Scotland goalkeeper Lee Alexander insists the team has not been scarred by its most recent encounter with England – a 6-0 thrashing in Euro 2017.
Former boss Anna Signeul’s Scots suffered as the gulf in class between them and Europe’s best outfits was brutally exposed.
But Alexander has warned Phil Neville’s England squad there will be no repeat of two years ago when the teams meet in Nice on Sunday and believes the Lionesses are taking a risk if they think it will be be another walkover.
“That’s in the past,” said Alexander, who has taken over from Scotland’s record cap holder Gemma Fay as Shelley Kerr’s first-choice keeper.
“We’ve changed in so many ways. The backroom staff is different, so are a lot of the players and our performances along the way, too.
“That result happened, yeah. It was two years ago but we’re in a different place now.
“We can learn from experiences and that match was our first taste of tournament football at the senior level – but I don’t think we need to look back too much at that.
“We know what we’re capable of. We know England are going in as favourites and that we’re the underdogs, but that suits us.
“England won the She Believes Cup. They are an excellent side with many threats but we also have those same threats.
“I think we’ve had better performances (since that last meeting at the Euros). We’ve been able to compete and perform against top teams.
“We beat Brazil – but you can also look at how we performed against the US and Canada, teams that are ranked above us. We’ve shown that, on our day, we can perform.”
The Scotland squad flew out to France yesterday after having smashed their record home attendance last week when 18,555 turned out to see them beat Jamaica 3-2 in a Hampden friendly.
Among the crowd were First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Judy Murray – mother of tennis stars Andy and Jamie – and new Scotland men’s boss Steve Clarke, who all paid the team a visit in the dressing-room after the match.
Clarke also took time out of preparing for his first match in charge against Cyprus on Saturday in the Euro 2020 qualifiers to wish the women’s side well.
But Alexander admits the words coming from the trio failed to register as she was left contemplating how far her side had come.
The Glasgow City stopper said: “We want to do everything we can to make Scotland proud so to have the men’s coach come in and offer us his support was great.
“Steve was also in our changing room after the match at Hampden against Jamaica to offer a few words of wisdom and we’re so thankful for that support.
“He told us we shouldn’t have conceded goals against Jamaica. It’s nice that he was honest with us. I’m trying to think what else he actually did say.
“We had Steve, Judy Murray and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in to see us as well. So it was really good to know that these people wanted to speak to us and give us words of wisdom and a send-off.
“You almost forget what they say as you’re so in awe of that these people are
actually interested in us and want us to do the best we can and make Scotland proud.
“But the message was mostly along the lines that we had done well to get here, now go enjoy it and perform.”
Meanwhile, Scotland defender Jennifer Beattie has rejoined Arsenal from Manchester City.
The 28-year-old has signed a “long-term contract” with the Gunners.
Arsenal manager Joe Montemurro said: “Jen is an experienced defender. We’re delighted that she wanted to return back to Arsenal.
“We’re confident she will help us take our success to the next level next season.”
