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Scotland is riding what they hope will be a wave of continued success. They qualified for their first major international tournament, the 2017 Euro, and though they missed out on the knockout stage on goal differential, they kept the good results coming and qualified for their first ever World Cup.
The Team
The 23 players to represent Scotland at the 2019 @FIFAWWC have been revealed, as @Kerr5Shelley names her #SWNT squad.
— Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) May 15, 2019
➡️ Read more: https://t.co/wenMDRqLvB#OurGirlsOurGame pic.twitter.com/2xpk3Kd1OC
The Scottish squad is full of players plying their trade in England, as nearly half of the roster play there. The remainder is primarily players playing in Scotland, while two, Rachel Corsie of the Utah Royals, and Claire Emslie of the Orlando Pride, play in the NWSL. There’s talent there.
How They’ve Fared
This is Scotland’s first World Cup.
How They Qualified
Scotland won Group 2 of UEFA World Cup qualifying, beating Albania on the final day while Switzerland slumped to a draw against Poland, consigning Switzerland to second place by 2 points.
Group
D, with England, Argentina, and Japan.
Player You Know
It’s about time that Kim Little got to show out at the World Cup. One of the best midfielders on the planet has deserved a chance to play on the sport’s biggest stage, and now she’s going to France. Little’s three seasons with the NWSL’s Seattle Reign came between two stints with Arsenal of England’s WSL, where she plays now. Though she is just as likely to set up a goal as she is to score one, she’s credited with 53 goals in 132 national team appearances, and she’s scored 92 goals in 116 Arsenal appearances. Kim Little is the truth, and it will be a pleasure to watch her this summer.
Player You’ll Know Soon
Say hello to Erin Cuthbert.
Just 20 years of age, Cuthbert is full of style and skill, capable of going around or through opponents. Beginning her senior career as a 16-year-old at Rangers in Scotland, she moved across Glasgow to Glasgow City before moving to Chelsea in the WSL in 2017, where she’s scored 10 goals in 35 appearances, to go with her 10 goals in 30 appearances for her country. She’s going to embarrass somebody in France, and I can’t wait.
World Cup Outlook
Scotland has a good chance to get through to the knockout stage as a third place team, or maybe even as a second place team if they can get a result against an evolving Japan. Unfortunately I don’t see them going much further than that.