FOR Scotland, the worst part of making it to a major finals is so often what happens when we get there. The strains of Flower of Scotland rang out around the Gaalgenwaard Stadium in Utrecht – a venue once graced by Glasgow City coach Scott Booth – and Anna Signeul's side strode purposefully out in pink as this nation proudly ended its 19-year exile from a senior international football finals. 'No Scotland, no party', this mini Tartan Army invasion force even sang afterwards, seemingly oblivious to the outcome.

As it happens, those 19 years ended on July 19, which just happens to be the birthday of first minister Nicola Sturgeon, also proudly in attendance for the occasion. It also fell on the 19th birthday of young Scotland start Erin Cuthbert, who pointed to even brighter days ahead when he was blooded at this level from the bench around the hour mark.

Whatever happens in the remainder of the group stages, Scotland can say they have gone a stage further than the men folk have since Booth's days but that isn't exactly a benchmark for success. The invading force of the Tartan Army who alighted in this corner of Holland for another evening of disappointment bore things as well as usual, but it took only 10 minutes for an England side who finished third in the World Cup to burst this bubble. Three down around the half hour mark, there was no hiding place for a Scotland side minus key players like Kim Little and Jen Beattie against opposition of this calibre.

Utrecht, the fourth largest city in the Netherlands, used to be the most important until the rise of Amsterdam in the 17th century. While talk about this match was hardly at fever pitch in its bars and watering holes beforehand – the stands at both end were empty as was much of the top tiers behind every touchline – there was a healthy Scottish contingent here at kick-off who were determined to get their voices heard.

While some, in full regalia, had clearly been waiting quite some time for this moment, there was a different age and gender profile to this clan gathering and it was good to hear some new chants, like the one, originally envisaged for Yaya and Kolo Toure, throwing in the names of Andy, Joelle and Judy Murray. When the fourth English goal went in, it was heartening to hear the Scottish chants in response were 'we're going to win 5-4', not 'you're going to win f*** all'.

For devotees of the ladies game, Scotland's 2-2 epic against England in May was merely the aperitif to last night's main event, but unfortunately that prediction didn't come true and the outcome was even more demoralising for those of a Scottish persuasion. There had been no shortage of hope in the opening spell but whether it is Gordon Strachan's old line about the genetics, England generally appeared quicker, stronger and more streetwise.

By the time Jodie Taylor, playing on the last shoulder and benefitting from the clever prompting of Fran Kirby, left the field just before the hour mark, she had helped herself to a hat-trick. Ellen White slammed in another, after Jill Scott's dipping shot from range had caught Gemma Fay out, and the outstanding Jordan Nobbs scored the best of the night to make it five, then a late header sub Toni Duggan meant the Scots had been hit for six,

It didn't help the injury crisis much that the battling Ross, with No 13 on her back, had to leave the field although Scotland - true to the national stereotype - did some of their best work when all hope was pretty much lost. A conflicting night then - as proud as they were to make it to this level, our lassies will be prouder still when they can go toe-to-toe with world class opponents like this.