'No Way' Scotland Will Lose at Home - Martinez Losa
As the team prepares to return home for the decisive second leg, there may be skepticism about Martinez Losa’s dismissal of Hungary’s chances for a comeback, but the coach’s confidence in his squad is clear as they aim to take the next step toward qualification.
Pedro Martinez Losa has confidently asserted that "there is no way Scotland will lose at home" in their Euro 2025 round one play-off against Hungary on Tuesday, following a narrow 1-0 victory in the first leg. The head coach made this bold declaration twice after Martha Thomas’s second-half goal secured the win in Budapest, although the performance itself left much to be desired.
Despite the lackluster showing, Martinez Losa believes that the single goal will be enough to propel Scotland closer to the major tournament in Switzerland next summer. In the next stage, they could face either Finland, who lead 1-0 in their home leg, or Montenegro.
The coach’s confidence is noteworthy given the mounting pressure on the squad to qualify for a major tournament, especially after failing to do so in the last two attempts. Scotland has recorded three home victories this year, winning 1-0 against Slovakia, 4-1 against Israel, and another 1-0 triumph over Serbia. The last time they faced defeat at home was a disheartening 6-0 loss to England in December.
The emotional scars from that near miss still linger, particularly for nine players who featured in both matches. There is immense expectation surrounding the team to at least reach the final play-off stage this time. However, Martinez Losa remains optimistic, emphasizing the growth of the team since their last play-off disappointment.
After being outmuscled in a challenging League A group last year, Scotland found their form in an unbeaten League B campaign. In the match against Hungary, they faced a physically aggressive team, similar to the kind they would encounter in major tournaments. Yet, Martinez Losa believes that Scotland is now a "stable" and "competitive" side.
He stated, "I think we have shown the team that we are competitive. We keep concentration and don't make mistakes in key moments. We are a very stable team. We're not afraid to defend properly and be concentrated."
He also highlighted some good moments of football despite the difficulties of playing away from home. While the scoreline of 1-0 is close, he was pleased with not conceding any goals and asserted his belief that Scotland would secure victory in the return leg.
