If Scotland are to defy sizeable odds and beat England in tomorrow night’s opening Group D match in Utrecht, Jane Ross can look forward to having a field day when she returns to her club, Manchester City, next month.
There are no fewer than eight of the striker’s team-mates in the England squad, and three of them are likely to be in the back four at the Stadion Galgenwaard. They include Steph Houghton, the captain and central defender. Given that Ross will play up front on her own in Scotland’s regular 4-1-4-1 formation, it’s going to be a tough old night for the 27-year-old from Rothesay.
Fortunately, Ross, who scored her 50th international goal against Romania last month, thrives on hard work. She was far from the most talented player in the national under-19 squad but flourished during her six years at Glasgow City. The club’s former head coach Eddie Wolecki Black, who had no time for training ground slouches, described her as perhaps the most dedicated player he ever encountered.
Earlier, Ross’s love of football led to her making regular ferry and road trips from her island home to play for a girls’ club in Paisley. That she now has 106 caps on top of her 50 goals is testament to the the potential rewards of perseverance and willpower. One of the England defenders she will be up against tomorrow night, the right back Lucy Bronze, insists her club team-mate is the most focused individual she has ever met.
Ross takes it all in her stride. Pacy, good at holding the ball up, and scorer of more than a few headed goals, she is only uncomfortable when being asked media questions. Given that strikers usually cannot get enough good publicity, she is remarkably self-effacing.
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She was, in fact, unable to speak about her 50th international goal — she is only the second Scot, behind Julie Fleeting, to have reached the half century — but not because of her innate modesty. The landmark at Falkirk Stadium came on the second day of the Scotland squad’s boycott of media and commercial activities, one that, now resolved, was instituted because of a dispute over terms and conditions with the Scottish Football Association.
“I was obviously very pleased,” she says, when finally presented with the opportunity to talk about the achievement. “It’s always nice to get on the score sheet for your country, and to get the 50th goal was special.”
Ross scored the last time Scotland played England, a Cyprus Cup game back in 2013. The match was a classic, finishing 4-4, and Ross says: “From my experience of playing England, it has always been close games. That game swung both ways, but this time we have different squads and I think it will be an enjoyable match.
“In terms of their ranking, England are now up there with the top teams. I’ve been feeling good in training and we’ll respect them, but we won’t fear them. We have a good squad, so we’ll go out there to perform to the best of our ability. If we can get that right, we’ve got a good chance.”
England, who were runners-up at Euro 2009, had a really poor tournament in Sweden four years ago, finishing bottom of their group. One consequence was the removal of their long-time head coach Hope Powell and the installation of Mark Sampson, who led his charges to third place in the 2015 World Cup in Canada.
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One of Sampson’s first acts was to make Houghton his captain, and Ross says of her team-mate and tomorrow night’s direct opponent: “She’s obviously a top-class player. She’s very good for our club and England as well, so I’m sure she’ll be looking to make it as difficult as possible for us.”
Ross will have her proud parents, brother, sister and friends all in attendance tomorrow night, while many more will watch the game in the pub which the family own in Rothesay. To play England in Scotland’s first match in a major tournament will be the pinnacle of her career so far.
“It’s amazing,” she smiles. “You can see from everyone’s faces that they’re loving every minute of being here. We’ve finally achieved our goal after so many near misses. There was a lot of banter with my England team-mates when the draw was made and for a few months afterwards, but recently all my focus has been on the national team.”