Scotland women’s captain Rachel Corsie was left enraged by suggestions they could let England win their crunch Nations League clash on Tuesday evening – because it would give them a chance of competing at next year’s Olympics.
England must hope Belgium do them a favour against the Netherlands or better the Dutch side’s result by three goals in order to leapfrog them at the top of their group and have a chance of featuring at the Paris games.
However, as England are the nominated nation to qualify for the tournament on behalf of Team GB, it means players from all four home nations would be able to represent the side, including Scotland.
It has therefore been suggested that it would be in Scotland’s interests to lose the game in order to give themselves a chance of competing at an Olympic Games.
But Corsie hit back at the ‘outragous’ idea and said it was an ‘insult’ that their integrity had been called into question.
Scotland captain Rachel Corsie has hit back at claims they could let England beat them
England beat Netherlands 3-2 last time out but still could need a comfortable win over the Scots to play at next years’ Games
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‘A lot of people outside have spoken about it and truthfully I think it is so disrespectful,’ said Corsie.
‘To have played for my country for as many years as I have, to know the girls that sit in there, the ones that want to be here, the ones who can’t be here through injury, I think it is absolutely outrageous to question anyone’s integrity and I think it is a huge insult to us.
‘I understand why the question is being asked but, for us, the motivation is playing for your country.
‘It’s difficult to understand if you’ve never experienced it but when you have experienced it, you don’t need extra motivation. It is absolutely the pinnacle of the sport to represent your nation so that will absolutely be the motivation tomorrow, to be pulling on the Scotland jersey.’
The Scots are bottom in their group but would have a chance of competing with Team GB should England qualify
Scotland boss Pedro Martinez Losa also poured scorn on the bizarre suggestion on Tuesday
Scotland coach Pedro Martinez Losa also took issue with the idea Scotland’s integrity could be called into question. His side are currently bottom of their group with two points on the board from five games – and therefore have nothing to play for in this game.
‘I don’t feel happy about the questioning of the integrity of the Scottish players,’ he said.
‘The situation is one we cannot change, a situation we have been brought into. I wish it could have been anticipated or we could have changed it,’ added Martinez Losa, whose Scotland side will finish bottom of the group.
‘I do not think there is any other feeling that will be on the pitch. I wish this was not the situation, I am not sure what the solution will be in the future but I do not want my players to be in this situation.’
In England’s last game against the Netherlands, the Lionesses found themselves 2-0 down before mounting an incredible late comeback to win the game through Georgia Stanway, Lauren Hemp and Ella Toone.
England boss Sarina Wiegman insisted that Scotland would not ‘give away this game’
But England players were still seen with dejected looks on their faces at full time as the result was costly for their inferior goal difference with one game to go.
Speaking ahead of the huge game, England boss Sarina Wiegman also dismissed the suggestions that Scotland could allow them to win the game.
‘There’s no way Scotland are going to give away this game,’ said England manager Sarina Wiegman, who will coach Team GB at the Olympics.
‘That is absolutely not going to be the case – there’s such a rivalry, if you have seen our group, seen Scotland and know the history of Scotland and England. They really want to beat England and we want to beat them.’