Scotland Delivers Strong Performance, Fulfilling Coach Martinez Losa’s Assertions

This video can not be playedHighlights: Scotland 4-0 HungaryPedro Martinez Losa’s statements proved accurate. The Scotland head coach had declared on Friday, following their 1-0 first-leg victory against Hungary, that there was “no way” his team would lose on their home ground on Tuesday. He then commented on Monday that the outcome “will dictate” whether he “chose the right words”. From the 17th minute, when the home side secured a deserved lead, it was clear his choice of words was astute. The Scots displayed dominance and merited their 4-0 triumph at Easter Road. They are set to return to this venue next month to face long-standing rivals Finland in the first leg of their Euro 2025 play-off final. Any suggestions that their head coach’s remarks might have created pressure were dismissed by their own impressive performance. Their showing was a stark contrast to their uninspired performance in Budapest. They played with freedom, fluidity, and abundant flair, rising to Martinez Losa’s challenge. Now, they must perform strongly once more when the Finns return to the stadium where they previously dashed Scotland’s hopes of qualifying for Euro 2022. A positive for Scotland is their belief that they have more to offer. The victory in Edinburgh marked their seventh consecutive win, and they remain unbeaten in eight matches during their qualifying campaign. In fact, they have not been defeated in 90 minutes throughout 2024. The sole imperfection was a loss to Finland on penalties in the Pinatar Cup final in February. Martinez Losa stated that his team “had the feeling that we could beat them” back then, but emphasized that “this time is a totally different scenario”. For instance, the Spaniard has Caroline Weir back in the squad. Real Madrid’s exceptional midfielder captained her country in both legs and set an example on Tuesday, marking her return to Scottish soil with a precise slotted finish after Martha Thomas’ clever flick. When these teams last met, Thomas had just scored her first goal for Scotland in seven months and only her second in 16 months. Her goal on Tuesday – Scotland’s fourth – in the capital was her seventh in her last six games. The head coach remarked, “We have probably seen the best version of a lot of players and that’s what we want to repeat.” He continued, “The difficult moments that make you panic sometimes when you are playing in a play-off, we’re learning to solve them.” He added, “The first 10 minutes, it wasn’t there, but after that we found the rhythm and that gave us confidence in the game.” ‘We’ve still got another level’ – CuthbertTheir confidence persisted after the match as well. After celebrating in the capital and enjoying a light show as brilliant as their own display, the players’ smiles were unwavering. They recognized they had just delivered one of the most comprehensive, creative, and controlled competitive performances by a Scotland side in some time. However, they are not content to stop there. Erin Cuthbert, who ended her international goal drought with one of her characteristic long-range shots, believes they “still have another level.” She told BBC Scotland, “It’s a scary thing,” adding, “I still believe we have more to come, even though we played really well tonight.” Weir, who has spent the past year observing the team from a distance, stated that they are “determined and ready” to defeat Finland. She commented, “It’s two cup finals now, isn’t it?” and further explained, “That’s what we’ve been working for. We’ve been through the play-off process before and know how tough it can be.” She concluded, “That disappointment [from previous play-offs], it makes us resilient.” and “We’re determined and ready to go and compete against Finland.” These were resolute words from a team that has experienced challenging encounters against the Finns. Martinez Losa’s encouragement proved highly effective, as his team strongly supported his statements. He now has just under a month to prepare another motivational address. This next rallying cry will need to be even more significant and courageous to overcome the play-off struggles historically associated with the Scots. ‘We have some of the best players in the world’ – Evans and Weir react to Scotland winSandi Toksvig is joined by Gyles Brandreth, Lulu, Emmanuel Sonubi and Alan DaviesGrab the mic for Queen, Taylor Swift, Bon Jovi, Katy Perry and more…Ben Fogle and Kate Humble are back for the festivities at Longleat Safari ParkFrom micro plastics in our air, soil, and waterways, to the extent of food waste at this time of year© 2024 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.