What did we learn from Andreatta's first game as Scotland head coach?

"I deliberation I person a bully baseline now to understand wherever we're at."

These were nan first words Melissa Andreatta uttered successful nan aftermath of her Scotland debut, which not only ended successful defeat, but pinch relegation to Nations League B.

When asked whether that baseline was higher aliases little than she expected, nan Australian replied: "I'm not sure, if I'm honest."

In nan first half, it had to beryllium lower.

The Scots were 2nd champion to Austria, who near Hampden pinch each 3 deserved points acknowledgment to Julia Hickelsberger's front-post flick conscionable aft nan hr mark.

Up until that point, and for 10 minutes after, Manuela Zinsberger successful nan Austria extremity was simply a spectator, sunbathing successful nan Hampden glow.

A flurry of changes brought astir immoderate conflict and finesse, but arsenic Scotland shot-stopper and subordinate of nan lucifer Lee Gibson said post-match it was, again, "too little, excessively late".

This was ne'er going to beryllium a speedy fix, an overnight job, an contiguous turnaround. This modulation will return time.

But, what tin we return from Andreatta's first crippled successful charge?

Andreatta's preamble has somewhat masked a grim fewer months for nan Scots.

Since their Euro 2025 play-off heartbreak successful Helsinki past year, they person mislaid their first 4 games of nan existent year, conceding 13 goals successful nan process. Six of those successful Wolfsburg against Germany. Five successful a 15-minute spell.

The erstwhile Matildas adjunct was announced nan greeting aft nan scudding and since then, alongside skipper Rachel Corsie's impending retirement, has dominated nan discourse.

While nan fallout from that nighttime astatine nan Volkswagen Arena was tame, nan effect it had connected nan group was fierce.

Touches were heavy. Passes were poor. The guidance container was treated arsenic a excavation of lava. There was nary flow, only fear.

Former Scotland midfielder Leanne Crichton described their play arsenic "fragmented", while Andreatta said location was "a spot of a hangover" from their erstwhile 4 pointless Group A1 games.

That's now 7 games without a win, pinch 1 last travel to nan 10th-ranked squad successful nan world - nan Netherlands - to travel connected Tuesday earlier a four-month break.

It's a agelong aged summertime to mull over, potentially, 8 games and 11 months without a win, but nan caput coach insists nan "belief" is there.

"When you're coming disconnected nan tally that they've had, assurance often comes pinch results, but nan belief is still location and it's conscionable going to beryllium a batch of difficult work," Andreatta said.

Podcast: Reaction to Scotland defeat

30/05/25

On a nighttime erstwhile truthful overmuch spotlight was directed to departing seasoned defender Rachel Corsie, nan adjacent procreation stood tall.

The 35-year-old Corsie was nan first of 5 second-half substitutes to appear, and while nan wise aged caput stabilised a rocky ship, nan young ones who followed drove it on.

Debutant Mia McAulay - who opened nan scoring astatine Hampden successful past Sunday's Scottish Cup last - injected nan width, productivity and spark nan Scots were craving.

She came connected alongside Martha Thomas, who replaced a 2nd debutant successful Hibernian's Kathleen McGovern, who Andreatta said "held her own".

The 22-year-old McGovern, who enjoyed an unthinkable individual play pinch nan SWPL champions, did a powerfulness of moving connected her first quality wherever she was starved of service, while Emma Watson, 19, came disconnected nan chair to connection authority and calmness.

"Being truthful young, that's nan promising and affirmative point - their willingness to return connected nan accusation and execute their subordinate tasks for nan team," nan caput coach added.

"I deliberation based connected what I saw, there's a batch to look guardant to."

When Andreatta said that location was plentifulness to look guardant to, she did truthful pinch a genuine grin dispersed crossed her face.

In nan 4 weeks she's been connected these shores, she's immersed herself successful nan culture, cuisine and her coaching.

The Australian took successful her adjacent stock of SWPL games arsenic nan play drew to a close, while she besides had a keen oculus connected past week's Scottish Cup final. In betwixt times, nan occasional Irn-Bru and Cullen skink person been devoured.

Trivial these things whitethorn seem, it's a committedness and attraction for nan country, and role, that hasn't ever been there.

The 46-year-old knew she was taking connected a sizeable task but she's keen to show she hasn't bitten disconnected much than 1 tin chew.

When asked what she learned from her first outing successful nan basking seat, she said: "I've learnt that I really judge successful this group and what it's going to return to thief this squad realise their imaginable and spell to different level.

"I deliberation that's nan cardinal thing, that belief isn't down aliases shaken by nan consequence astatine all.

"I'm moreover much passionate astir supporting this squad to realise their goals."