Scotland Captain Rachel Corsie Aims to Continue International Career

Scotland’s captain, Rachel Corsie, has expressed her resolve to extend her tenure in international football, despite the absence of a European Championship in the upcoming summer. The 35-year-old defender was absent from Scotland’s play-off fixtures due to recovery from a knee injury, though she is nearing her return to play with Aston Villa. Corsie was present with the squad for both legs of the qualifying final against Finland, experiencing the significant disappointment of their 2-0 aggregate defeat. “Being around the team, my motivation to play again is there,” she stated during an appearance on the BBC’s Behind the Goals podcast. “I hope there is another opportunity.” Corsie’s international debut occurred in 2009, and she first captained the team two years subsequent to that. The centre-back has accumulated 154 international appearances, netting 20 goals, and participated in Euro 2017 and the 2019 World Cup. Corsie indicated that she is “probably two weeks away” from recommencing full training sessions with her Women’s Super League club. “From a selfish point of view, (playing for Scotland) is a massive part of keeping me motivated to get over the final few hurdles with my knee,” she commented. “I really believed that motivation would have included the summer. Over time we’ll process that.” “To play for your country is an incredible feeling. It’s never a guarantee or a given. That’s how everyone needs to feel. You push for your club for the chance to be selected.” Scotland is scheduled to commence their upcoming Nations League campaign in February, facing matches against Austria and the Netherlands, with Germany also included in their group. “We’ve got great games against top sides,” remarked Corsie, who was absent from the previous match against Germany in 2013. “You don’t get that very often.” Regarding the disappointment of failing to qualify for a third consecutive major tournament, she further stated: “We need to make sure this is not a plateau. Growth is absolutely paramount.” “The Nations League will be prep for the Euros for the teams that are going, that’s the excitement, the drive.” “We have to go into those with the disappointment being our driving force.”