Scotland’s Heartbreak Continues After Playoff Loss to Finland

Scotland’s players fell to their knees in despair as the final whistle blew at the Bolt Arena, a scene reminiscent of their heartbreak two years ago when they lost to the Republic of Ireland in a World Cup play-off. Despite being a talented group with players across Europe and the US, Scotland’s hopes of redemption were dashed once again leaving them facing another disappointing winter of missed opportunities.

Defender Sophie Howard, who had been part of the squads for Euro 2017 and the 2019 World Cup, expressed that Scotland gave their all, saying, “We wanted so much more, and we didn’t achieve it. As a team, we feel like we gave everything.”  Despite their efforts, the Scots struggled to convert chances into goals, particularly in their 180 minutes against Finland and their 90 minutes against Ireland.

Howard emphasized that every player gave their best performance but ultimately Scotland’s failure to score cost them the game. The word “deserved” often came up among the players, who felt they had earned a spot in tournaments like the World Cup or the Euros.  However, as Howard pointed out, they must earn such a spot through results, not entitlement.

Against Finland, the Scots lacked the necessary quality and couldn’t overcome a well-drilled side. Yet, the team remained determined with Howard insisting that they played with bravery and confidence, leaving the pitch with no regrets.  Despite the devastating loss, Howard remains optimistic.

She believes this group can bounce back, even though concerns are growing about Scotland’s golden generation with key players like Howard (31), Caroline Weir (29) and Erin Cuthbert (26) now entering the later stages of their careers. The question remains whether Scotland’s time has passed as they face the reality of another missed major tournament.