SCOTLAND v DENMARK WOMEN’S WORLD CUP QUALIFIER LIVE ON BBC ALBA
Spòrs – Scotland v Denmark
Thursday 24th June, 19:15, BBC ALBA
BBC ALBA will follow the nation’s World Cup hopes as the channel screens live coverage of the women’s qualifier between Scotland and Denmark.
Coverage of the match from Rugby Park, Kilmarnock, will begin this Thursday, June 24th at 7.15pm with kick-off at 7.30pm.
Joining the Spòrs team as trackside analyst for the match will be former SFA chief executive Gordon Smith, who will provide his insight on the women’s national side and the action on the pitch.
Scotland remain unbeaten in group 3, with five wins from five matches. Their latest victory came on Saturday as they beat Bulgaria 5-0 in Sofia, with goals courtesy of Jennifer Beattie, Julie Fleeting, Kim Little, Rachel Corsie and Pauline Hamill.
The result leaves Anna Signeul’s side one point behind group leaders Denmark, but with a game in hand over the leaders. The Danes will travel to Scotland in confident mood after thumping Greece 7-0 at the weekend.
However, a win on Thursday would put Scotland two points clear in the table with two games to play and give the team a great chance of making it to the finals of a major championship for the first time.
Alan Esslemont, head of content for BBC ALBA, said: “As the Scotland women’s national side prepare for this match against Denmark, I am delighted that BBC ALBA will be present to provide live coverage of the game.
“The women’s game is becoming ever more popular in Scotland and as a result, there is an increasing demand for coverage of our national side. Scotland has a great chance to qualify for the women’s World Cup finals for the first time and we expect a large audience will want to support them along the way.
“We previously broadcast live coverage of the Scotland Women’s UEFA Euro 2009 play-off against Russia which, despite the result, proved a great success for the channel. As the team get ready for this crucial international, we will all be watching and hoping for a Scotland victory and we wish the side the best of luck for the match.”
Scotland national coach, Anna Signeul, said: "We're delighted to have the backing of BBC ALBA once again, and it's a boost for the players to know that even more supporters will now have the opportunity to watch our progress as we bid to qualify for the finals of a major championship for the first time.
"We've put together a tremendous run in this Women's World Cup campaign, and we're getting down to the last crucial games in the qualifying group. We hope that Scotland fans in and around Kilmarnock will come down to Rugby Park to back us when we take on Denmark on 24 June, and that fans around the country will tune in to watch the game on BBC ALBA."
Live coverage of the match adds to the extensive sports package provided by BBC ALBA in association mneTV. In future weeks, the channel will screen live coverage of the summer’s major shinty finals and with the new football and rugby seasons on the horizon, viewers will soon be able to enjoy football action from the ALBA Challenge Cup and live coverage of Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh Rugby matches from the Magners League.