The Good, The Bad and The Seville
As SWNT prepare for their Nations League assignment let's analyse every single goal that has taken place during Pedro Martinéz Losa's two year reign.
Scotland begin their Nations League campaign this week with a trip to face England at the Stadium of Light before hosting Belgium at Hampden next Tuesday. It has also been two years and one day since Pedro Martinéz Losa took charge of a competitive game for the very first time, a 2-0 WWC Qualifying win over Hungary on the 17th September 2021.
Since then there have been ups, there have been downs but there has also been goals 69 (42 for, 27 against) of them to be exact and so, as we start to plot our path to the Alps for Euro 2025 in Switzerland, I have taken the opportunity to sit down and watch each and every goal of the Martinéz Losa reign (twice!) to eek out any insight and a couple of stats before Friday night’s lights shine bright.
If you want to skip to the end to find out what has been learned then fire away, but you’ll be missing out on half the fun.
THE GOALS
Hungary 0-2 Scotland | WWC Qualifier | 17th September 2021
YAY! SCOTLAND: Erin Cuthbert
It took just seventeen minutes for the first goal of the Martinéz Losa era to be scored. Erin Cuthbert dispatching a rebound after seeing her initial penalty low into the left hand corner saved.
YAY! SCOTLAND: Martha Thomas
Martha Thomas scoring headers is going to come up a lot here so lets get the first one in the books. The second in Budapest from Tottenham Hotspur’s newest striker dispatched from a Claire Emslie corner.
Scotland 7-1 Faroe Islands | WWC Qualifier | 21st September 2021
YAY! SCOTLAND GOAL: Erin Cuthbert
Scotland’s first competitive international at Hampden since a Euro Play-Off against Spain in October 2013 saw the Faroe Islands come to town with Cuthbert scoring the opening goal, picking up a Rachel McLauchlan throw-in (counts as an assist in my book), turning inside and unleashing an effort into the top of the goal from 25 yards out.
YAY! SCOTLAND GOAL: Chloe Arthur
Chloe Arthur had never scored a goal until the Faroese came to town, but she would score at Hampden, the first a header from a Jane Ross dinked cross.
YAY! SCOTLAND GOAL: Chloe Arthur
And then like buses another one came along, and remarkably it was another header, this time running towards the back post through two visiting defenders to head home a looped Rachel Corsie cross.
YAY! SCOTLAND GOAL: Christy Grimshaw
Back post runners were very much in vogue during the early days of the PML era and it would be Christy Grimshaw, also scoring her first Scotland goal, who would be on hand at the back post to volley home Nicola Dcoherty’s cross from the left hand side.
BOO! OPPOSITION (FAROE ISLANDS) GOAL: Maria Biskopstø
First concession of the Spaniard’s reign and it comes from a set piece as Monika Biskopstø’s movement off the goal line goes unmatched, allowing the forward to nod home Ásla Johannesen’s corner at the near post.
YAY! SCOTLAND GOAL: Martha Thomas
Back on track as Chloe Arthur turns provider taking down a clearing header on the edge of the box to feed Thomas who smashes it home from the edge of the area.
YAY! SCOTLAND GOAL: Jenna Clark
Jenna Clark would be the third Scotland player to score a maiden international goal on the night, the now-Liverpool centre back channeling her inner Julie Fleeting to calmly tuck away a lovely Erin Cuthbert ball from deep. What she was still doing up there we are all unsure, but what a composed finish from the centre half.
YAY! SCOTLAND GOAL: Claire Emslie
Are you looking for a set piece curler from the edge of the D? Then can I point you to Scotland’s seventh against the Faroes scored by Claire Emslie. Bonus points for the knee slide although it could have gone on longer.
Scotland 2-1 Hungary | WWC Qualifier | 22nd October 2021
YAY! SCOTLAND GOAL: Christy Grimshaw
The Docherty to Grimshaw combination strikes again, the AC Milan regular could have easily been thrown by the leaping Hungarian defence but she takes the ball down at the back post to stick it home.
