Scotland captain Caroline Weir has been talking to the media before the national team's World Cup qualifying double-header against Luxembourg next week.
Here are the key points from the press conference:
- Weir described being handed the captaincy by head coach Melissa Andreatta, as "the honour of my career". She said it had been an honour earning each of her caps so far but that the new permanent role had her "humbled and excited".
- The midfielder said despite having deputised for Rachel Corsie in the past, it was a surprised to be picked by Andreatta after the head coach assessed her options. Weir said it was "It was quite an emotional moment and one my family are very proud of".
- She has a lot of targets as captain and as a player but reaching the World Cup is "top of the list".
- Weir expects a tough campaign, with games against Belgium, Israel and Luxembourg, saying: "It is going to be tough. These campaigns are always tough, as we've seen in the past but I think we've put in a lot of ground work and we come into these camps well-prepared up to this point.
- The captain says the squad is "really motivated", knows they need to be "at their best" and feels fresh under Andreatta's management.
- After missing out last time, Weir said there's determination in the squad but they won't let previous failures carry a weight. "We have to be careful not to dwell on that too much but at the same time use it as a bit of motivation. I don't think we need those past campaigns to drive us on."
- She reflected on her experience in 2019, saying as a young player she had "a different role" and that "having qualified for a Euros and a World Cup before that, I maybe thought this was how it was going to go - each major tournament, we would be there".
- Weir said she has matured as a player and a senior figure in the squad and wasn't thinking about this as a last chance to lead the team to a World Cup. "I'll be 31 this year, but I feel good physically. Probably the best shape I've been, mentally good. 2027 is as far as I look now."
- She also reflected on watching the men's team qualify for this year's finals alongside a Danish teammate while on club duty with Real Madrid, saying it was "amazing" and "so cool to watch".
- And Weir plans to travel to watch the team in action against Brazil this summer, saying she loves our national teams doing well at anything.
- Succeeding in leading Scotland to the World Cup would "Be everything for me. Of course you think of that image. There's no higher honour playing for your team and then leading them out at a World Cup. When you are running round your garden, that's what you think of. Would be the absolute highlight of my career."