Scotland's women failed to get the result they needed last night to qualify for EURO2013 to be held in Sweden as best runners up. They were looking for a win with a four goal difference in the scores against France at Tynecastle. They had already qualified for the play-offs after beating Wales 2-1 away from home last Saturday but were hoping to avoid the agony of more games before they could prepare for Sweden. The dream did not come true as France showed why they are one of the best sides in the world and ran out easy 5-0 winners. It could have been more if Gemma Fay and her defenders had not been on top form and willing to put the body on the line to prevent a really embarrassing score line. The play off draw takes place tomorrow with Scotland joining Russia, Spain, Iceland, Ukraine and Austria in the hat and the two-leg ties will be played on 20/21 and 24/25 October. Scotland lost out on away goals in the play-offs to Russia in 2009 and coach Anna Signeul does not want to go through that again.
SFA president Campbell Ogilvie was at Tynecastle to support women's coach Anna Signeul (c) Ger Harley | SportPix After last night's game Signeul was not as despondent as she is usually after a loss. She said: "We played the best team in Europe at the moment and they brought in some young players who were absolutely fantastic. I think French football is just brilliant, it is fantastic. In the first half, I thought the (two) goals we conceded were quite cheap, we knew we would have to defend a lot but I do think we actually created more chances in this game than when we lost two-zero (in the away tie). If we have another six months with the players in our squad we can actually start competing with the best players in the world. It felt a little like when we played Sweden (in a friendly in May), when we lost four-zero. They are still a size too big for us but I take so many positives away from this game. To see Lisa (Evans) who provides us with a great future as a forward. Tonight we gave away too many passes as we were under so much pressure but we showed we are getting better and better technically. Physically we can't really compete but for speed we are OK. It is just when they come at us with so much pressure; so many runs into the box; we fell deeper and deeper. We are making progress all the time with players such as Emma Mitchell, who was on from the start, looking to be a great prospect for the future. We have a great squad which we can develop even more. The potential is huge in this squad. That feels really good."It has to be remembered that women’s football in France is professional and Scotland have no professional teams playing in the Women’s Premier League. Players have to work or study while training, sometimes up to six days a week. A few, like Lisa Evans who recently moved to Turbine Postdam, play overseas with professional teams which allows them to concentrate on improving their skills. Professional women’s football in Scotland is some way off but that does not mean players are not acting like professionals. They are willing to make the sacrifices to play their game.Source: FOOTYMAD
