IT was mission accomplished for Scotland in their opening Group 2 games, with Shelley Kerr’s team getting the start they needed if they are to qualify for the 2019 World Cup in France.
Anything other than six points from the trip to Belarus and Tuesday night’s home game against Albania would have been damaging. For top seeds Switzerland and Scotland, home and away wins over both these nations are vital.
The fixtures against each other in April and August next year – and possibly the away ones in Poland – will determine who tops the group. It’s winner takes all, because the odds will be stacked against the runner-up qualifying.
The 5-0 victory against Albania was the biggest since Kerr took over as head coach, and the most accomplished. Scotland have scored 10 goals in three games – the first being a 3-0 friendly win in Hungary – and conceded one.
Granted, Albania have a low ranking but they were better than anticipated, continuing to play spiritedly after Claire Emslie scored her excellent goal, Scotland’s fourth, with more than 30 minutes remaining.
St Mirren Park was a good venue, and all credit to the fans who turned up on a foul night to give support. The other bonus was the grass pitch, after the artificial surface in Belarus.
“Without being controversial about it, I think football should be played on grass when possible – and especially when it comes to World Cup qualification,” Kerr said. “I don’t think the St Mirren pitch is particularly big, but it allowed us to play free-flowing football. The players love playing on grass.”
Kerr started 16 different players in the two qualifiers, living up to the promise that every player, no matter how established, will have to fight for her place.
Manchester City forward Emslie, who has seemingly limitless energy levels, was the deserved player of the match. She was outstanding against Hungary too, and scored with powerful strikes in both games, the first off the right foot, and Tuesday’s off the left. “I’ve watched Claire play for years, and there has never been a doubt in my mind about how talented she is,” Kerr said. “She has developed massively and is a proper athlete.
“Part of our blueprint moving forward is to produce two-footed players. That makes a real difference at the highest level. You could see it with Claire (pictured) on Tuesday – she cut in and scored with her left foot, but she’s equally good with the right.
“The plaudits are going to her, but Fiona Brown did very well on the other side and I thought all the players were excellent in their own areas. We’ve utilised the squad really well, and that’s the pleasing thing.
“We’re giving all the players a freedom and licence to go and express themselves; giving them that ownership is just what they’re needing.”
The size of the win will be irrelevant if Albania finish bottom of the group, and results against them are discounted, but it was another positive step forward on a murky night.
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