HISTORY will be made by both Kim Little and her team if, as expected, Scotland beat the Faroe Islands in the World Cup qualifier at Fir Park a week on Saturday.
Barring illness, Little will win her 100th cap, while a victory will ensure that - at the very least - Scotland will participate in a World Cup play-off for the first time.
Anna Signeul's side can qualify automatically if they beat the Faroes then defeat leaders Sweden by at least two goals in the final Group 4 match in Gothenburg on September 17. Realistically, however, the four-team play-offs offer the best chance of qualifying for next summer's finals in Canada.
Signeul named her 20-player squad yesterday. As well as Leanne Ross, who was already out with a foot injury, Potsdam striker Lisa Evans is unavailable because of shin splints.
"We've agreed with her club that she needs to be rested," Signeul said. "Lisa didn't play for Potsdam at the weekend and hopefully she will be fully fit by the time of the play-offs in October, if we are in them."
Little, meanwhile, played her last match of the American season for Seattle Reign on Sunday, finishing on the losing side as her team lost 2-1 to Kansas City in the NWSL play-off final. It was a big anti-climax for the Scot, who was the league's top scorer and a major contributor to her side finishing 13 points ahead of the same opponents in the 24-game league.
"Kim was outstanding for Seattle all season and would be an automatic starter for any country," Signeul said. "The same with club football; every top side would want her."
"But our first target is to beat the Faroes and make history by reaching a World Cup play-off for the first time. But, of course, we want to win well and then we can talk about the Sweden game." The Swedes' 3-1 win at Fir Park in June means that Scotland would have to win by the same score or better to have any chance of qualifying automatically.
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