Women's International Preview

THE first international break of 2025 has kicked in with a number of Rangers players away representing their country as the Nations League gets underway as well as several friendly matches taking place.

Here is a preview of who is away and when they are in action:

Chelsea Cornet, Leah Eddie, Kirsty Maclean and Mia McAulay – Scotland

  • Austria v Scotland – UEFA Nations League – Friday 21 February – Kick-off 17:00

  • Scotland v Netherlands – UEFA Nations League – Tuesday 25 February – Kick-off 19:30

Four Rangers stars will be involved in the first Scotland camp of the new year as their Nations League campaign gets underway following their promotion back to League A last summer.

Lead by interim head coach Michael McArdle, midfielder Chelsea Cornet as well as Kirsty Maclean, who has returned to full fitness in recent weeks will be involved, whilst Leah Eddie will hope to add to her two caps so far. There is full involvement for youngster Mia McAulay, who will be hopeful of pulling on the Scotland jersey for the first time.

The Scots will head to Austria to begin the group stage this Friday evening, before hosting the Dutch four days later at Hampden Park in two tricky tests to begin the year.

Laura Rafferty – Northern Ireland

  • Poland v Northern Ireland – UEFA Nations League – Friday 21 February – Kick-off – 19:45

  • Northern Ireland v Bosnia & Herzegovina – UEFA Nations League – Tuesday 25 February – Kick-off 19:00

Laura will also be away representing her country in the upcoming break as Northern Ireland’s campaign gets underway with a pair of fixtures in League B.

Her nation will firstly make the trip across to face Poland on Friday night before hosting Bosnia in Larne on Tuesday evening.

The defender will be hopeful of involvement for her country after captaining the Gers to their 6-0 success over Partick Thistle in their final outing of the month at the weekend.

Telma Ivarsdottir – Iceland

  • Switzerland v Iceland – UEFA Nations League – Friday 21 February – Kick-off 18:00

  • France v Iceland – UEFA Nations League – Tuesday 25 February – Kick-off 20:10

New Light Blues signing Telma Ivarsdottir will also be away with her country over the break as they prepare to participate in League A of the competition.

Fresh off qualifying for this summer’s European Championships their attention turns to the Nations League with a pair of away fixtures against Switzerland and France.

The goalkeeper is yet to feature for the Gers but has appeared in two matchday squads since making the switch from Breidablik last month and will be hopeful of building up her minutes over the next week or so.

Victoria Esson – New Zealand

  • Costa Rica vs New Zealand – International Friendly – Sunday 23 February – Kick-off 12:00am (UK)

  • Costa Rica v New Zealand – International Friendly – Tuesday 25 February – Kick-off 22:00 (UK)

The shot stopper will jet over to South America as her nation takes on Costa Rica in a pair of friendly matches over the break.

Both fixtures will be contested at the Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto in Alajuela, with the teams facing off this Sunday morning UK time before they lineup again at the same venue two days later.

Liv McLoughlin – England Under-23’s

  • England Under-23’s v Germany Under-23’s – International Friendly – Thursday 20 February – Kick-off – 19:30

  • England Under-23’s v France Under-23’s – International Friendly – Tuesday 25 February – Kick-off –19:30

The midfielder will be part of the England Under-23’s setup for a pair of home internationals during the upcoming international break.

After featuring at that age group for the first time towards the end of the year the youngster will be keen to make an impression in what will prove to be two stern tests.

They will first host a young German side at the home of Walsall FC on Thursday evening before welcoming the French to Stevenage FC’s Lamex Stadium on Tuesday.

Laura Berry and Sophie Townsley – Scotland Under-19’s

  • Scotland Under-19’s v Iceland Under-19’s – International Friendly – Thursday 20 February – Kick-off – 12:00pm

  • Scotland Under-19’s v Iceland Under-19’s – International Friendly – Sunday 23 February – Kick-off – 14:00

Two Gers youngsters will be part of the Scotland Under-19’s squad for a pair of friendly matches taking place at Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld.

Laura Berry, who was recently recalled by the Light Blues following a successful loan spell at Motherwell in the first half of the season will be involved as well as striker Sophie Townsley, who has enjoyed a productive temporary spell with SWPL 2 side Hamilton so far this season.

The Scots will entertain the fellow European nation on two occasions as they ramp up preparations for Round 2 UEFA European Qualifiers taking place in April.


  

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