Credit: Ievgenii Karanov, Chronicle.lu

On Tuesday 3 March 2026, Luxembourg’s women’s national football team began their Women’s European Qualifiers for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign with a defeat against Scotland in front of 688 spectators at the Stade Emile Mayrisch in Esch-sur-Alzette.

Daniel Dos Santos’ side faced one of the favourites in Group B4, with Scotland ranked 26th in the FIFA world rankings - 82 places above Luxembourg. The visitors feature several players from Europe’s top leagues, including Erin Cuthbert from Chelsea FC Women, last season’s Player of the Year at the Women’s Super League champions, and Caroline Weir of Real Madrid Femenino.

Scotland made their quality count early, taking the lead in the ninth minute when Caroline Weir found the net with a precise strike from the edge of the penalty area. The visitors maintained their intensity after the opening goal, applying high pressure in Luxembourg’s half and preventing the hosts from building play from the back.

The Red Lionesses registered their first attacking attempt in the sixteenth minute, when a long ball over the defence found Kimberley Dos Santos, but she was unable to control it under pressure and the Scottish back line cleared the danger.

Four minutes later, sustained pressure from the visitors resulted in a shot from Miriael Taylor, but Luxembourg goalkeeper Lucie Schlime reacted well to make the save. In the 24th minute, she denied Erin Cuthbert in a one-on-one situation after Kristy Hanson played a precise through ball behind the defence. Moments later, Caroline Weir found the net, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

The pressure eventually told in the 27th minute. Following a free-kick delivery from the left, Jenna Clark rose above the defence and headed the ball past Lucie Schlime to double Scotland’s lead and make it 2-0 for head coach Melissa Andreatta’s team.

The Luxembourg goalkeeper was called into action again four minutes later, tipping a long-range effort over the bar for a corner. However, she could do little in the 36th minute when Scotland were awarded a free-kick approximately 23 metres from goal after a foul on Erin Cuthbert. Caroline Weir stepped up and curled her effort around the wall and into the net to extend the advantage to 3-0.

On the final minute of the first half, Luxembourg narrowly avoided conceding a fourth. Lucie Schlime failed to hold onto a cross from the left, and the ball fell to Kristy Hanson inside the box, but Amal Cherkane produced a crucial block to prevent the shot from finding the net.

UEFA statistics showed fourteen total attempts for Scotland before the break, compared to none for Luxembourg.

The dynamic of the match remained unchanged after the restart. Melissa Andreatta’s team continued to press and registered the first shot of the second half in the 51st minute, though it went straight into the hands of Lucie Schlime. Six minutes later, the visitors worked a short free-kick from the left into the centre of the box, but Freya Gregory was unable to finish the move.

In the 61st minute, Caroline Weir completed her hat-trick. After a low cross from Erin Cuthbert, the Real Madrid midfielder arrived at the far post and converted from close range to make it 4-0.

Daniel Dos Santos made his first change shortly afterwards, with Edina Kocan replacing Anna Miny. The hosts created their first dangerous opportunity midway through the half from a free-kick on the left. Andreia Machado’s delivery was partially cleared, falling to Hannah Dietrich, whose effort flew over the crossbar.

Despite further attacking substitutions from Luxembourg, clear chances remained limited. Instead, Scotland struck again in the 88th minute. Substitute Kathleen McGovern, who had replaced Kristy Hanson earlier in the second half, found the net to seal a 5-0 victory for the visitors.

The scoreline remained unchanged until the final whistle.

After the match, head coach Daniel Dos Santos admitted: “It’s frustrating because we knew what to expect. On the first goal, we didn’t react quickly enough to the second ball. At the beginning, we looked a bit frozen. I don’t really understand why.”

He also pointed to difficulties in dealing with Scotland’s set-pieces and pressure, adding: “We have to be better in these moments. On Saturday, we need to show a different face.”

Despite the defeat, Daniel Dos Santos stressed that he wants his team to keep trying to play: “I prefer that we at least try to play. There were moments when we had space, and we must continue in that direction.”

In the other Group B4 fixture, Belgium secured a 3-0 away win over Israel, with the match played at a neutral venue in Hungary. Luxembourg will next face Scotland away on Saturday 7 March 2026 at Hampden Park in Glasgow.

Starting lineups:

Luxembourg: Lucie Schlime (GK); Andreia Machado; Amal Cherkane; Emma Kremer; Ana Barbosa;  Edina Kocan; Kimberley Dos Santos; Laura Miller (C); Charlotte Schmit; Caroline Jorge; Hannah Dietrich.

Scotland: Sandy MacIver (GK); Nicola Docherty; Jenna Clark; Rachel MacLauchlan; Freya Gregory; Miriael Taylor; Maria McAneny; Erin Cuthbert; Emma Lawton; Caroline Weir (C); Kristy Hanson.