Scots hopeful of European upset

Signeul's Scotland side host Russia at Tynecastle Stadium in Edinburgh

Scotland coach Anna Signeul believes her side can upset the odds against Russia and progress to the European Championship finals for the first time.

The Scots host the Russians at Hearts' Tynecastle Stadium on Sunday in the first game of a two-leg play-off.

"It was the worst possible draw, but we are up for this challenge," said Signeul of the higher-ranked opponents.

"We played them in the Cyprus Cup in March and we lost 3-2, but we were very close in that game."

The Scots, who have never before reached the play-offs, have been steadily improving during their group games and secured their place with a 6-0 thrashing of Slovakia.

"It is the first time we have been at this level and it would be absolutely fantastic if we could go through," said Signeul.

"As one of our players said, being in this play-off means we are just 180 minutes from the European Championships and that is thrilling."

It's exciting times for women's football Scotland coach Anna Signeul

Hosts Finland, holders Germany and qualifying group winners Denmark, England, France, Norway and Sweden await the winners of the five play-offs.

But the draw was unkind to the Scots as Signeul viewed Russia as the best team among the non-qualifiers.

Scotland made the play-offs by finishing third in their qualifying group, while Russia, seven places above the Scots in the European rankings, were second in theirs.

The Scotland coach watched the Russians draw with group winners Norway in their final game and was impressed with "a strong team, physically and technically".

"We don't have to win this game, although it will be difficult to go to Russia if we lose," said Signeul.

Signeul has made some minor changes to her side to compensate for the suspension of Scotland's record scorer, Arsenal striker Julie Fleeting.

Spartans' Diana Barry has received her first international call-up, while Celtic's Hayley Cunningham is also in the squad for the first leg as cover for the star absentee.

Fleeting has scored 107 goals in 105 internationals and the Scots will be hoping that her Arsenal team-mate, Kim Little (one goal in 21 appearances) and Celtic's Pauline Hammill (19 in 114) or Hibernian's Suzanne Grant (four in 55) can provide sufficient firepower in the first leg of the potentially historic tie.

Scottish champions Glasgow City also this season reached the Uefa Cup group stages for the first time.

While they lost all three games, including a 1-0 defeat by Russian side Zvezda 2005, Signeul saw this as further evidence of a general improvement in the quality of women's football in Scotland.

"I am really pleased with the development," she said.

"I think we can see the progress in the clubs and amount of players at every level.

"There are so many girls playing in schools and we now need to see them moving to playing in the clubs, but it's exciting times for women's football."

Russia will field a team on Sunday full of professional players and Signeul hopes that Scotland can follow suit.

"It is not far away that we can have professional players in Scotland and, if they start a professional league in England, we can have players there, but we would prefer them to remain here," she said.

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Scotland squad

Goalkeepers: Gemma Fay (Hibernian), Joanna Hutchison (Spartans)
Defenders: Frankie Brown (Hibernian), Ifeoma Dieke (Kristianstads), Julie Ferguson (Celtic), Rhonda Jones (Hibernian), Michelle Kerr (Spartans), Amy McDonald (Kilmarnock), Leanne Ross (Glasgow City)
Midfielders: Jennifer Beattie (Celtic), Joanne Love (Celtic), Kirsty McBride (Hibernian), Natalie Ross (Arsenal), Megan Sneddon (Glasgow City)
Forwards: Diana Barry - first leg only (Spartans), Hayley Cunningham - first leg only (Celtic), Julie Fleeting - second leg only (Arsenal), Suzanne Grant (Hibernian), Pauline Hamill (Celtic), Kim Little (Arsenal)