SCOTLAND head coach Shelley Kerr says she expects her players to keep upping their game between now and the start of the World Cup in 98 days' time.
She used low-key friendlies in La Manga in January to give fringe players game time, but expects much more intensity at the Algarve Cup tournament.
Her side play Canada in Lagos today and the other Group A side, Iceland, in Parchal on Monday. There will be a third and final placings match two days later.
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“I want to see the players upping their levels every single time they come away with the national team,” Kerr confirmed. “We don't have a long time to prepare for the World Cup, so it's about raising the levels and competing against good teams. And it goes without saying we want to win the games.”
Canada, who won the Algarve Cup in 2016, are fifth in the Fifa rankings and top seeds for the tournament. They could only draw 0-0 with Iceland in the opening Group A game on Wednesday, but Kerr, who was watching the proceedings, said the scoreline was misleading.
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“Canada were by far the better team, especially in the first half, and created lots of chances,” the head coach said. “It was interesting to see them play a different system with three at the back and they'll be disappointed they didn't win it.”
Kerr is bolstered by the return of captain Rachel Corsie and her deputy Kim Little. They were among a number of key personnel who were unavailable in La Manga. She has also reintroduced 21-year-old striker Abi Harrison to the squad, just weeks after her move from Hibernian to FA WSL club Bristol City.
Harrison, who has just one cap as a late substitute, offers pace and power and is expected to develop further in a professional environment. She joined Bristol City after a move to Everton fell through and she also rejected an approach from her first club Celtic.
“Given the team we had at Hibs, and what we were achieving, I don't think it was in my interests to move to another Scottish side,” the forward pointed out. “The next step in my career was to go professional and test myself in another league.”
Scotland are playing in the Algarve Cup for the first time since 2002. It is a twelve team tournament, including seven of the nations who have qualified for the World Cup in France.
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