193 caps later, Fay has her day
SCOTLAND captain Gemma Fay says qualifying for Euro 2017 is the pinnacle of her incredible 18-year international career.
The veteran goalkeeper, who will be 35 in December, has seen more World Cup and Euro campaigns end in frustration than Robert the Bruce’s legendary spider.
That all ended at tea-time on Friday when Fay and her Scotland team-mates rose to acclaim Portugal’s win over Finland after watching the game on a live stream.
The 3-2 scoreline ensured a place in the Holland tournament even before the team’s departure today for Tuesday’s final Group 1 match in Iceland.
There were tears amidst the cheers as Portugal held on for the win, and Fay said: “It’s a bit surreal to be honest. It was a bit strange qualifying without actually playing.
“It was nerve-racking watching the game, because I became Portugal’s biggest fan. After all the years when things haven’t gone our way, I think we were due that result.”
The Perth-born player, who switched from Celtic to Glasgow City at the start of this season, made her debut for Scotland as a 16-year-old in a Euro qualifying game against the Czech Republic.
She has been an almost everpresent since then, and is one of a number of players in the Scotland squad who suffered the agony of three play-off defeats as they attempted to qualify for a major championship for the first time.
By far the most agonising was the game in Madrid four years ago – when she won the 150th of her record 193 caps. It was the second leg of the play-off to qualify for Euro 2013.
Fay saved a penalty in the first leg at Hampden, and another in the return.
With the second leg in the final minute of extra time, it looked as if Scotland had qualified – only for the home side to go ahead for the only time in the tie with the last kick of the ball.
“What happened then has driven me, and driven the whole team,” Fay admitted. “We weren’t going to let that happen again.
“Playing in the finals will be the pinnacle of my career.”