2019 was a packed year for all of the Scotland National Teams. Take a look back at the last twelve months in our review of the year.
January
With the FIFA Women's World Cup on the horizon, January saw Shelley Kerr's side travel to La Manga for a training camp with friendlies against Norway and Iceland on the cards. One highlight was Lana Clelland's goal of the year contender against Iceland.
π | Wishing a Happy Birthday to #SWNT forward @LanaClelland!
β Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) January 26, 2019
Here's Lana's goal against Iceland from our training camp in La Manga.#OurGirlsOurGame pic.twitter.com/tudFGJaAip
January also saw our first themed week, with the Scotland National Team social media channels throwing back to 1977. Take a look at all the content in the Twitter moment below:
β‘οΈπ΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ Catch up with everything from this week's #Scotland1977 themed week.https://t.co/KUo7DFSAl8
β Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) January 27, 2019
February
The draw for UEFA Women's EURO 2021 qualifying took place in early February, with Scotland paired alongside some familiar names; World Cup qualifying opponents Albania and Finland, managed by former Scotland Head Coach Anna Signeul.
We're in Group E, as we aim to qualify for #WEURO2021 β which would be our third major tournament in a row.
β Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) February 21, 2019
What do you make of that group, Scotland fans?#OurGirlsOurGame #SWNT pic.twitter.com/HuAGDZyP4y
March
Preparations for the FIFA Women's World Cup continued apace in March, with the Algarve Cup. The tournament began with a narrow defeat to Canada, before a 4-1 victory over Iceland and a 1-0 win over Denmark saw Scotland seal 5th place.
Watch the highlights as #SWNT secure fifth place at the #AlgarveCup with a 1-0 win over Denmark.#OurGirlsOurGame pic.twitter.com/wwXnce9Aqp
β Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) March 7, 2019
Scotland Women's Under-19s also had a major tournament to look forward to, with Scotland hosting the UEFA Women's Under-19s EUROs. In one of our warm-up matches in Murcia, Elena Santoyo-Brown scored a fantastic strike against China to seal victory. Her goal would go on to be one of the Scotland Goal of the Year contenders:
What a goal from #SCOW19s Elena Santoyo-Brown to seal a 1-0 victory over China this week. ππ#OurGirlsOurGame pic.twitter.com/oNOCAlXLVd
β Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) March 7, 2019
March also the unveiling of the Scotland Women's National Team exclusive World Cup kits.
Every World Cup team needs a World Cup kit.
β Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) March 8, 2019
This #InternationalWomensDay weβre proud to share with you the first ever #SWNT exclusive home and away kits, which will be worn at the @FIFAWWC.#OurGirlsOurGame pic.twitter.com/YKjFBQca0R
April
April saw another two warm-up matches for Shelley Kerr's side, ahead of the World Cup. After a 1-1 draw with Chile, a match against Brazil followed. A tremendous performance saw Kim Little score the winner for Scotland in a 1-0 victory.
Kim Little β‘οΈ Lizzie Arnot β‘οΈ Kim Little = π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώβ½οΈ#SWNT #OurGirlsOurGame pic.twitter.com/5LQypdtcs6
β Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) April 9, 2019
While Scotland were travelling to the World Cup in the summer, the World Cup trophy travelled to Scotland in April, as the Trophy Tour hit Edinburgh Castle.
The @FIFAWWC trophy tour arrived in Scotland yesterday.
β Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) April 26, 2019
Here's what happened during the trophy's day at @EdinburghCastle.#SWNT #OurGirlsOurGame pic.twitter.com/pVrpdsaZx3
May
Following a difficult start to our UEFA EURO 2020 qualifying campaign, Alex McLeish left his role as Scotland National Team Head Coach in April. May saw the appointment of Steve Clarke as the new Scotland National Team Head Coach.
β PFA Manager of the Year 2018-19
β Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) May 20, 2019
β SFWA Manager of the Year 2018-19
β SFWA Manager of the Year 2017-18
Your new Scotland National Team Head Coach is...#NothingMattersMore pic.twitter.com/M8VSTpjLhd
With the FIFA Women's World Cup just weeks away, June also saw Shelley Kerr name her squad that would travel to France.
That squad would be the same group of players to face Jamaica in our final friendly ahead of the tournament, in a send-off match at Hampden Park. Scotland ran out 3-2 winners, as the attendance record for a Scotland Women's National Team match was smashed in some style.
Our previous record attendance was 4098.
β Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) May 28, 2019
Tonightβs attendance is 18,555.
Thank you so much for your incredible, incredible support as we send #SWNT off to the @FIFAWWC.#OurGirlsOurGame
Also notable in this match was Erin Cuthbert's goal, which would go on to be voted as the Scotland Goal of the Year for 2019.
We have a winner...
β Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) December 9, 2019
You have voted @erincuthbert_'s strike against Jamaica at Hampden as the Scotland Goal of the Year for 2019.
