“We’ve had a rough few games so it feels good to get back on track. A new year, fresh start, so we are buzzing with it.”
Martha Thomas can say that again. She might have had to repeat it a few times so folks in the back could hear her in the blustery conditions that encompassed and enraged all in Pinatar, Spain, on Saturday afternoon.
Scotland got the job done against Philippines, and have booked their spot in Tuesday’s Pinatar Cup final against Finland. They didn’t do so with any style or gloss, but such luxuries were not required to bring gleaming smiles back to the players’ faces.
It was a challenging second half of the year for all in dark blue, none more so than Thomas, who admitted the Nations League campaign “dwindled out” after the first bright showing against England.
Her close-range finish was her first Scotland goal since a friendly against Northern Ireland in July, and just her second since September 2022, the last time she scored in a competitive fixture for Scotland.
It’s a far cry from the ratio she’s acquired since making the move from Manchester United to Tottenham Hotspur in the summer. Seven goals in 14 WSL games is not bad going, but for some reason, that form hasn’t been replicated in a Scotland shirt.
Up until now, though, the 27-year-old’s position has fleetingly been under threat, with few forwards staking a claim of their own.
Re-enter Jane Ross. The veteran scorer was much missed during her 21-month absence from the national team due to an ACL injury.
Her total of 62 Scotland goals is only bettered by the legendary Julie Fleeting, whose 116 in 121 caps is unlikely to ever be eclipsed. Ross’ status is safe, her record does the talking and there is no need for a proving period.
Thomas’ position, for the first time in nearly two years, could have been under pressure.
Head coach Pedro Martinez Losa declared post-match his pleasure at Thomas’ “important” goals, after conversations were had that the two strikers would get a half each. Thomas made her 45 minutes count.
“It feels good to get on the scoresheet,” she said afterwards, while highlighting that her cushioned opener could have gone horribly wrong.
“Sometimes as a number nine those are the goals that you want. You still have to be in the right place at the right time so I was happy.
“I was just hoping I wasn’t going to hit it over the bar because the balls were light and it was very windy. The second goal, Claire [Emslie] whipped in a lovely ball and I just knocked it in, so I’m happy with the two goals and the win.”
‘Winning is life’
It’s a win that ends a torrid spell for the Scots – their first since they defeated the Finns 2-1 in last summer’s friendly.
“Reconnecting with winning” was key for Martinez Losa heading into the warm-weather training camp, with pressure and expectation mounting on the Scots to make next year’s European Championship, which would be a first under the Spaniard’s stewardship.
The qualifiers for that tournament begin in April, and attacking them in the best shape is paramount for a Scotland side that many argue have underperformed in recent times.
“I just want to really congratulate the girls because it has been a long time since they’ve had that feeling [of winning],” the head coach said.
“We belong to the high-performance level, so winning is the life. The pride to play for our country, inspiring thousands and millions of young girls and winning games – building this success, hopefully we can inspire everyone.”
When asked, most kids pick strikers as their favourite player, their inspiration, because they are getting the perceived fun job of scoring goals.
Thomas will be hoping that the youth of today who are following SWNT will have ‘Thomas 9’ on the back of their shirts at Euro 2025 in Switzerland next year if she can help Scotland achieve their goal of sitting at the top table once more.