SCOTLAND captain Rachel Corsie says she is happy with yesterday's 2023 World Cup draw. The second seeds will play Spain, Ukraine, Hungary and Faroe Islands in Group B.
“It's a really good draw,” Corsie, who plays for Kansas City in America's National Women's Soccer League, said. “Spain are going to be extremely tough, but all the teams in Pot 1 are now.
“Spain are now considered one of the top teams in the world and they've improved a lot recently as they have talented young players who are becoming more experienced. I think that's reflected in how well teams like Barcelona are doing in the Champions League.
“We didn't do ourselves justice in the Euro qualifying campaign and we want to come back and prove we can do better this time. There were no teams we didn't want in the draw.”
The qualifiers start in September and run for twelve months with the winners of the nine groups qualifying for the finals in Australia and New Zealand. The runners-up will go into play-offs, with the top two also qualifying for the finals and a third given the opportunity via the confederation play-offs.
Games against Spain hold very mixed memories for Corsie. She was in the side which won 1-0 in the final group game of Euro 2017, with Caroline Weir scoring the winner in Deventer to give Scotland a first-ever major championship win.
READ MORE: SWPL1 to be played until scheduled conclusion despite Covid testing uncertainty
The central defender was also involved in a 1-1 friendly draw at Falkirk Stadium, but the bitter memories, both personal and for the team, happened in the two play-off games for the 2013 Euros.
Scotland looked certain to be heading to a first major championship on away goals with the scores locked at 3-3 near the end of extra time in the second game. But a winner in time added on gave Spain victory, with Corsie's participation having ended earlier when she suffered an ACL injury.
The 31-year-old has also played against the other three teams in the group, scoring three goals in a 16-2 aggregate win over the Faroese in 2015 World Cup qualifying.
Spain won their Euro 2022 qualifying group, winning seven games and drawing the other. They are ranked No 13 in the world and have won their last eight games, including 1-0 victories over England and 2019 World Cup runners-up Netherlands.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel