Pedro Martinez Losa's side sit at the half-way stage of their European Championship play-off final and despite Finland the happier of the two teams after Friday's goalless game at Easter abroad, goalkeeper Eartha Cumings has insisted there is no reason for a loss of optimism.

Indeed, she believes that  Scotland have game changing talent at their disposal. Getting those players  into the game and in a position  to influence it will at the forefront of Martinez Losa's mind this weekend. 

Certainly, though, there is no question that it will need to be a vastly improved performance from what was on offer in Leith with Finland easily the more menacing of the two teams. 

“We do have special players who can turn up for us,” said Cumings . “We all know that we have really talented players in our squad so if that is what it comes to do and it helps us to get over the line then I think we have got it.

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“You always need bravery and courage when you play a game of football but especially in these moments. You have to stand up and be counted.”

And Cumings has also revealed that the veterans of the squad who have already experienced World Cups and European Championships are the driver for Scotland to go and do it again.

Scotland have not been at a major tournament since the World Cup in France back in 2019 with Cumings determined to sample playing on the biggest stages.

“I have said it before, it would mean everything,” she said. “We all want to play for Scotland at a major tournament. It is all of our dreams. There are girls who have done it before.

“I would love to achieve that. You sit at home and you watch the games on TV and it hurts to not be there.

“The girls have been speaking about how amazing the feeling was when they qualified for the World Cup and just saying, ‘imagine that feeling.’ They have said that it has been the best moment of their careers. I would love to experience that euphoria and that joy of making it.”

And the goalkeeper, whose day job is with Rosengard in Sweden, believes that while there will be moments when Scotland will have to struggle in Helsinki, that they have the required mentality to prevail.

“You always have to suffer in football,” she said. “It is never just great, great, great in football. It is not a linear experience. There are ups and downs and that is what makes the ups so amazing.

“We all still believe that it is in our hands. I fully believe that this is a squad who are capable of going and taking us to Switzerland this summer.

“There was a bit of tension within the game on Friday night but I think that is to be expected when you know what is at stake. But the squad as a whole is fairly relaxed. 

“We all believe in one another and we know that if we keep our focus and play the way that we know we can, then it is entirely possible for us to qualify. It will take a huge effort but we are most definitely capable of getting there.”

There was a reprieve of sorts for Martinez Losa’s side yesterday as they were given the afternoon off to spend with families ahead of tomorrow’s flight to Helsinki. 

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“We had a day off which was nice to go and get away from it a bit,” said Cummings. “It is about staying fresh and keeping sharp. We went over the game but it is important to be able to get a bit of a break.

“I live abroad so I don’t get to see my family too much. So having a day with them was good but we always say that when you have a day off in the midst of a camp like this, that in some ways it feels like you are skipping school. It does feel a bit like there is somewhere you should be.

“I think for all of us there will have been a drifting back to the job that lies in hand.”