Leanne Ross backs Scotland to end eight-year wait and reach Brazil 2027

Scotland are two play-off ties from the World Cup in Brazil in 2027. For assistant coach Leanne Ross, getting there would settle unfinished business.

Ross never reached a World Cup as a player. She said reaching one as part of Scotland's coaching staff would be a proud moment, according to BBC Sport.

It is easy to see why that matters to her. Ross won 133 caps for Scotland, with a cap awarded for every international appearance. At club level she collected 14 league titles and 13 major cup medals.

She was also part of the squad at Euro 2017. That was the first Scotland women's squad to compete at a major tournament. She retired from playing after that Euros. She was not involved when Scotland went to the 2019 World Cup in France.

Now she is back in a different role. Ross combines her Scotland assistant coach job with the head coach job at Glasgow City.

Her task is clear. Scotland face the Czech Republic in a round one play-off double-header on the road to Brazil 2027. A double-header in this context means two legs, home and away, with the tie decided across both games.

The first leg is in Pardubice, east of Prague. Win that tie and Scotland move into round two. Sweden are potential opponents there.

Scotland have waited a long time for a return. Finland denied them a place at Euro 2025 in the play-offs. Ross said Scotland's current progress and way of playing give them a real good opportunity to end an eight-year wait to get back to a major tournament.

Her message to the players is simple. Bring your individual magic together to get on the world stage.

For fans, this means a familiar mix of hope and nerves. Scotland have the talent. They have momentum. And they have a coach on the touchline who knows exactly what it feels like to miss out.