Congratulations, Erin β here's to a few more like this in 2020 π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώπ pic.twitter.com/PiC36IQMyH
JuneΒ
June was a special month for Scotland Men's National Team captain, as he lifted the Champions League with Liverpool.
Andy Robertson, Champions League winner.
β Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) June 1, 2019
Congratulations, skipper.#UCLFinal pic.twitter.com/zFt8vV9BtY
Undoubtedly the biggest event in June was the FIFA Women's World Cup, with the team travelling to Nice from Edinburgh Airport.
π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ βοΈ π«π·@FIFAWWC here we come.#SWNT #OurGirlsOurGame pic.twitter.com/KujG24sdfg
β Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) June 5, 2019
With two matches in two days for the senior Scotland sides, the first saw the men's team grab a 2-1 victory over Cyprus in Steve Clarke's first game in charge β much to the delight of the new boss.
"Steve Clarke's Tartan Army"
β Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) June 8, 2019
π΅π΅π΅ pic.twitter.com/gaflJijbIa
The first goal of the match came from Andy Robertson β his strike was another Scotland Goal of the Year nominee.
As the team fly out to Belgium ahead of tomorrow's Group I encounter in Brussels, let's have another look at @AndrewRobertso5 π from Saturday night. #BELSCO pic.twitter.com/uyWlU0bBOz
β Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) June 10, 2019
Matchday in Nice followed, with our opening match at the World Cup against the Auld Enemy, England.
We are Scotland, and we are here.#SWNT #OurGirlsOurGame pic.twitter.com/UXScVGuJvw
β Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) June 9, 2019
The match itself saw a narrow 2-1 defeat for Shelley Kerr's side; however Claire Emslie was able to create a significant piece of history, scoring Scotland's first ever goal at a Women's World Cup.
Game on in Nice.@emslie22 scores our first ever #FIFAWWC goal.#ENGSCO #OurGirlsOurGame
β Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) June 9, 2019
pic.twitter.com/g8JWMTB7Ex
The next match saw us travel to Rennes to take on Japan. Sadly, another narrow defeat followed β despite a classy goal from Lana Clelland.
π @LanaClelland scored this π late on, but it wasn't enough for us today.
β Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) June 14, 2019
Next up: Argentina. We'll be ready. π#SWNT #OurGirlsOurGamepic.twitter.com/HEjcZRBUeQ
The Parc des Princes in Paris was the venue for what would be our final match at the FIFA Women's World Cup; Argentina mounted a late comeback to secure a 3-3 draw. Late heartbreak, but the impact that this team had during their time at the tournament was hugely positive and the legacy should be felt for a long time.
Tonight's result means that, sadly, our World Cup journey is over.
β Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) June 19, 2019
Thank you for your truly incredible support throughout the tournament.#FIFAWWC β we'll be back, you can be sure of that.#SWNT #OurGirlsOurGame pic.twitter.com/VozLXIa6X1
July
Attention turned to the second major tournament of the summer, as Pauline Hamill's Scotland Women's Under-19s competed in the UEFA Women's Under-19s EUROs, which Scotland hosted. Record crowds turned out to watch Scotland's group matches, as France lifted the trophy in Paisley.
A crowd of 1,285 in Paisley tonight, cheering on the next generation of Scottish talent.
β Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) July 16, 2019
Thank you for your fantastic support!#SCOW19s #OurGirlsOurGame #WU19EURO pic.twitter.com/FxddnA0s25
August
August saw the vote for Scotland's favourite kit take place on the @ScotlandNT Twitter. The home and away kit winners were crowned:
The results are in and as voted by you over the last two weeks in the #WorldCupofScotlandKits your favourite Scotland home and away kits of all time are:
β Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) August 13, 2019
π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ Home: 1976 - 1980
π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ Away: 2007 - 2009 pic.twitter.com/eFiXOavEnK
The eventual winner was the 1976-80 home kit.
After 60,000 votes in our #WorldCupOfScotlandKits π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ the best Scotland kit of all time has been crowned.
β Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) August 15, 2019
The winner was our home kit from 1976 - 1980.
Thank you to all that voted. pic.twitter.com/drCTQ1Q7eK
The UEFA Women's EURO 2021 qualifying campaign kicked off in late August, as Shelley Kerr's side returned to action for the first time since the World Cup. A Kim Little-inspired performance saw Scotland emerge as 8-0 winners, with Kim scoring five.
Super Eight π
β Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) August 31, 2019
Watch the highlights as #SWNT open our #WEURO2021 qualifying campaign with a comprehensive victory over Cyprus at Easter Road.#OurGirlsOurGame pic.twitter.com/BSEz8DP6Mf
September
A new qualifying campaign began for Scot Gemmill's Under-21s side in September. Following a comfortable 2-0 win over San Marino in Paisley, the young Scots travelled to Croatia. A sensational 2-1 victory followed, with Connor McLennan leading a late comeback.
β±78th minute β substituted on.
β Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) September 10, 2019
β½οΈ 81st minute β scores the equaliser.
β½οΈ 89th minute β scores the winner.
A good night for @mclennan_connor.#SCO21s | #YoungTeam pic.twitter.com/P8tO0mbJc9
October
October was a packed month, with the Scotland youth sides taking part in their Qualifying Rounds. A fantastic set of results followed, with all four sides β Men and Women's Under-17s and Under-19s β qualifying for their respective Elite Rounds.
#SCOW19s FULL TIME | Poland 0-1 Scotland
β Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) October 8, 2019
Jennifer Smith's first half goal seals the win for Scotland!
β Qualification for the Elite Round
β Top of the Group
β No goals conceded
β Undefeated in the Group
π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώπ#OurGirlsOurGame https://t.co/zQIU0GMeKw
#SCO19s | Watch Josh McPake's winner against Germany as Scotland Under-19s beat Germany 1-0 to top their qualifying round group and go into the elite round draw as one of the top seeds.#YoungTeam π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ pic.twitter.com/zi0PYQ3285
β Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) October 15, 2019
#SCOW17s | Results elsewhere in Group 10 mean that @paulineedi's Scotland side have qualified for the Elite Round of #WU17EURO qualification with a game to spare.
β Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) October 17, 2019
Well done, girls π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώπ#OurGirlsOurGame pic.twitter.com/JsLxQkmJS4
#SCO17s FULL TIME | Scotland 2-1 Iceland.
β Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) October 25, 2019
A double from Liam Morrison sees Scotland come from behind to secure a 2-1 victory and qualify for the Elite Round with a game to spare.
Up next: Croatia on Monday to see who will top the group.#YoungTeam pic.twitter.com/Zm4GSawfCc
November
The positive result for the youth teams continued in early November, with Scotland Men's Under-16s emerging as joint winners of the 2019 Victory Shield, alongside Wales.
#SCO16s | Congratulations to @mclarenstu's Scotland Under-16s side: joint winners of the 2019 #VictoryShield.#YoungTeam pic.twitter.com/Ac5WhEbez6
β Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) November 1, 2019
A packed 2019 ended for Shelley Kerr's Scotland side with a trip to Albania for our final Women's EURO 2021 qualifier of the year. A 5-0 victory ensued, with debutants Hannah Godfrey and Kirsty Hanson playing their part.
βοΈ Two wins from two
β Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) November 8, 2019
β½οΈ 13 goals scored
βοΈ 0 conceded
Ending our 2019 #WEURO2021 qualifiers on a high π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώπ#SWNT | #OurGirlsOurGame pic.twitter.com/nwxauX9g1Q
2019 ended on a high for Steve Clarke's side, with back-to-back victories over Cyprus and Kazakhstan. First up: Cyprus away. Steven Naismith earned his 50th cap, while Ryan Christie scored a Goal of the Year contender in a 2-1 victory.
Ryan Christie with a π to open the scoring for Scotland.#CYPSCO
β Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) November 16, 2019
(π₯ via @SkyFootball)pic.twitter.com/YcSA7bstGK
This was followed by a 3-1 victory against Kazakhstan at Hampden β John McGinn continued in his rich vein of scoring for Scotland to help seal the victory.
This guy π π pic.twitter.com/JSxya7tLcz
β Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) November 19, 2019
November also saw the draw for the UEFA EURO 2020 play-off take place. Scotland were drawn against Israel in the Semi-Final at Hampden. Should we emerge victorious from that match, it would be a trip to face either Norway or Serbia.
Should we win the Semi-Final against Israel, we would travel to face the winner of Norway or Serbia in the play-off final. pic.twitter.com/igIl3msyVw
β Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) November 22, 2019
December
December saw the annual awards handed out. Erin Cuthbert netted the Goal of the Year for her strike against Jamaica in May.
We have a winner...
β Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) December 9, 2019
You have voted @erincuthbert_'s strike against Jamaica at Hampden as the Scotland Goal of the Year for 2019.
Congratulations, Erin β here's to a few more like this in 2020 π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώπ pic.twitter.com/PiC36IQMyH
Erin then went to make it an awards double as she was named the BT Scotland Women's Player of the Year for 2019, alongside John McGinn who was named the BT Scotland Men's Player of the Year.
Congratulations to @erincuthbert_ and @jmcginn7 β your @BT_UK Scotland Players of the Year for 2019.
β Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) December 17, 2019
Thank you to everyone who voted across both Player of the Year polls. pic.twitter.com/7BPZhk3ji0
2020
Scotland Supporters Club memberships are now available for purchase and renewal. Members can get first access to tickets for our play-off Semi-Final against Israel.
Scotland Supporters Club memberships are now available for purchase and renewal.
β Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) December 13, 2019
2020-21 members can secure tickets for our play-off match against Israel at a discounted price now.
β‘οΈ Join or renew now: https://t.co/kEI3qifJVB