BOO! OPPOSITION GOAL (HUNGARY): Fanny Vagó
This was a bit sloppy as a loose Docherty pass is pounced upon before the Hungarian attack work the ball into space where Fanny Vagó tucks it away from around the penalty spot. Lots of getting drawn to the ball but a very tidy finish from the striker.
YAY! SCOTLAND GOAL: Rachel Corsie
Ah yes, the late, late goal section of the World Cup Qualifying campaign. Cometh the hour, cometh the forehead of Scotland captain Rachel Corsie getting on the end of Jen Beattie’s nod back into the mixer to secure what at the time was a crucial 2-1 home win in injury time.
Scotland 0-2 Sweden | Friendly | 26th October 2021
BOO! OPPOSITION GOAL (SWEDEN): Fridolina Rolfö
Sweden are a very good football team and they showed that on a thoroughly miserable night in Paisley. Fridolina Rolfö’s strike from the edge of the area met by an audible touch from Jenna Fife but the Rangers goalkeeper would be unable to keep it out. A good strike but maybe not as blockbuster as it felt at the time.
BOO! OPPOSITION GOAL (SWEDEN): Own Goal (Sophie Howard)
Sophie Howard the unfortunate Scotland defender turning a Sofia Jakobsson cross ball into her own net from close range.
Scotland 1-1 Ukraine | WWC Qualifier | 26th November 2021
BOO! OPPOSITION GOAL (UKRAINE): Roksana Kravchuk
Having dominated the early stages it would be a visiting Ukraine side who would take the lead at Hampden, Roksana Kravchuk emerging on Jen Beattie’s shoulder and outpacing the Arsenal defender to tuck away a well-weighted, defencing splitting through ball.
YAY! SCOTLAND GOAL: Abi Harrison
For so long it looked as if Scotland were set to fall to a damaging defeat to the Ukrainians but then up popped substitute Lana Clelland in the 89th minute who’s cross ball found Abi Harrison to nod it home. It wouldn’t be the last time that Harrison would be crucial over the campaign.
Spain 8-0 Scotland | WWC Qualifier | 30th November 2021
BOO! OPPOSITION GOAL (SPAIN): Amaiur Sarriegi
Brace yourself, these next few lines ain’t going to be pretty. It took twenty minutes for the future world champions to open the scoring in Seville. Amaiur Sarriegi’s short burst between the centre backs going unchecked allowing her to bullet home a header.
BOO! OPPOSITION GOAL (SPAIN): Mariona Caldentey
Fair play this is a raker, although inviting Mariona Caldentey to take a shot on from range seems a bold strategy.
BOO! OPPOSITION GOAL (SPAIN): Aitana Bonmati
This was a bit of a calamity as Nicola Docherty’s header hits Sophie Howard’s back with the ball bouncing to Aitana Bonmati to smash home. I have heard the Spanish commentator on these highlights say Gol about 32 times already and we’re not even halfway through this one.
BOO! OPPOSITION GOAL (SPAIN): Amaiur Sarriegi
This wasn’t much prettier as Alexia Putellas outpaces Rachel Corsie to hit the byline. Amaiur sneaking her toe onto the ball as Sophie Howard tries to get it clear before two more Scottish bodies are unable to hack it off the line.
BOO! OPPOSITION GOAL (SPAIN): Aitana Bonmati
By this point Lee Gibson had made a number of saves to help keep the score down but even a double stop could not prevent the irrepressible Spanish by this point. The 2023 Balon D’or winner Bonmati eventually being the one to get it home as Scottish bodies scrambled.
BOO! OPPOSITION GOAL (SPAIN): Jenni Hermoso
The Scottish defence is pickpocketed again and again it’s too easy for the Spanish attacker, this time Jenni Hermoso, who takes a half step away from the centre backs to work herself into space and add goal number seven.
BOO! OPPOSITION GOAL (SPAIN): Mariona Caldentey
Finally it’s over as a Bonmati effort from range cracks off the bar. The rebounding ball falls to Mariona who’s cross/shot finds the side netting. 8-0. Let us never speak of this again.
