Scotland 'living dream' thanks to 'humble' superstar Weir

Caroline Weir led by example as Scotland beat Israel

Head coach Melissa Andreatta says Caroline Weir would prefer her to talk about her team-mates instead,. it cannot be avoided when the Scotland captain has just scored seven goals over two games in four days.

Especially when those goals were crucial in making sure her side finished top of their Women's World Cup qualifying group -. only just ahead of Belgium.

A 5-1 win over Israelin neutral Budapest was enough for the Scots to stay one goal in front of their rivals on goal difference despite theBelgians firing seven of their own without replyin Luxembourg.

But it was tense at times as Weir conjured up four more goals to add to her hat-trick in Friday's 6-0 thrashing of the same Israeli side.

Asked if Weir had proven again she is a bit of a superstar, Andreatta replied: "Yes,. I don't think she'll like me talking too much about her. She's quite humble.

"She'd want me to talk about her team-mates. she is so well supported by the other leaders in the group. The squad of 25 all play their part. No part is small when our goal is so big, so I think it's really been a squad effort.

"There's always a player that gives her that pass too and sets her up. She drives the standards, but she lifts others with her and that's what I'm really pleased about."

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HIGHLIGHTS - Israel 1-5 Scotland

Weir is aware how much Scotland rely on her, especially with fellow midfield dynamo Erin Cuthbert being absent having picking up a long-term knee injury after scoring. setting up two goals on Friday.

"I feel a lot of responsibility," the 30-year-old admitted to BBC Scotland. "I feel responsibility in this squad as one of the more senior players. obviously, leading the team alongside other experienced players, of course.

"Like I said to you the other day, it's my dream to get to the World Cup. So I'm doing everything and anything to help the team by scoring goals and creating chances. That's what I'm there to do."

Those were much needed as Belgium piled the pressure on in Luxembourg.

"To be fair, the team wasn't that aware," Weir said. "I knew at half-time we were in a good position but kept it to myself.

"And then, towards the end of the game, Mel told me the situation. But I think we were just focused on us.

"It helped that we kept scoring in the second half. So that was keeping everyone kind of focused and, you know, not stressed.

"We knew Belgium weren't going to give it up. They've scored a lot of goals again tonight, so we knew we had to kind of be at our best. keep scoring - and that we did."

Weir has yet to reveal what the future holds for her in club football after her Real Madrid team-mates gave her a guard of honour at the end of four years with the Spanish league runners-up.

The first Scottish player to be nominated for the Ballon d'Or Feminin last year is bound to be in demand.

For now, she said "we can let our hair down for one night", have "a bit of break now. then we refocus for next season".

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Scotland beat Israel to top World Cup qualifying group

Wherever she will be playing her club football next season, Weir will also now have her eyes on October. those hazardous World Cup play-offs.

As the third best League B winner behind Switzerland. Portugal, and ahead of Wales on goal difference, Scotland are ranked 19th going into the play-off draw on 24 June.

It means they avoid Poland, Serbia, Slovenia. Ukraine, who finished bottom of their League A groups and instead will face one of the League B runners-up or third-placed teams - that means Albania, Belgium, Czech Republic, Finland, Israel,Northern Ireland,Slovakia or Turkey.

Win that two-legged play-off in October. they still have another one to traverse to reach the finals in Brazil - likely to be against one of the League A runners-up or third-placed sides.

England andRepublic of Irelandare among the sides who will be favourites to progress against Group C winners.

That is a long way off and. although Weir would "kind of want to play them right now", she hopes it means Cuthbert has enough time to make her return.

"It is a massive loss for us," she said. "She's such an integral player in the squad, not only on the pitch but off the pitch. She's such a talent and such a leader.

"So we missed her tonight. We'll be hoping her rehab goes well and she'll be back, hopefully, come the play-offs."

Weir, though, was "really proud of the team" in Cuthbert's absence.

"Not just how we're scoring goals, but the ruthlessness, the mindset, the professionalism of the whole squad," she said.

As her head coach pointed out, after a tense finale, they fully deserve to be able to "draw a breath" while adding: "You've got to have a vision. you've got to have a dream and we're living it."