Scotland boss says team will 'make country proud' and promises more to come after Hibs star's late leveller
Scotland stay top of Women’s World Cup qualification group with late leveller.
Scotland head coach Melissa Andreatta said the team’s dramatic injury-time goal which sealed a 1-1 draw with Belgium in the Women’s World Cup qualifiers is proof that the team are “reconnecting with their culture.”
The 46-year-old head coach saw Hibs striker Kathleen McGovern cancel out Sari Kees’s 15th-minute opener in stoppage time to draw 1-1 with Belgium at Easter Road and keep themselves top of Group B4 in the quest to reach next year’s World Cup in Brazil.
Despite dominating proceedings in the capital, Scotland looked set to suffer their first defeat of the qualifying campaign until the dramatic late strike, but Andreatta says she never lost faith in her side.
“I believed in this team and believed in these individuals, and that belief grows," said the Scotland boss. "I don't know what else to say about them except I believe in them. Our culture is resilient - we don't step back. We never stop. That's what I have learned about being here, and they are reconnecting with that part of their culture. Everyone should be proud of them, and you are going to be prouder - I am sure.
“Their goal came against the run of play, we felt. The final third is the most challenging area to be clinical and creative in, but they never lost belief. They were rewarded for that. Kathleen is very hard on herself. She will be hard on herself and disappointed, but she is young and young on her journey with the national team. But it is not just on her to score our chances - I am delighted for her. Who wouldn't be happy to score here? The only disappointment was that we didn't see a knee slide, which the players all wanted to see.”
Top of Group B4 on goal difference with seven points, Scotland will face Belgium again in the return fixture this weekend, and the Australian boss says the performance, not just the late goal, gives them confidence that they can take all three points in Leuven.
“It is another step forward. We got there positive and confident, and we should be,” said Andreatta. “It could be a big point for us, but it is only halfway. They are a humble group, but they know what it takes to compete with the best.”
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