Wales 3-1 Scotland | Pinatar Cup | 16th February 2022
YAY! SCOTLAND GOAL: Lana Clelland
We fast forward to February 2022 as Scotland make their annual trip to the south of Spain. It’s a nice piece of wing play that opens the scoring as Christy Grimshaw’s cross ball is nodded home by Sassuolo striker, Lana Clelland.
BOO! OPPOSITION GOAL (WALES): Jess Fishlock
Having created the better quality chances against the Welsh Scotland would go on to suffer defeat. Started by this well taken Fishlock penalty, drilled into the corner and out of the reach of Jenna Fife.
BOO! OPPOSITION GOAL (WALES): Jess Fishlock
Scotland are unable to clear their lines and the space given to Fishlock which allows the midfielder to sweep the ball home from ten yards is disappointing but you just have to say fair play to Natasha Harding for an ingenious little back heel that leaves the Scotland defence on the back foot.
BOO! OPPOSITION GOAL (WALES): Natasha Harding
A big juicy diag. A ball zipped into the area. And a neat run and touch at the front post from Harding, but should that squeeze past Jenna Fife’s near post? Probably not.
Scotland 2-0 Slovakia | Pinatar Cup | 19th February 2022
YAY! SCOTLAND GOAL: Lana Clelland
Back to winning ways as Abi Harrison smartly latches onto an intuitive Caroline Weir lift over the top of the Slovak defence. The Bristol City striker caressing the ball into the net at the first time of asking.
YAY! SCOTLAND GOAL: Martha Thomas
Martha Thomas runs to the front post to tuck home a Claire Emslie cross ball. Nice and tidy.
Scotland 0-0 Hungary | Pinatar Cup | 22nd February 2022
No goals but a stellar penalty shootout performance from Eartha Cumings saw Scotland claim *check notes* fifth place in the 2022 Pinatar Cup.
Scotland 0-2 Spain | WWC Qualifier | 12th April 2022
BOO! OPPOSITION GOAL (SPAIN): Jenni Hermoso
It would be a penalty kick that would open the scoring in front of a 10,000+ crowd at Hampden, Hermoso’s effort smashed into the side-netting and giving Lee Gibson no chance.
BOO! OPPOSITION GOAL (SPAIN): Jenni Hermoso
With Scotland having handled the threat of Spain significantly better than they had in Seville, the visitors would only double their lead in the 77th minute. A cute little piece of combination play on the edge of the area from Hermoso and Putellas was too good for the Scottish defence as Spain secured top spot in the group.
Ukraine 0-4 Scotland | WWC Qualifier | 26th June 2022
YAY! SCOTLAND GOAL: Caroline Weir
With the qualifier against Ukraine having been rearranged due to the Russian invasion and moved to the Polish border city of Rzeszów it was a trip into the unknown for Scotland where victory would all but secure a play-off spot. It was a professional start as Caroline Weir would dispatch an early penalty. The first of four opening half goals.
YAY! SCOTLAND GOAL: Erin Cuthbert
Martha Thomas’ hold-up play and pass through the Ukrainian backline would find Erin Cuthbert, who’s run from deep would be punctuated by a sweeping finish.
YAY! SCOTLAND GOAL: Martha Thomas
Right at the start of this list I referenced the fact that Martha Thomas scoring from corner kicks was a thing. Well in Rzeszów the thing happened not once but twice, in almost identical ways the first a controlled volley at the back post and then…
YAY! SCOTLAND GOAL: Martha Thomas
…a header at the back post sending the ball back towards the direction it came from and into the top corner.
Netherlands 2-1 Scotland | Friendly | 2nd September 2022
BOO! OPPOSITION GOAL (NETHERLANDS): Vivianne Miedema
Onwards to Zwolle and an encouraging performance against future Nations League opponents, although a defeat would be the ultimate outcome. The Netherlands’ first came after a neat touch inside the area from Danielle van de Donk that left Jen Beattie on the floor and Miedema in space that you can rarely afford her to stick it home.
