2 weeks ago
5
ARTICLE AD BOX
Pedro Martinez Losa told the truth.
The Scotland head coach warned on Friday, following their first leg 1-0 win against Hungary, that there was "no way" his side would lose on home soil on Tuesday.
Then on Monday, he said the result "will dictate" whether he "chose the right words".
From the 17th minute, when the hosts took a well-earned lead, it was safe to say his word choice was wise.
The Scots were dominant and deserving of their 4-0 victory at Easter Road, where they will return next month to face old foes Finland in their Euro 2025 play-off final first leg.
Any notions that their head coach's comments added pressure were squashed in a stylish statement of their own.
It was night and day from their flat showing in Budapest. They were free, fluid and had an abundance of flare as they stood up to Martinez Losa's shout.
Now, they must rise again when the Finns return to the stadium where they snatched away Scotland's dreams of reaching Euro 2022.
The good thing for Scotland? They believe they have more to give.
Victory in Edinburgh made it seven on the spin for Scotland, who are unbeaten in eight in their qualifying campaign.
In fact, they are undefeated in 90 minutes in 2024. The only blemish? A loss to Finland on penalties in the Pinatar Cup final in February.
Martinez Losa said his side "had the feeling that we could beat them" then, but "this time is a totally different scenario".
For starters, the Spaniard has Caroline Weir back. Real Madrid's magic midfielder captained her country across both legs and led by example on Tuesday, marking her return to Scottish shores with a sweet slotted finish following Martha Thomas' cute flick.
When the sides last met, Thomas had just netted her first Scotland goal in seven months and only her second in 16 months.
Her goal on Tuesday - Scotland's fourth - in the capital was her seventh in her past six games.
"We have probably seen the best version of a lot of players and that's what we want to repeat," the head coach said.
"The difficult moments that make you panic sometimes when you are playing in a play-off, we're learning to solve them.
"The first 10 minutes, it wasn't there, but after that we found the rhythm and that gave us confidence in the game."
Their confidence carried on post-match, too.
After celebrating in the capital and taking in a lights show as bright as their own performance, the smiles could not be shifted from the players' faces.
They knew they had just put in one of the most complete, creative and controlling competitive showings a Scotland side in some time. But they are not stopping there.
Erin Cuthbert, who ended her international goal drought with one of her trademark strikes from distance, thinks they "still have another level".
"It's a scary thing," she told BBC Scotland, "I still believe we have more to come, even though we played really well tonight."
Weir, who has spent the last year watching the team from afar, said they are "determined and ready" to defeat Finland.
"It's two cup finals now, isn't it?" she added. "That's what we've been working for. We've been through the play-off process before and know how tough it can be.
"That disappointment [from previous play-offs], it makes us resilient.
"We're determined and ready to go and compete against Finland."
That was fighting talk from a team who have had tough times against the Finns.
Martinez Losa's words worked wonders as his side bountifully backed them up. He has just shy of a month to rustle up another rallying cry.
In every capacity, it will need to be bigger and braver to exile the play-off pain synonymous with the Scots.
English (US)