England must beat Scotland in their final Women’s Nations League match in order for Team GB to have hope of qualifying for the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
The Lionesses came from two goals down to secure a 3-2 victory over the Netherlands at Wembley on Friday night, setting up a bizarre situation as British sides England and Scotland must now face off with Team GB’s hopes on the line.
Team GB can only reach the Olympics if nominated nation England qualify for the Nations League finals and make it to the final – although finishing third would be enough if hosts France make the final.
Sarina Wiegman’s side can only make the Nations League finals if they finish top of Group A1.
With England and the Netherlands both beating each other by one goal – the pair are separated by goal difference instead of head-to head – and it will now go down to the final round of Women’s Nations League group games.
If England beat Scotland in their final match, they will secure a spot in the Nations League finals if the Netherlands do not beat Belgium.
‘It is ironic really that it has come down to the final game of the group with England facing Scotland for potential Team GB qualification on the line,’ former Lionesses goalkeeper Karen Bardsley told the BBC.
England’s Ella Toone, who scored a 91st-minute winner, told ITV: ‘The game against Scotland will be massive.
‘But every game we play is big because everyone wants to beat England, we’ve got a target on our backs.
‘We’ll go there with a gameplan and wanting to get the win.’
England boss Wiegman added: ‘We need to win in Scotland, we really need to win.
‘We are dependent on the other game but if we want to progress we need a really good win by four goals I would say.
‘What we can control is playing well and winning that game. That is what we need to do first. We can’t control what the others do.’
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