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Pedro Martinez Losa’s Scotland relegated to Nations League Group B after Belgium draw

By December 1, 2023No Comments

Pedro Martinez Losa has insisted that Scotland need to relaise the massive strides forward women’s football has taken in recent years if major tournament involvement has to be on the radar of the national team.

Tonight’s 1-1 draw with Belgium has confirmed Scotland’s relegation from Nations League Group A1, a league that was always going to be challenging given the calibre of opponent that Martinez Losa’s side were up against.

There were enouraging signs in the draw with Erin Cuthbert once more underlining just how important she is to Scotland. The Chelsea midfidler netted the goal to immediately pull the Scots back into the game after Marie Detruyer had opened the scoring on the half hour mark.

Scotland pushed in the second period with substitute Amy Gallacher almost finding a winner after she sent an effort wide of the post. Scotland now face England on Tuesday night at Hampden with their place in Group B comfirmed while Sarina Wiegman’s side need a win to take top spot in thr Group, a staus that would confirm Team GB at the Olympics. 

“This is a learning process,” said Martinez Losa after the game.

“We wanted to be tested and we have had a consistent level of competitiveness in the matches but you can be punished very easily.

“Their goal, we practised a hundred times after watching and analysing that move on video. You can watch and practice but ultimately you have to go and play. We knew we could do better and we had a bit more energy in the second period. We are playing the best teams in Europe and we are competing but we need to chose another route now to qualify for the Euros which was always out objective.'”

“We had our moments and that is the next level of the game. The reality is that women’s football is improving in every aspect. We had chances to win the game but we have to understand that this is a standard some of the players are not used to playing at. Sometimes the ball will go in, some won’t.
“Belgium have been so consistent in recent years and this is the level we need to reach.”
Cuthbert took a knock to the head in the closing minutes of this ecnounter after she slid in on Kassandra Missipo with the Belgian’s studs catching the midfielder on thehead. It irked the normally unflappable Martinez Losa.
“There is a question mark about Erin and whether she will be available now for the next game [England],” he said.
“I don’t like to talk about referees but in the whole Nations League there have been decisions that did not protect the players. We are responsible for our performances but the referee’s decisions are also part of the game.”

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