Erin Cuthbert Shifts Focus to Action for Euro 2025 Qualification

Erin Cuthbert (right) is aiming to replicate the emotional high of securing qualification as Scotland prepares for the second leg of their Women’s Euro 2025 play-off final against Finland. The match, currently tied 0-0, will take place at Bolt Arena in Helsinki on Tuesday, 3 December, with a 17:15 GMT kick-off. Coverage will be available on BBC Alba, iPlayer, and the BBC Sport website & app for watching, and on BBC Radio Scotland Extra and the BBC Sport website & app for listening and live text commentary. “I just want to go, make it happen and get the job done,” stated Erin Cuthbert, indicating her readiness to move past discussions. The midfielder expressed a strong desire to translate previous conversations about qualifying for next summer’s European Championships into action, following extensive talks with her Scotland team-mates. Pedro Martinez Losa’s squad is on the verge of returning to a major tournament after a six-year absence, a prospect that excites the Chelsea player. In 2017, when Scotland last participated in a European finals, Cuthbert was a young player. Now, at 26, she is considered an established and experienced member of the squad, with expectations for her to perform decisively. Despite the significant pressure, this situation does not deter the player who moved from Irvine to Stamford Bridge. “I just relish these moments because pressure is a privilege,” Cuthbert informed BBC Scotland. She added, “It either brings out the best or the worst in people and it’s up to us for it to bring out the best in us.” Despite frequently bearing considerable responsibility for both her club and national team, Cuthbert possesses a remarkable ability to make high-stakes matches appear effortless. When Scotland debuted at the Euros against England on 19 July 2017, she entered the game as a substitute on her 19th birthday. Four days later, she scored Scotland’s inaugural goal at a major tournament against Portugal. Even though she has been central to significant historical events, Cuthbert frequently reflects on the qualifying campaign—the process of making history and the immense effort involved—rather than the finals themselves. “I think about the way we qualified rather than the Euros itself,” the former Glasgow City midfielder commented. Erin Cuthbert scored Scotland’s first goal at a European Championship against Portugal in 2017. She elaborated on this, stating, “Thinking about the feeling of qualifying, the feeling I felt in Albania, the feeling when we qualified for the Euros last time.” Cuthbert added, “If I could bottle that moment up and share it with everyone in the room, I’m sure it’d be the best thing in the world.” Cuthbert displayed clear emotion while recounting those past celebrations, smiling broadly, nodding her head in delight, and widening her eyes as the memories resurfaced. She recognizes that Scotland is nearing that peak experience once more and intensely desires it. “Even when I talk about the feeling I had qualifying for the Euros now, it’s crazy and still gives me the same emotions,” she remarked. “For anyone and everyone in our squad to feel that, it would be immense.” A significant number of players in the squad feel they should already possess major tournament experience. Two years prior, they were close to qualifying for the 2023 World Cup but suffered a painful defeat in a play-off match at home against the Republic of Ireland due to a subpar performance. A few years before that, their aspirations for the 2022 Euros were dashed following an uninspired qualifying campaign, with Finland, their upcoming opponents, delivering the decisive blow. The teams played to a 0-0 draw in the first leg on Friday at Easter Road, meaning the tie will be resolved at Bolt Arena in Helsinki. According to Cuthbert, Marko Saloranta’s team is “no mugs.” Before the Edinburgh encounter, she stated, “They’re an impressive team.” She added, “They’ve not gone to four of the last five Euros for nothing, but I think the group is in a good place to deal with that.” The Scotland camp has exhibited a sense of calm and self-assurance. An undefeated Nations League B campaign, coupled with a notably strong second-leg win against Hungary, has instilled a fearless attitude within the team. “We’ve got ourselves into a position where we certainly feel confident but we have to go and earn it,” Cuthbert further stated. She concluded, “We have to earn the right to play, earn the right to be at the European Championships.”