We will be role models in France and need to show there are opportunities out there for women, says Scotland’s Lisa Evans

They say that hindsight is 20/20.

But when Lisa Evans looks back on her career, 2019 is going to take some beating.

It isn’t just the World Cup-bound Scotland star’s title-winning dreams that have come true this year.

Things she never imagined possible are happening, too.

At Hampden on Tuesday night, Evans took the field in front of a record crowd of 18,555 as the Scots warmed up for France by beating Jamaica.

It felt like a watershed moment for women’s football in Scotland.

And before a ball had been kicked, the 27-year-old received a presentation from First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to mark her reaching the milestone of 75 caps.

So who could blame one of its finest exponents for coming close to shedding a tear?

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“To play at Hampden in front of that crowd as a send-off for the World Cup was absolutely fantastic,” she said.

“We scored three really good goals and showed people what we can do. We just need to tidy up the defence a bit!

“But walking out of the tunnel, turning round and looking at the crowd was absolutely incredible.

“Obviously, when you’re warming up, you can see people arriving in dribs and drabs. But you get a real feeling for it when you’re singing Flower Of Scotland.

“That’s when it really sank in. You get a wee bit emotional, actually.

“The feeling was unbelievable. I can’t even describe it.

“I honestly didn’t think I’d ever play at Hampden in front of a crowd that size.

“We’d always hoped for something like that, but being honest, I probably didn’t think it would happen.

“And with it being at Hampden, the pitch was absolutely immaculate and the fans were great.

“They were behind us from start to finish.

“The whole thing was just an incredible experience.”

Chalk it up as yet another one for the attacker.

Evans’ situation with the national team is as good as it has ever been.

But it’s the same at club level, where she is an FA Women’s Super League title-winner with Arsenal.

“This has been without a doubt my best year, football-wise,” said Evans. “It has been so successful.

“We’ve got a good group with Scotland, but it’s the same at Arsenal.

“That’s what won us the league.

“It was a bit tight at the end, but we were always confident we were going to get the job done.

“When you have success like that, it can only give you confidence going into the World Cup.”

© Catherine Ivill/Getty Images

There is every reason for confidence levels to be high given Scotland’s attacking talent.

But unsurprisingly, Shelley Kerr’s camp is also riding a wave of excitement.

“It is definitely building,” Evans continued. “But I think once we’re in France, it will really kick in.

“The Jamaica game was really good preparation, but it will really sink in once we’re on the plane to Nice.

“When we’re at the airport, wearing our suits, then on the charter flight, that’s when it will hit.

“But the mood in the group is great already.

“We’ve got a really good group, and I think that’s what has helped get us here.

“The players and the coaching staff together are really tight with each other, so there’s a great feeling going into it.

“We’ve got a tough group, we know that.

“The calibre of teams is really high, but you’re always going to get a tough group at the World Cup.

“England, Japan and Argentina will all present different challenges, but we’ll take each game as it comes.

“Right now, our focus is on England.”

Plying her trade in England’s top league means Evans is familiar with most of the English squad.

And she isn’t alone in that respect in the Scotland camp.

“I think that helps,” she said.

“The English-based girls obviously see the English players week-in, week-out.

“We train against them and play against them every week.

“We know the players, what they want to do, what their strengths are, and hopefully what their weaknesses are, and how to break that down.

“That’s what we’re hoping for.

“But the calibre of player is high. I think the English league has been really strong this year.

“We know it will be tough, but we’re going to go for it.”

Win, lose, or draw in France, Scotland’s women have scaled new heights over the last few years.

After years of work, the whole country is now, finally, paying attention.

For Evans, whose passion for the game isn’t just restricted to her own exploits, it’s an opportunity that must be seized.

She explained: “The position we’re in now, we’re role models and we need to show kids that there are opportunities out there for women’s football.

“The pioneers that came before us paved the way for us.

“We now need to pave the way for kids coming through today, particularly now.

“The opportunities are massive for women’s football in this country.”