Leanne Ross, Scotland's most decorated player with 133 caps, 14 league titles and 13 major cup medals, is now chasing a World Cup as the national team's assistant coach. She reached the 2017 European Championship as a player but retired before the 2019 World Cup in France. Scotland must first overcome Czech Republic in a play-off double-header, with the first leg in Pardubice. 'It would be huge,' Ross said. 'I never got to do it as a player, reaching that World Cup stage.' Ross, also Glasgow City head coach, believes the squad's current form offers a real opportunity. 'The progress that we're making and the way that we're playing at this moment is a real good opportunity for us to do that,' she said. She urged players to bring their 'magic' together to end Scotland's eight-year wait for a major tournament.
Ross knows the pain of play-off failures, having seen Finland deny Scotland a place at the 2025 Euros two years ago, while Republic of Ireland reached the 2023 World Cup in Australia. Despite potential round-two clashes with heavyweights like Sweden, Ross remains confident. 'You look at the quality we have, the teams that they're playing for, the environments that they're in and individually them bringing their magic into this team and putting that all together.'
Scotland's women's team is viewed as having a genuine shot at reaching Brazil 2027, with Ross emphasizing the importance of giving players the platform to showcase their talent on the world stage.
出典: BBC Sport Football · 要約：HeadlinesBriefing