‘Excited’ Andreatta says Scotland can avoid Nations League relegation

Women’s Nations League: Scotland vs. Austria

After working with the players for the first time with the women’s team, new head coach Melissa Andreatta is more excited about the possibilities that lie ahead for Scotland’s women’s team, believing they can maintain their top-tier Nations League status.

Scotland kick off a so far unfavorable Nations League Group A1 campaign on Friday with a visit to Austria and then four days later, with both games broadcast live on the BBC.

Scotland have struggled among the elite of the Nations League and hasn’t taken a point from their four matches, as they did during their first stint in League A in 2023.

At Hampden, they will need to defeat Austria by two goals to have a shot at preserving League A status through a play-off.

The Josko Arena’s matchday one defeat was 1-0, but those are Austria’s only losses in their modest campaign.

When the former Australia assistant head coach was questioned about whether she believed her new team could avoid falling to the bottom of the Nations League, she responded, “We believe we can do that.”

The 46-year-old continued, “Excited is a good word for me to use. I’m certainly on the ball, but I also want to be evaluated and aware that it will take time and that progress must be made to match our goals and beliefs.

The first few weeks have been more than I had anticipated. I told the players that football speaks for itself and that I’m falling in love with this nation.

Following Scotland’s failure to reach the Euro 2025 finals, Pedro Martinez Losa left and is now in charge of Mexican club Tigres. Andreatta has since assumed his new role.

Given that the 35-year-old will retire at the end of this international window, she will only have two games to work with Rachel Corsie, but she has been impressed by what she has seen.

In her final international camp, the Australian paid tribute to the former captain’s demeanor.

What a legend working with Rachel Corsie has been very humbling, Andreatta said.

“Rachel’s professionalism and willingness to share her experiences with both players and staff is what really stood out,” she said.

On her return to camp, “I think she’s had a really positive impact on the group,” she said, noting that her only interest is her role and what the team needs to do to play the way we want to.

Kathleen McGovern, who has scored 25 goals for the Scottish Women’s Premier League leaders, has received his first callup for Andreatta’s first squad, along with Rangers captain Nicola Docherty and two club-mates, winger Brogan Hay and forward Kirsty Howat.

Andreatta hopes to draw inspiration from Alexander Schreibl, who won his first game against Scotland in February and came out on top with a score of just 1-0.

The last two times they met, and these two have each won once, demonstrating how closely fought Friday’s game will be. These two teams have been separated by one goal each.

Austria have faced challenges since that opening victory, losing 4-1 to Germany and 3-1 to the Netherlands both home and away.

However, they won two of those three games, and Schreibl has deployed additional attacking players to counteract Scotland, who have struggled for goals against teams with comparable or better squad quality.

Nicole Billa, who has 106 caps and has been called up, could start in a front two that has been deployed behind a diamond midfield throughout the Nations League.

Eileen Campbell, a second forward, has recovered from a hip injury.

Jenna Clark (Liverpool), Rachel Corsie (Aston Villa), Nicola Docherty (Rangers), Sophie Howard (Leicester City), Emma Lawton (Celtic), Rachel McLauchlan (Rangers), Amy Muir (Glasgow City), and Kirsty Smith (unattached) are the defenders.

Chelsea Cornet (Rangers), Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea), Lauren Davidson (Brann), Freya Gregory (Newcastle United), Brogan Hay (Rangers), Kirsty MacLean (Rangers), Amy Rodgers (Bristol City), Emma Watson (Manchester United), and Caroline Weir (Real Madrid).