venue: hampden park, glasgow date: Tuesday, April 8th kick off: 19:35 BST |
coverage: Broadcast live on BBC Alba. Text updates via his website and app on BBC Sport |
Manager Pedro Martínez Rosa insists Scotland's eight-game winless streak has “nothing to do” with Tuesday's visit to Slovakia.
The Spanish team drew 0-0 away with Serbia on Friday in their first match of Euro 2025 qualifying Group B2.
However, he emphasized that they had won seven out of 10 friendlies during that period.
“There's no need to mention the games we've played so far,” Martínez Rosa said.
“Nothing has been said about the record. I don't think it has anything to do with tomorrow's game.”
Scotland's last win in a competitive match was against Austria in the World Cup play-off semi-finals in October 2022.
Over the next 18 months, they failed to beat the Republic of Ireland, Belgium (twice), England (twice), the Netherlands (twice) and the second-seeded Serbs behind Scotland.
“For me, there is no such thing as being competitive or not being competitive,” Martinez-Rosa said. “We prepare for the games in the same way and our players have the same pride in representing their country.”
Scotland can also point out that Friday's game was the first time they have not played a competitive match against a higher-ranked side since losing to the Republic of Ireland in the World Cup play-off final.
“Every time we play against a team that is higher than us in the FIFA rankings, we feel that we have a chance to win,” said Martinez Rosa.
“We are preparing to win every game, not just the teams below us. We played against Slovakia a few years ago and we won the game, but Slovakia did a lot of good things, so We have to prepare for it.”
Coach Martínez Rosa said Scotland had picked up a point from what was theoretically the most difficult game in their group.
Now they must “focus on doing better in the final third” as they face a Slovakia team ranked 44th in the world (21 places below Scotland), with a 2-0 win at home. He started in 73rd place. Ranked in Israel.
team news
Sandy McIver will be sidelined for Scotland, with manager Martinez Rosa still awaiting the results of tests carried out after Manchester City's goalkeeper was sent off after just nine minutes with a knee injury against Serbia. He said he was waiting.
Hibs defender Leah Eddy was also absent through injury, with Rosengaard goalkeeper Asa Cummings and Celtic centre-half Kelly Clarke joining the squad.
Captain and centre-back Rachel Cauchy is poised to win her 150th cap.
What do we know about Slovakia?
Slovakia arrived at Hampden Park unbeaten in four games, winning their last three games 11-0 on aggregate.
They finished third in the Nations League B division group behind Finland and Croatia, but avoided relegation by defeating Latvia.
Most of Peter Kopun's team is based in his homeland or the Czech Republic.
However, forward Patricia Khumilova plays for Sporting Huelva in the Spanish top flight, midfielder Dominika Skorvankova plays for Montpellier in France, and defender Patricia Ficherova plays for Kalmar in Sweden and is in goal. Keeper Maria Kolenchova plays for Como in Italy.
match statistics
- Scotland have played against Slovakia three times so far, winning all three without conceding a goal.
- The first meeting between the two teams was in October 2007 in a Euro 2009 qualifier, when the visitors defeated the Senets 3-0.
- Scotland won 6-0 in the return game at McDiarmid Park in Perth in September 2008.
- Martha Thomas and Abi Harrison score for Scotland in their most recent encounter at the Pineta Cup in Spain in February 2022
- Scotland have won one of their last nine games – 2-0 against the Philippines in the Pinatar Cup in February.
- Slovakia are unbeaten in four games and have won three in a row without conceding a goal.
- Scotland are without a win in 3 home games