Scotland v Germany
UEFA Women’s Nations League – League A – Group 1
Friday, 4 April 2025
Tannadice Park, Dundee 

Scorers

Scotland 0

Germany 4 (Elisa Senß 2’, Sophie Howard 21’ (OG), Cora Zicai 57’, Lea Schuller 59’)

Team News

Interim Head Coach Michael McArdle made three changes from the 2-1 defeat to the Netherlands, with Erin Cuthbert, Martha Thomas and Amy Rodgers coming in to replace Kirsty Hanson, Kirsty MacLean and Lauren Davidson in the starting line-up.  

There were landmark caps for Erin Cuthbert, Lee Gibson and Rachel McLauchlan who earned their 75th, 60thand 25th caps respectively.

 

As It Happened

The match had barely got underway before Germany took the lead inside the first two minutes through Elisa Senß. A stramash on the edge of the area following a corner kick fell to Senss inside the penalty area who rifled past Lee Gibson in the Scotland goal.

Germany looked to double their lead moments later when Jule Brand managed to get the better of Emma Lawton on the right wing before firing across goal, though Jenna Clark managed to deflect the ball over her own crossbar for a Germany corner.

Scotland’s first shot on goal came in the 8th minute when following patient build up from the hosts, the ball fell to Jenna Clark on the edge of the penalty area, but her shot was comfortably held by Gotham FC goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger.

Scotland grew in confidence following the early setback and began to look more comfortable and assured in possession. On 19 minutes the returning Erin Cuthbert looped an in-swinging cross into the box, finding Eilidh Adams though the Hibernian striker failed to direct her header on target.

Just moments after that chance for Adams and Germany doubled their lead. Linda Dallman was allowed the space to drive forwards before she picked out Jule Brand on the right wing. Brand looked to pick out a teammate at the back post and in an attempt to block the cross, Sophie Howard deflected the ball into her own goal.

Ten minutes or so later and the away side almost added a third. Brand’s ball across the face of goal looked destined to be tapped home before Sophie Howard managed to make a last-ditch challenge to send the ball out for a corner.

Scotland squandered an opportunity to pull one back when Cuthbert pounced on the loose ball in the centre of the park before playing it to Caroline Weir. The Real Madrid midfielder opted to shoot from distance with her eventual effort flying over the top of Berger’s crossbar.

That proved to be the last action of note in the first half as referee Tess Olofsson sounded her whistle as Scotland headed into the break two goals behind.

Germany began the second half strongly and squandered a fantastic opportunity to make it three when Brand was played in on the left wing before cutting across goal, though the ball agonisingly for the Germans, evaded substitute Cora Zicai at the back post.

The away side did add a third on 56 minutes. Dallman again picked up the ball just inside the Scotland half before driving towards the penalty box. She picked out Zicai who with just Gibson to beat curled the ball excellently off the post and into the far corner of the net to make it three nil.

Moments later following a mistake in the Scotland midfield, Lea Schuller found herself one on one with Gibson and the Bayern Munich striker kept her composure to lash the ball across the Glasgow City keeper into the far corner for number four.

Despite the scoreline, Scotland continued to threaten going forwards. Lauren Davidson bamboozled Dallman as she drove to the byline, though the German defender recovered excellently to make the challenge and prevent the concession of a corner kick.

Just moments later from a Weir corner, another substitute Kirsty Hanson attempted to help the ball towards goal with an overhead kick though the German defence eventually managed to head clear.

Perhaps Scotland’s best chance of the match fell to Jenna Clark on 78 minutes. Cuthbert whipped a great ball in towards the penalty spot, which was met by Clark, though the Liverpool defender’s glancing effort fell just wide of target.

Lee Gibson made a magnificent save minutes later when Gwinn worked herself space in the penalty area before firing towards goal, though the Scotland goalkeeper did brilliantly to tip wide of the post.

Kirsty Smith almost added a consolation for Scotland in the 86th minute when her cross from the right-hand side nearly looped over Berger. Then in the next phase of play, Kirsty MacLean tried her luck from range but her shot ultimately fell comfortably wide of goal.

Scotland very nearly pulled a goal back late on through Lauren Davidson. An uncharacteristic mistake from the German defence allowed Kirsty Hanson in behind, who found Davidson. She laid it off to Cuthbert whose shot was well blocked before it fell to Davidson again, who would have found the back of the net had it not been for the fingertips of Berger tipping the ball onto the crossbar.

Scotland continued to press forward as the game entered its final stages though the German backline stood strong as the away side claimed a 4-0 victory in front of a crowd of 6591 at Tannadice.

Teams

Scotland: Gibson, Lawton, Eddie, Howard, Clark, McLauchlan (Smith 77’), Weir (Watson 85’), Rodgers (Davidson 63’), Cuthbert, Adams (Hanson 46’), Thomas (MacLean 63’)

Unused Substitutes: MacIver, Cumings, Muir, Cornet, Kerr, Gregory, Emslie

Germany: Berger, Dallmann (Freigang 85’), Schuller (Dabritz 60’), Kett (Alara 76’), Kleinherne, Brand, Minge, Senss (Hoffman 60’), Buhl (Zicai 46’) Gwinn, Nusken

Unused Substitutes: Johannes, Borggrafe, Linder, Krumbiegel, Lohmann, Cerci, Doorsoun