Nations League Group A1

The UWNL League Stage has been drawn (the next edition of the Nations League, coming after the playoff, confusing) with Scotland alongside Germany, Netherlands, and Austria.

There we have it, the second edition of the UEFA Nations League League Stage (confusing title) has been drawn. We have a chance at reaching the finals as one of the 16 teams in League A, however, the higher priority will be on where we end up for the next stage of competition - The Qualifying Stage for the 2027 Brazil World Cup.

A successful League B campaign saw us unbeaten in the 2025 EUROs Qualifying Stage, earning us a successful playoff against fellow League B side Hungary, and then League A fourth placed side Finland (who had played Montenegro of League C in the first round). Promotion back to League A is an opportunity to make amends for the two point showing back in 2023, and a chance to earn that slightly easier playoff route for the World Cup in Brazil.

Our opposition…

Germany

Last game vs Scotland, 3-0 June 2013.

Germany are the top seed in this group, ranked fourth in the world, third placed finishers in the last UWNL League Stage. They may have been the second “easiest” team to draw in their pot, but are by no means a side we would expect a result from.

However, they are going through a bit of a transitional period after Martina Voss-Tecklenburg left the set up, she was replaced by Horst Hrubesch who was again replaced a year later by Christian Wück after the Olympics. Wück has only been in charge for two games so far, a 4-3 win over England and a 2-1 loss to Australia.

Both friendlies, and both performances that have raised concerns over his ability to set up an effective defensive structure, but he is having to work with a Germany team that are without long time centre backs Hegering and Hendrich who retired after the Olympics, and ‘Bibi’ Schulze who is recovering from an ACL injury. Alex Popp (who somehow never played against Scotland in her 14-year international career) has also retired from international duty, and Oberdorf - one of the best midfielders in the world - is recovering from an ACL injury.

Not exactly an ideal situation for him to inherit, although it does represent an opportunity for them to reinvigorate the team with younger players - something they will likely have done by the time we face off in 2025.

Netherlands

Last game vs Scotland, 1-0 October 2023

Honestly, it feels like we only played the Netherlands in Nations League A yesterday… our opponents for the first iteration of UEFA’s new international competition in 2023 are back again, and this time it’s personal. The second highest ranked team in pot two after England, and currently on a seven game win streak (that will either be increased or over by the time we get to play them but still, worrying).

Andries Jonker was appointed in 2022 and when we played them last had been under some pressure with his tactical decisions not quite clicking, since then things are a little more solid but there are still weaknesses to be picked at. If we discount the friendly vs Indonesia, they have “only” scored six in their last six, with no wins by more than one goal and three draws. Before this unbeaten run began they lost three on the bounce, not scoring a single goal and conceding seven (although all three were against sides in pot one for this draw).

Not a match up that it is unimaginable to see us pick up points in, however, it is equally within the realms of possibility that we see a repeat of the 4-0 battering that preceded the last time we met. Vivianne Miedema should be back (again) by the time we play, with Roord also looking good for City after her return from injury.

Austria

Last game vs Scotland 0-1, October 2022

Last but not least, Austria. Our opposition for the first round of playoffs ahead of the 2023 World Cup, a test that we passed comfortably other than an inability to put the ball in the net.

They followed up a second placed finish in group A2 with third in their League A qualifying group, earning seven points against Germany, Iceland, and Poland. They are well on their way to qualifying for the EUROs with a round 2 playoff against Poland to come for Irene Fuhrmann’s side.

A side that has a familiar make up to ours as a core group of players in their prime with significant international experience are supported by an exciting generation that are making the transition from potential to quality. Players like Marie Höbinger who is a star midfielder at Liverpool at 23-years-old and Laura Wienroither who is overcoming an injury setback to force her way into regular Arsenal starts at 25. They represent our biggest hope of picking up points in these fixtures, but equally they should not be underestimated and will want to prove a point against the side that cost them a World Cup appearance.

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If we are to set a points aim for the campaign, five feels like a reasonable number. A win and two draws at home, picking up points in both games vs Austria and then another draw elsewhere, or a different variation of one win and two draws would show progress. As well as not repeating the embarrassment of last winter’s Hampden performance against them…

It may not be enough to keep us off bottom, but it would signal that we aren’t an easy win, help us pick up a couple more ranking points, and set us off on a positive note to World Cup dreams.

Enjoy this? Hungry for more? Why not have a read of our article on what makes the Scottish Cup so good!