North

Beattie ready for Israel return

Friday, 15 June 2012

UEFA Women's Euro 2013 Qualifiers
Scotland v Israel
Saturday 16th June 2012, kick-off 3 pm
Tynecastle Stadium, Edinburgh

Tickets available on the gate, priced £5/2

Republic of Ireland v Scotland
Thursday 21st June 2012, kick-off 7.30 pm
Turner’s Cross Stadium, Cork

Versatile Arsenal star Jennifer Beattie is looking forward to tasting competitive action with Scotland again this weekend, after missing April’s 2-1 Euro qualifying win over Republic of Ireland with a back injury.

The 21-year-old was one of four different scorers in the 6-1 win over Saturday’s opponents Israel in the first match of the campaign last October.

With all-time record scorer Julie Fleeting missing from this campaign after the birth of her second daughter, Scotland have had to prove that there are goals in the team. 

Jennifer said: “I think it’s important for us as a team that we showed in that match, and through-out the campaign so far, that we are capable of scoring goals from all over the pitch.

“In the past we’ve always been able to rely on Julie to get a goal when we need one. We knew going into this campaign that we wouldn’t have her, and that other players would have to step up to the plate. That has definitely happened and it will be one of the big positives that we can take from this campaign.

“In training yesterday we were talking about the threat that Israel can pose. We may have picked up a very good result against them in October, but we know that they are sharp, and move the ball quickly.

“We just need to concentrate on our own game and play the same way that we did in that first match.

“We had the right mentality going into the game and worked well as a team all over the pitch. Everything came together well on the day - we scored some good goals, worked hard and played some good football.”

Lisa Evans is one of the new faces in the squad this year, and as she prepares for a transfer to German champions Turbine Potsdam, Jennifer is delighted to see her Scotland team mate moving to one of the top leagues in women’s football.

She said: “The work that has gone into the women’s game in Scotland is really starting to pay off. There are some great young players coming through and we have players at the top level across Europe. That can only be a good thing for the national team.

“It’s a great move for Lisa. We also have Hayler Lauder in Finland, Ifeoma Dieke in Sweden, Kim Little and I in the Super League down south. Then there are the Glasgow City players competing in the last stages of the Champions League.

“Coming up against teams at that level you continue to test yourself and improve, and it means that you have great experience when it comes to international matches.”