YAY! SCOTLAND GOAL: Claire Emslie
Kelly Clark as a right back caught the watching world by surprise but it would be the Celtic skipper who would have the last laugh, her Hollywood pass to release Claire Emslie resulting in a Scottish equaliser. Great ping, great finish.
BOO! OPPOSITION GOAL (NETHERLANDS): Fenna Kalma
This was pain. With just two minutes left a series of unfortunate events saw Scotland fall to defeat at the end of a Dutch counter attack. Lee Gibson was able to tip an effort from range onto the bar but it refuses to bounce clear and Fenna Kalma is on hand to force it over the line.
Faroe Islands 0-6 Scotland | WWC Qualifier | 6th September 2022
YAY! SCOTLAND GOAL: Nicola Docherty
Play-off spot secured so it was time for Nicola Docherty to open her Scotland account with her swinger. The Rangers full back doesn’t score often but when she does they usually bang and this opener in Torshavn was no exception.
YAY! SCOTLAND GOAL: Caroline Weir
One, two, three touches out her feet and a shot from the edge of the area that rattled into the bottom corner. Peak Cazza Weir after the Dunfermline native picked up a short ball from Erin Cuthbert.
YAY! SCOTLAND GOAL: Erin Cuthbert
Erin Cuthbert running onto a Caroline Weir lay off you say? Smashing it into the top corner from twenty-five yards. Standard.
YAY! SCOTLAND GOAL: Martha Thomas
See Scotland 2-0 Slovakia in the Pinatar Cup. It’s exactly the same. Emslie run down the line before sending a cross ball to a near post running Martha Thomas to tap home from close range.
YAY! SCOTLAND GOAL: Rachel Corsie
A Claire Emslie ball stood up to an unmarked Corsie in the six yard box allows the Scotland captain to make it five.
YAY! SCOTLAND GOAL: Jen Beattie
Corsie turns provider, and right winger, to cross the ball into the area where Jen Beattie is there to nod home from close range.
Scotland 1-0 Austria (AET) | WWC Qualifying Play-Off | 6th October 2022
YAY! SCOTLAND GOAL: Abi Harrison
A rare instance of extra-time producing a winner as Abi Harrison’s bulleted header from an Erin Cuthbert corner set up a clash against the Republic of Ireland. Not for the first time in the Pedro Martinéz Losa era, a Cuthbert corner that gets past the penalty spot creates a difference.
Scotland 0-1 Rep. of Ireland | WWC Qualifying Play-Off | 6th October 2022
BOO! OPPOSITION GOAL (REPUBLIC OF IRELAND): Amber Barrett
Ah the ultimate heartbreak, a goal that sent Ireland to the World Cup and left Hampden in tears. Amber Barrett’s pace allows her to break clear of Sophie Howard before kissing the post with laser accuracy to give Ireland an advantage they never looked like letting go of. Which they didn’t, annoyingly.
Scotland 2-1 Venezuela | Friendly | 14th November 2022
YAY! SCOTLAND GOAL: Kelly Clark
We’re going to skip the Panama game given that is now referred to as an U23 international in the history books so our last game of 2022 sees Scotland travel to the south of Spain to face South American side Venezuela. Kelly Clark would open the scoring, her first Scotland goal, smuggling the ball in at the near post from a Caroline Weir corner.
YAY! SCOTLAND GOAL: Claire Emslie
A jinky Fiona Brown run following tidy build up play from Christie Murray saw the wing-back’s cross find an unmarked Claire Emslie, who had come off her wing to nod home from plum between the posts.
BOO! OPPOSITION GOAL (VENEZUELA) : Deyna Castellanos
Can’t believe I forgot about this one. It was outrageous from Manchester City’s Deyna Castellanos. Picking the ball up on the halfway line and sending an effort from the centre circle over the head of Jenna Fife, who added a full stretch, camera-friendly dive to the scene. 0.04 xG that one apparently.
Scotland 0-2 Iceland | Pinatar Cup | 15th February 2023
BOO! OPPOSITION GOAL (ICELAND ) : Olof Kristinsdóttir
Despite dominating the first half on their annual pilgrimmage to Murcia Scotland fall to defeat against Iceland. The first from Kristinsdóttir wrong footing Gibson, with the forward allowed plenty of time to work herself into space on the edge of the area.
