Page 12 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No18 2021-22

Scotland and Wales in Pinatar Cup

Scotland will have the chance to defend the Pinatar Cup after being confirmed in this year’s line
up.
Wales, meanwhile, enter the tournament for the first time and both will play three matches
during the February international window, including meeting each other in the opening match.
Pedro Martinez Losa will take his Scotland squad to Spain for a 10-day training camp next
month that will serve as the ideal preparation for April’s World Cup qualification double-header
against Ukraine and Spain.
The players will have fond memories of the competition from success in the inaugural
tournament, in 2020, when victory over Northern Ireland capped three wins out of three and saw
them lift the trophy in the Pinatar Arena.
This time around, Scotland are scheduled to take on Wales on Wednesday, 16th February
(2.30pm kick-off, GMT). The two sides previously met at Parc y Scarlets last June, with Scotland
winning 1-0 on that occasion.
In a new look, eight-team format, the winner of that tie will take on whoever comes out on
top between Slovakia and Belgium on the Saturday, with the competition then splitting into two
different ‘gold medal’ and ‘consolation’ paths, which guarantees another game for either team
against one from Russia, Poland, Republic of Ireland or Hungary.
Wales will use the matches to prepare for their remaining four 2023 FIFA Women’s World
Cup qualifiers. Grainger’s side currently sit second in the group and will face top of the table
France at home on Friday 8th April (venue TBC).
Scotland are next in action on home soil in their World Cup qualifier against Spain at
Hampden Park on Tuesday 12th April.
Gemma Grainger said on the opportunity of playing in the Pinatar Cup: “We see the three
games at Pinatar as an opportunity to help us continue with our preparations to qualify and
compete for a World Cup. It’s a great opportunity to play against higher ranked opposition, and
we’re looking to expose ourselves to those opportunities as often as possible.
“The players will be excited for this. It’s a tournament environment and we want to qualify
and compete in major tournaments. Three games in six days effectively replicates a major
tournament so we’re going to use that environment to get everything we can out of it, both on and
off the pitch.”
Isle of Man squad named

Isle of Man women’s representative team manager Wayne Lisy has announced his training squad
for 2022.
Commenting on the squad, Wayne said: “The quality on show at the two trials sessions was
extremely high and it has been very difficult to pick a training squad for 2022. My coaching team
and I have chosen a group of players with a good mix of youth and experience. The versatility of
players has also been a major factor in our selection with most players comfortably able to play in
a variety of positions in differing formations.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all players who attended the trials and
gave their all. Rest assured this isn’t a closed group and I challenge those players who have not
been selected at this time to continue to push themselves at club level. We’ll be watching.”
Isle of Man training squad:
Kayleigh Greggor (Peel), Kiera Griffiths (Corinthians), Sarah O’Reilly (Peel), Shannon Groves
(Corinthians), Stevie Mallon (Corinthians), Rebecca Crowe (Peel), Katie Lovelady (Douglas
Royal), Anna Shaw (Corinthians), Megan Kelly (Douglas Royal), Rebecca Corkish (Peel), Louise
Gibbons (Peel), Lisa Costain (Corinthians), Holly Sumner (Corinthians), Chloe Teare
(Corinthians), Ellie Gawne (Peel), Nicole Townsend (Corinthians), Becci Cole (Douglas Royal),
Kiera Morgan (Corinthians), Sarah Wignall (Peel), Casey Halsall (Corinthians), Mica Santos
(Peel), Dom Moran (Onchan).
Issue no. 18 - 20 January 2022 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk