Mission Accepted

Scotland’s new head coach on her first months in the job. A former PE teacher who coached in Queensland before serving as Australia assistant at the Tokyo Olympics and the 2023 home World Cup, Melissa Andreatta arrived in April, four months after Pedro Martinez Losa’s departure. She discusses handling the retirements of Rachel Corsie, Fiona Brown, Jane Ross and Emma Mukandi, blooding young players such as Hibernian’s Kathleen McGovern, and a first win, 2-1 away to Morocco, followed by a 4-3 friendly loss to Switzerland. She insists the team’s identity is coming from the players rather than from her, talks about connecting with clubs and communities, and explains how the Australian World Cup build-up shaped her planning for 2027 qualifying.