BOO! OPPOSITION GOAL (ICELAND ) : Olof Kristinsdóttir
The second from Kristinsdóttir followed so quickly that the BBC Alba TV coverage was still dissecting her opener as the Icelandic attack gathered pace. A smart finish from the angle that fired into the top corner.
Scotland 2-1 The Philippines | Pinatar Cup | 18th February 2023
YAY! SCOTLAND GOAL: Lauren Davidson
Lauren Davidson cutting in from the wing and haring towards goal has become a familiar sight in the SWPL and it was a trick she replicated against The Phillippines for her first SWNT goal. Even if there was a little bit of help from a deflection along the way.
YAY! SCOTLAND GOAL 30: Rachel Corsie
This one was kinda funny, kinda ingenious as a Caroline Weir corner is so accurate all captain Rachel Corsie has to do is position her body in the direction of the goal, using her chest like a human bumper on a pinball machine, to divert the ball home.
BOO! OPPOSITION GOAL (THE PHILIPPINES) : Meryll Serrano
With 89 minutes on the clock and a Scottish victory secured Meryll Serrano stepped up to curl a free kick around the wall from the edge of the area.
Scotland 1-1 Wales | Pinatar Cup | 21st February 2023
YAY! SCOTLAND GOAL: Sophie Howard
Diving headers are cool. In fact there are not many cooler ways to open the scoring in a game of football. Scotland’s captain of cool against Wales was defender Sophie Howard, a full length dive to head home an Erin Cuthbert corner. Lovely stuff.
BOO! OPPOSITION GOAL (WALES ): Ceri Holland
Scotland would be unable to get revenge for the previous year’s defeat in Spain as a superb through pass from Jess Fishlock found Ceri Holland overlapping on the left hand side. The midfielder getting in behind the Scotland defence and rolling it home.
Australia 0-1 Scotland | Friendly | 7th April 2023
YAY! SCOTLAND GOAL: Nicola Docherty
We may not have qualified for the World Cup but we still made an impression Down Under, sort of. Nicola Docherty’s fine strike from range securing a 1-0 victory over World Cup hosts Australia at Plough Lane, home of AFC Wimbledon.
Scotland 4-0 Costa Rica | Friendly | 11th April 2023
YAY! SCOTLAND GOAL: Emma Watson
Welcome to the Watson supremacy. Having made her debut against Australia Emma Watson announced herself to the unaware with a brace against Costa Rica at Hampden. The first a result of speedy reactions, poking home a loose ball in the Costa Rican defence.
YAY! SCOTLAND GOAL: Own Goal
Claire Emslie may have half wheeled away in celebration but it was Costa Rica defender Katherine Alvarado who would divert the ball into her own net.
YAY! SCOTLAND GOAL: Caroline Weir
Aye, this one was a bit special as Emslie and Caroline Weir combine down the left hand side. Weir ending the move that she started by slaloming past the last Costa Rican defender and sliding home just as it looked like the touch had taken the ball away from her.
YAY! SCOTLAND GOAL: Emma Watson
The Watson spin, is that a thing? It could be! The Manchester United youngster spinning her defender after picking up a pass from Brogan Hay, curling the ball into the side netting from the edge of the area.
Scotland 3-0 Northern Ireland | Friendly | 14th July 2023
YAY! SCOTLAND GOAL: Erin Cuthbert
With Scotland battering the flanks against Northern Ireland at Dens’ Park a goal seemed inevitable, and this one would be the start of three in seven minutes as Erin Cuthbert sneaks an Emma Watson cutback in at the near post.
YAY! SCOTLAND GOAL: Sam Kerr
It would be a first Scotland goal for Sam Kerr. Coming from a Caroline Weir corner, her looped effort crossed the line before any of her more goal savvy team mates could tried to claim it.
