Gordon Smith: Tonight’s FIFA Women’s World Cup result is not the be-all and end-all

Two years ago, Scotland’s women were thrashed 6-0 by their England counterparts in the Euros.

Tonight, when the rivalry is revisited in the World Cup, there are many who believe Shelley Kerr’s side will be able to get revenge with a victory over the Lionesses.

I am not one of them.

England are the No. 3 nation in the world and, as such, rightly one of the favourites not just to win the match, but to lift the Cup itself.

They have Phil Neville as their manager, and have had considerable resources directed their way by the Football Association for a number of years.

They should beat us. Not by the kind of score inflicted in 2017. The gap between the teams is much closer now, but it might end up as a comfortable win in their favour nevertheless.

If so, it will be a disappointment but it will not be the end. Not by a long way.

Why not? Because we will still have a good opportunity to qualify, even if we lose.

With the top two teams from each group, plus the best four third-placed sides progressing, four points from the remaining two fixtures should be enough.

Lose to England, draw with Japan and beat Argentina and we will have four points. That should be enough to do it.

And if the target is modest, the prize is considerable because it would see the women achieve something the men’s team has never done before – qualify from a World Cup group.

It would be a game-changer. Should they get through, you will be able to multiply the amount of interest that has built up ahead of tonight’s match several times over.

I think that would be great to see. It is very pleasing to witness the progress that has been made this far.

Twelve years have passed since I became SFA chief executive, and through the post encountered Anna Signeul, who then headed up the Scottish Women’s National Team (SWNT).

The development of the game was in its infancy, but I remember being struck by Anna’s enthusiasm to improve it in any way possible.

She looked at where women’s football was in Scandinavia and the United States at the time, and had a clear vision of how we could grow the game here.

It was persuasive and I gave her all the support I could.

A dozen years on, you can recognise the same sort of zeal in the current manager, Shelley Kerr.

She has been very clear that she is not satisfied merely to have qualified, that there has to be a legacy to their participation in France.

Specifically, she wants to use it to grow the game and further professionalise it.

That is a great aim.

Rather than shouting about Scotland’s chances of winning the World Cup, she is keeping things in perspective by looking for sensible growth. It is an approach true supporters of the SWNT should adopt.

The build-up to Scotland’s adventure in the World Cup has been great. It would be a real shame if one loss killed off much of the interest.

I am not saying we definitely won’t win. My point is more that tonight’s result is not the be-all and end-all. The continuing development of the women’s game is what matters most.