ANNA Signeul has told her Scotland players that places for the opening Euro 2017 game against England on July 19 are still up for grabs, writes Alan Campbell.
The head coach will use tonight’s game against Romania at Falkirk Stadium, and a second friendly in Sweden on Tuesday, to try out her possible permutations.
Signeul had hope to know her Euro team by now, but the squad’s preparations have come badly unstuck following an encouraging opening six games in 2007 which delivered three wins, two draws and one defeat.
Some nine players were injured and unable to travel for the heavy 5-0 loss against Belgium in April.
Since then Signeul has had to accept that she will go to the Netherlands without star player Kim Little and exciting young attacker Lizzie Arnot. Both suffered recent training ground ACL injuries which are likely to keep them out for the rest of the year.
A third player, Arsenal left back Emma Mitchell, is also doubtful for the tournament with a serious hamstring injury.
“We still are looking for the starting 11 against England,” Signeul said. “There is still a lot to play for within the squad of 23 and for the starting eleven. The players know that as well.”
Signeul does not see 18-year-old Chelsea midfielder Erin Cuthbert as a like-for-like replacement for Little.
“There are many years of experience and caps in between Erin and Kim,” the head coach pointed out. “Kim covers so much ground and is strong in the tackles.”
Signeul is almost certain to bolster her midfield to compensate for the loss of Little. She has five good central defenders in her 23-player squad and may find a way to play more than two in Falkirk tonight.
Romania finished runners-up to France in their qualifying group and went into a play-off against Portugal for the final place in the Euros.
After both legs finished 0-0 after 90 minutes, Portugal, who are in Scotland’s group, went through on away goals after both sides scored in extra time in Cluj.
The Romanian goalkeeper, Andreea Paraluta, plays for Atletico Madrid but most of the squad play in the domestic league.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here