Five Things to Know About Scotland

The U.S. Women’s National Team will wrap up its 2018 schedule against Scotland on Tuesday, Nov. 13 (2 p.m. ET on FS1, UDN) at The Simple Digital Arena in Glasgow. The USA has a 17-0-2 record in 2018 and will be playing to finish this year unbeaten.

Here are Five Things to Know about Scotland:

Scotland Women’s National Team Roster by Position:
GOALKEEPERS (3): Lee Alexander (Glasgow City), Jenna Fife (Hibernian), Shannon Lynn (Vittsjo GIK, SWE)
DEFENDERS (6 ): Chloe Arthur (Birmingham City, ENG), Jenny Beattie (Manchester City, ENG), Frankie Brown (Bristol City, ENG), Rachel Corsie (Canberra United, AUS), Joelle Murray (Hibernian), Emma Mitchell (Arsenal, ENG) Kirsty Smith (Manchester United)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Lizzie Arnot (Manchester United, ENG), Leanne Crichton (Glasgow City), Hayley Lauder (Glasgow City), Jo Love (Glasgow City), Christie Murray (Liverpool, ENG), Caroline Weir (Manchester City, ENG)
FORWARDS (7): Fiona Brown (FC Rosengård, SWE), Lana Clelland (ACF Fiorentina, ITA), Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea, ENG), Claire Emslie (Manchester City, ENG), Lisa Evans (Arsenal, ENG), Zoe Ness (Durham United), Jane Ross (West Ham United, ENG)

FIRST-TIME QUALIFIER: SCOTLAND IS HEADED TO FRANCE
Scotland earned its berth to the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup by winning UEFA Group 2, edging Switzerland on the final day of qualifying. Scotland defeated Albania, 2-1, in Shkoder, Albania while Switzerland was held to a surprising 0-0 draw by Poland in Mielec. Scotland went 7-1-0 in its World Cup qualifying group with the only blemish a 1-0 loss to Switzerland in April of 2018 in Switzerland. This match against the USA is the first home game for Scotland time since their historic qualification. In other friendly matches this year, Scotland fell to Norway 3-0 and drew Russia 0-0 in January and took a pair of games from New Zealand, both by 2-0 scores in March.

HISTORY vs. SCOTLAND
The USA has played Scotland only three times and has won all three games. The most recent matches came in February of 2013 in the first games for then-head coach and Scotland native Tom Sermanni. The USA won 4-1 in Jacksonville, Fla., and 3-1 in Nashville, Tenn. Julie Ertz’ (then Johnston) earned her first cap against Scotland in Jacksonville. Crystal Dunn and Christen Press earned their first caps against Scotland in Nashville. Ten players on the Scotland roster were also present for the last meeting between Scotland and the USA in Nashville in 2013. On the USA’s roster are just three players who appeared in that match, including Megan Rapinoe, who scored.

ROAD GAME
The USA has never faced Scotland in Scotland. In fact, this will be the USA’s first friendly match in the United Kingdom outside of England, but the USA did play two games at the famed Hampden Park in Glasgow during the 2012 Olympics. The USA’s two wins at Hampden Park during the 2012 Olympics were vs. France (4-2) and Colombia (3-0).

SHELLEY KERR LEADS DETERMINED SQUAD
Scotland head coach Shelley Kerr is a former Scotland international, a gritty center back who had a lengthy club career and played almost 60 times for her country. She has been Scotland’s coach since April of 2017, but also coached Arsenal, where she succeeded current Utah Royals FC head coach Laura Harvey. After leaving Arsenal in 2014, she coached Lowland Football League side Stirling University which marked the first time a woman was been named as manager of a men's side at that level of soccer in the United Kingdom.

SCOTLAND BRINGS HISTORY MAKERS TO CLASH WITH USA
Most of the squad set to face the USA on Tuesday is unchanged from the historic victory in Shkoder, with Jane Ross – scorer of the goal that earned Scotland its World Cup berth – once again included among Kerr’s attacking options. Two players who helped Scotland to its historic qualification last September are not on this roster due to injury in midfielder Kim Little – who was one of the top players in the NWSL with the Seattle Reign from 2014-2016, was the top scorer in the league in 2014 when was also named the MVP – as she recently suffering a broken fibula, and right back Sophie Howard. Glasgow City midfielder Hayler Lauder replaces Little, while Hibernian’s Joelle Murray takes the place of Howard.

A number of Kerr’s squad have been in good form since their last international outing, with Caroline Weir in particular enjoying a sensational start to the English Women’s Premier League season with Manchester City alongside Scotland teammates Claire Emslie and Jen Beattie. Most of the Scotland players play for top cubs in England, with two in Sweden and one in Italy, but defender Rachel Corsie plays in the NWSL with Utah Royals FC. She is on loan Canberra United in Australia. Corsie played in all 24 games for the Royals last season, starting 23.