Scotland recall Kerr and Thomas for Czech play-off
Sam Kerr and Martha Thomas are back in the Scotland squad for the World Cup play-offs against the Czech Republic.
Head coach Melissa Andreatta named her group on 23 September for the two-legged tie, with the midfielders returning for the first time in almost a year, according to BBC Sport.
Scotland travel to Pardubice on 9 October for the first leg. They host the return at St Mirren Park four days later.
It is a play-off in the truest sense. Two games, home and away, with the aggregate score deciding who goes through. Win this one and Scotland face another two-legged tie against Sweden or Lithuania for a place at the Women's World Cup in Brazil.
Scotland earned this shot by topping their qualifying group unbeaten. They finished level on points with Belgium and went through on goal difference.
The stakes are plain. Scotland have not reached a major tournament since the 2019 World Cup. They missed the past two European Championships and the 2023 World Cup.
Kerr brings experience. She has 34 caps, which means 34 senior appearances, and her last outing came off the bench against the Netherlands in February 2025. She is still waiting for her first appearance under Andreatta.
Thomas reached 50 caps in October in a friendly defeat by Switzerland. She joined Newcastle United in the summer, playing in WSL2, the second tier of women's football in England.
There are other familiar faces back too. Freya Gregory and Sophie Howard return after pulling out of the last camp for the qualifying double-header against Israel. Maria McAneny is in again after last featuring in March, when she scored against Luxembourg.
Mia McAulay keeps her place after coming in late for the June double-header. Leah Eddie, Kenzie Weir, Eilidh Adams and Laura Berry drop out.
For fans, this means choice in the middle and up front at just the right time. Two games. One chance to keep a World Cup dream alive.
Goalkeepers for the tie are Eartha Cumings, Lee Gibson and Sandy MacIver. The defenders named are Georgia Brown, Jenna Clark, Nicola Docherty, Sophie Howard, Emma Lawton, Rachel McLauchlan and Amy Muir.
The midfielders are Chelsea Cornet, Erin Cuthbert, Christy Grimshaw, Sam Kerr, Kirsty Maclean, Maria McAneny, Miri Taylor and Caroline Weir. The forwards are Lauren Davidson, Claire Emslie, Freya Gregory, Kirsty Hanson, Kirsty Howat, Mia McAulay, Kathleen McGovern and Martha Thomas.
