New head coach Melissa Andreatta is more excited by the possibilities for the Scotland’s Women’s team after working with the players for the first time – and believes they can preserve their top-tier Nations League status.
Scotland round off a so-far miserable Nations League Group A1 campaign at home to Austria on Friday before travelling to the Netherlands four days later – with both matches live on the BBC.
As they did during their first stint in League A in 2023, Scotland have struggled among the elite of the Nations League and have yet to take a point from their four matches.
To have a chance of preserving their League A status via a play-off, they will need to beat Austria by two goals at Hampden.
They lost 1-0 on matchday one at the Josko Arena but those are Austria’s only points of their own modest campaign.
When the former Australia assistant head coach was asked if she believes her new side can avoid Nations League relegation, she replied “we believe we can do that”.
The 46-year-old added: “‘Excited’ is a good word for me to use. I definitely am, but I want to be measured as well and know that it’s going to take time and there’s progress to be made in order to match our ambition with the belief.
“The first few weeks have been more than I had hoped for. I said to the players that I’m falling in love with this country and the football speaks for itself.
“I only see opportunity and yes, there’s going to be tough times and yes, there’s a lot of progress to be made, but we believe in what we have, we believe we have what it takes and we’re going to fight.”