YAY! SCOTLAND GOAL: Martha Thomas
See Scotland 2-0 Slovakia in the Pinatar Cup and Faroe Islands 0-6 Scotland from the WWC Qualifiers except it’s Kirsty Hanson instead of Claire Emslie sending a cross ball to a near post running Martha Thomas to tap home from close range.
Finland 1-2 Scotland | Friendly | 17th July 2023
YAY! SCOTLAND GOAL: Caroline Weir
A victory in Scotland’s final outing before the Nations League. A late run from Caroline Weir is found by Emma Watson, who shows composure to hold the ball and play the pass. A 100th appearance for Scotland celebrated with a goal of the quality Weir has become synonymous with.
YAY! SCOTLAND GOAL: Emma Watson
Emma Watson played as the striker against Finland and promptly made it three goals in four international appearances, again spinning herself into the space before finishing into the top corner.
BOO! FINLAND GOAL: Elli Pikkujämsä
The last goal scored of Pedro Martinéz Losa’s reign to date as Elli Pikkujämsä’s strike from the edge of the area skids across the surface and past Lee Gibson. Scotland would hold on for the win though, because WE. ARE. MASSIVE.
THE FINDINGS AND ULTIMATELY HOW CAN WE WIN THE NATIONS LEGUE
So what can we learn from 69 goals worth? Join me for some headlines.
Who scored Scotland’s 47?
Tottenham’s Martha Thomas leads the way under Pedro Martinéz Losa with seven goals and in total there have been seventeen different scorers (plus one own goal).
Eight players; Emma Watson, Chloe Arthur, Christy Grimshaw, Nicola Docherty, Jenna Clark, Kelly Clark, Lauren Davidson and Sam Kerr have all scored their first goals for Scotland during the Spaniards tenure.
Caroline Weir tops the assists chart with seven followed by Erin Cuthbert with six. Both Weir (four goals, seven assists) and Cuthbert (five goals, six assists) lead the way with a total of eleven goal contributions a piece. But how were they scored, and eh…we’ve conceded some too…
Well since you asked.
How are we scoring, and how are we conceding goals?
SWNT absolutely love a header with 14 (30%) of goals coming from Scottish heads while only two headed goals have been conceded during Pedro Martinez Losa’s spell in charge. Rachel Corsie is the only player to score with a part of her body other than head or toe, chesting home a Caroline Weir free-kick against The Philippines.
Right foot finishes dominate both for and against, with less than half the number of Scottish goals scored with a cultured left peg. But where are these goals being scored from?
SWNT are six yard box queens
21 of Scotland’s 47 goals have been scored inside the six yard box, a testament to the volume of crosses (and attacking runs) that penetrate the opposition area. 27 have come from open play but a further ten have come from corners with Erin Cuthbert and Caroline Weir racking up the assists as part of that.
Scotland’s only goal direct from a free kick came via the boot of Claire Emslie against Faroe Islands at Hampden and of the fourteen goals scored inside the eighteen yard box, two have been penalties as a result of penalties. A smart conversion from Weir against Ukraine and an Erin Cuthbert rebound and recover after her effort was saved in Martinéz Losa’s first game in charge against Hungary.
So what are our strengths and potential weaknesses in front of goal going into the Nations League?
Near post runners from cross balls into the six yard area have been key to getting Scotland on the scoresheet.
Back post runners from cross balls in the deep have also been useful. Think big wing to wing switches with Christy Grimshaw, Kirsty Hanson and Claire Emslie haring into the back post.
Pace isn’t always our friend in defence.
Scotland have kept nine clean sheets in 23 games (Lee Gibson with eight and Eartha Cumings with one).
We are a threat at corners, and are quite good at heading in general, both in attack and in defence.
Most of our goals against start with a mistake, a wee lapse of concentration in possession. We stay sharp and we win games.
Combinations on the edge of the area featuring Weir, Cuthbert, Watson, Thomas et al. help to unpick packed defences.
Across 23 games we have only conceded five goals direct from a set-piece (including penalties) conversely we have only scored once from a free kick set play during the same period.
So there you have it, that’s how we’ll win the Nations League. Simple.
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