group when I'm away with the Under-23s but then come in and get some valuable time with the older players and see how they do things a wee bit differently from the under-23s.

"Even just training alongside the girls, the likes of Rachel Corsie and stuff who are playing at different clubs and even down south, I can learn a lot from it and take that back to the Under-23s as well."

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Scotland "needed" the outstanding performance they delivered against Israel on Tuesday and are heading into the summer on a high, says captain Rachel Corsie.

Four-goal Martha Thomas inspired the Scots to a 5-0 trouncing of Israel in Budapest four days after Pedro Martinez Losa's side tailed off in the second half of a 4-1 win over the same opposition.

With two Euro 2025 qualifiers remaining, Scotland top the group and their only dropped points came in a goalless draw at second-place Serbia.

On the 5-0 win over Israel, Corsie told the BBC's Behind the Goals podcast: "I think the biggest message was to try and create clear opportunities.

"Not to force it but give players like Martha Thomas, Kirsty Hanson and Claire Emslie good opportunities.

"You don't want the pressure to be that you need to score a worldie, it's just nice if you can give them an opportunity when you know the odds are they're going to put it away.

"We felt we needed a performance like the one on Tuesday night. It was a really good feeling.

"It was good to see that rhythm, the result, score some good goals and see different people contributing.

"It's been a nice way to go into the summer break. There's still two games to come in July but we've put ourselves in as good a position as we can going into that camp."

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Former Scotland defender Joelle Murray says back-to-back wins over Israel have given Pedro Martinez Losa's side a "big lift".

The Scots followed up their 4-1 home win with a 5-0 victory over the Israelis in Budapest, Hungary, to ensure a play-off spot and stay top of the group, above Serbia on goal difference.

"I think it'll give the girls, the squad, a big, big lift," recently-retired former Hibs captain Murray told the BBC's Scottish Football podcast.

"There was lots of non-football chat prior to both games and the girls showed their professionalism.

"They showed that they can fully focus on the task in hand. And they've done that in emphatic performances, both at Hampden and in Hungary.

"I think these last two games really showed that cohesive performance that we've all been waiting for.

"We know individually there's quality in those players but up until the last two games we've not really seen that kind of cohesion and link-up play."

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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."

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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.

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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.

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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."

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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."