THE Scotland head coach Anna Signeul yesterday reflected on a job well done as her side reached the halfway stage of Euro 2017 qualifying with maximum points, staying well on course to reach the finals in the Netherlands.
Just two nations have played four games and accrued 12 points – the other is the defending champions Germany. The Scots also have the satisfaction of being top scorers in Europe, with 24.
"We're not at our peak level," the Swede claimed. "We still have a lot of developing to do both individually and as a team, but I think every campaign we have got stronger and stronger."
The 10-0 demolition of Macedonia at the Paisley 2021 Stadium was the most impressive of the four performances to date, even if it was against the weakest team in the group. Unlike the visitors, most of the Scotland players are out of their club seasons, but in freezing conditions it was the first sustained 90 minute display of the campaign.
Just about all the creativity and threat came down the left side, where full-back Hayley Lauder and Lisa Evans caused havoc. Lauder provided most of the first-half assists and scored one herself – trying to find the same blend on the right is one of the issues Signeul will have to address.
The coach was pleased with the way wide attacking midfielders Jo Love and Evans got into the box for crosses, adding to the pressure on Macedonia goalkeeper Viktorija Doneva, who had a highly uncomfortable afternoon.
Love's hat-trick, added to her two in the previous home match against Belarus, was a bonus. The 29-year-old, who is a holding midfielder for Glasgow City, had scored just seven goals in 160 internationals going into this campaign – now she has 12 from 164.
Another pleasing aspect is that the goals are being shared around the team. Jane Ross, who scored four on Sunday, leads the way with six, but eight players in total have found the net. Ross now has 42 from 89 games, moving her to within three of Kim Little as the squad's top scorer.
Scotland should go six points clear of Iceland when they host Slovenia on April 8 as the top seeds don't return to action until four days later with a trip to Belarus.
"Slovenia showed in the first game that they are the best organised and fittest of the three other teams outwith Iceland, even if they don't have a player as classy as Natasa Andonova [of Macedonia]," Signeul pointed out.
Nevertheless, having won the away game 3-0 despite the poorest display of the campaign, the Scots should make it five out of five – with just a game in Belarus and the double header against Iceland to follow. As the two top nations look likely to qualify for Holland, the prospect of a first major championship since the men qualified for France in 1998 remains very much on the cards.
Meanwhile, the England women's head coach Mark Sampson has been included on a shortlist of three for the FIFA World Coach of the Year.
The 33-year-old joins Jill Ellis of the United States and Japan's Norio Sasaki in contention for the prestigious accolade.
Cardiff-born Sampson guided England to third place at the World Cup in Canada earlier this year, where England suffered defeat in the semi-finals to Japan following an injury-time own goal by Laura Bassett.
Victory over Germany – for the first time in 21 games – in the third-place play-off meant England finished as the highest-ranked nation in Europe.
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