Pedro: Win can make a world of difference
PEDRO MARTINEZ LOSA is gearing up for the biggest game of his time as boss of Scotland women’s team.
A win over Ukraine in Poland a week tomorrow would all but assure the national side a place in the play-offs for next year’s World Cup finals in Australia and New Zealand.
Martinez Losa’s side sit second in their group, a point in front of Hungary and six clear of Ukraine, who have two games in hand.
On the latest World Cup qualifier, the Spaniard said: “I would describe this as the most important game that the women’s team has played in the last year.
“It is a key game. It is the most important game since I came in as coach.
“It doesn’t matter what happens in this game in terms of results because we will have other options.
“But if we win and get a positive result, our options are much bigger.”
Abi Harrison’s leveller in stoppage time in November gave Scotland a draw at home to Ukraine.
But Martinez Losa bristled at suggestions his side got lucky that night.
He said: “I can’t agree we were lucky. Lluis Cortes (the Ukraine coach) came to me after the game to say they were lucky.
“We were the team who were trying to propose more things to win but we do still have to do it better.
“I 100 per cent believe we are in a better place than a few months ago because of the energy, the understanding of concepts and the evolution of the players as a team.
“We can see it and feel it. We are a family. We can feel that identity and we can work together.
“That takes some time to build that culture and environment but on the pitch I do think we are more prepared. I expect our team to get better.”