Pedro Martinez Losa has urged Scotland to make history in Helsinki this evening as they prepare for the winner-takes-all clash against Finland for a place at next summer’s European Championships.
Friday night’s goalless draw in the first leg at Easter Road has tipped the balance of the tie in favour of Finland, although Martinez Losa has pointed to his side’s long unbeaten run as cause for optimism.
Scotland have recorded eight wins and three draws across the calendar year, with the only setback being a penalty shootout loss to the Finns in the Pinatar Cup back in February.
That form, insists Martinez Losa, should give his side confidence that they can book their place at the Euros despite failing to muster any real attacking threat in Friday’s first leg.
‘We need to be extremely focused, extremely organised and we need to be brave,’ said the Spaniard. ‘But, as I have told the players, we deserve to be here.
Martinez Losa has urged Scotland to be brave in the play-off second leg against Finland
Scotland midfielder Caroline Weir trains in the Bolt Arena ahead of Tuesday’s match
‘We are unbeaten this year. We have shown that we are good enough to go and play at this level but we know that we are facing a team who also want to be on the same stage.
‘Being unbeaten all year hasn’t happened just because the weather is good. We are a good team. This is an historic moment now, an opportunity to make history and we are confident that we can go and do that.
‘It is not going to be an easy game. It is a small pitch, an artificial surface and we know that it is to be sub-zero temperatures. It will be a different game to the game on Friday and, of course, it can go to extra-time and penalties.
‘I think the nature of a first-leg play-off tie can always be tense. Players maybe do not make the same passes that they might in another game, there is an element of tension in the game.’
Martinez Losa’s side practiced penalties at yesterday afternoon’s training session, mindful that it could well come down to a shoot-out to determine who goes through.
Temperatures are expected to be around -3 for tonight’s game with the wind chill meaning that it will feel even colder.
The Spaniard has insisted that Scotland are fully prepared for all eventualities while he also stressed that the current squad are better placed to handle the pressure of the play-off game than they were when they lost to the Republic of Ireland at Hampden in the World Cup play-off final just over two years ago.
Scotland have not qualified for a major tournament since the 2019 World Cup.
‘I think we are more mature as a team,’ said Martinez Losa. ‘I think, collectively and individually, we have improved. I know that the players are hungry but we also know that we are playing a team who will be equally determined to go and get to the Euros.
‘We have some very talented individual players within our squad but our focus has always been on how we prepare as a team and perform in terms of the collective.’
Scotland failed to trouble the Finland goal in Friday’s night’s first leg at Easter Road. If the Scots are to prevail this evening, there will need to be more urgency and tempo about the performance.
Finland have not lost a game at home for more than two years, although there will be some encouragement from the fact that Scotland were the last team to beat them on home soil.
‘I am excited,’ said Martinez Losa. ‘It is an opportunity. Football is always unpredictable but we are excited.
Scotland and Finland drew 0-0 in Friday’s play-off first leg at Easter Road
‘I don’t sense that the players are nervous. I think we are all looking forward to the game.
‘We knew the dangers of Finland on Friday night and we knew where they may try to hurt us. But we are professional and we have to trust in the process.
‘They are an uncomfortable opponent to play and to get to Euros we need to be able to cope with that and to beat them.
‘We need to be able to handle all of it — the mental aspect of the game and what is at stake, the duels, the set-plays, the danger that they carry in the final third.
‘But also we know that this is a big opportunity for us to go and get to the European Championships. As a squad that is what this year has been all about. The girls know they have a fantastic opportunity and they want to go and take it.
‘It is an historic moment for us. As a team we want to consistently be qualifying for tournaments, which is what Finland have been successful at doing across recent years. We have practiced penalties because we know that it may come down to that but we have analysed very aspect of the opponent, just as they will have done with us.
‘We are all excited by the challenge of the game. It is within our own hands to go and fulfil the dream we have had all of this year.’
