Heartbreak for Scotland and Signeul
Friday, October 31, 2008
Article summary
Scotland manager Anna Signeul cursed fate after her side missed out on their first major women's final tournament on away goals against Russia but said her young team "are going to go from strength to strength".
Article top media content
Article body
Comeback thwarted
Having lost the first leg of their 2009 UEFA European Women's Championship play-off against Russia 3-2 in Edinburgh, Scotland conceded an own goal 20 minutes into Thursday's return in Nalchik. Pauline Hamill then scored on 64 and 85 minutes to take Scotland to within one goal of a memorable comeback, but it is Russia who will compete in Finland next summer.
Luck cursed
"Football is not fair," Signeul told uefa.com. "Looking at both games we were the better team. We haven't had the marginals on our side and I don't think we had it in the campaign or in the draw for the play-offs. Russia are a very good team, but Scotland are a very good team and I am really sad that we didn't qualify because I think that we are among the best teams in Europe now, not one of the top teams but one of the teams that should have been playing in Finland next year."
Progress
Former Swedish international player and youth coach Signeul succeeded Vera Pauw as Scotland manager in March 2005 and for her, Thursday's result was proof of how far they have come since her first competitive game in charge five months after her appointment. "When I began we had a [FIFA Women's] World Cup campaign and went to Russia, in Moscow, and lost 6-0," Signeul said. "Today we won 2-1 and absolutely dominated, and I think that says what progress we have made in the team, and that's why it is so unfair we are not playing in the European Championship."
Commitment
Signeul is a coach in demand but showed her commitment to Scotland by signing a new two-year contract last week. As she contemplates the start of 2011 World Cup qualifying next year, she is optimistic about the future having fielded a team including teenagers Kim Little and Jennifer Beattie in Russia. "I feel that this team is just at the beginning of their development and we are going to go from strength to strength every year," Signeul said. "I see great potential in these players. I feel sad about a couple of the old players who have done so well in these three years and helped to develop the game in Scotland, because they have been the role models and set the standard. I feel so sorry that they do not have the chance to play in a European Championship."
