Thursday 30 October 2014 17:31, UK
Head coach Anna Signeul hopes Scotland Women can raise their game and overturn a 2-1 deficit against the Netherlands to keep their 2015 World Cup dream alive.
Scotland lost to the Dutch in Edinburgh at the weekend, giving them a tough task in the second leg of their play-off semi-final in Rotterdam on Thursday night.
The Scots missed out on qualification for the last European Championships after a dramatic last-minute defeat to Spain two years ago.
A play-off final against Italy lies in store for tonight’s winners and Siguel hopes her player can seize the moment and make it to next year’s finals in Canada.
“We still believe in ourselves and we believe that we can beat them and score goals against them,” she told Sky Sports. “We just need to step up a level in every area I think.
“To qualify for a Championship is every player’s dream. We are just keeping that dream alive a little bit longer and we will try to do our best.”
Arsenal Ladies players Caroline Weir, Christie Murray and Emma Mitchell are all expected to feature for the Scots tonight as well as Seattle Reign striker Kim Little who left the club at the end of last season.
Arsenal midfielder Rachel Yankey hopes the quartet can come through the tie and give themselves a shot of reaching next summer’s showpiece.
"Christie, Caroline, Emma and Kim Little are all in action tonight and although the Netherlands are 2-1 up I have my fingers crossed for them," she said.
"If Scotland could get the win and get to that final play-off and possibly get to the World Cup then I think that would be fantastic for them.
"People like Kim Little really deserve to get to play in a World Cup. That is something that would be very special because she is an amazing talent, as are the rest of the Scottish team, but having played with Kim for so many years it would be really nice to see her do that."
