Women's World Cup: Four reasons to watch Scotland in France

Sunday marked Scotland's return to a football World Cup finals, with Shelley Kerr's side losing 2-1 in their opening match.

Not since 1998 had Scotland been represented at a World Cup finals, the men's last appearance also France.

It's Japan next for Kerr's side and if World Cup fever isn't gripping you, here's why it should...

It's Scotland in a major tournament

Frankly, why would you not want to watch Scotland in a major tournament finals? We've been waiting long enough for the men to make it. All those desperate failed campaigns, the embarrassments of Moldova, Georgia, Macedonia, the 4-6-0 formation in Prague, and most recently, the 3-0 humbling in Kazakhstan.

The women's team, conversely, made their European Championship debut two years ago under Anna Signeul, winning one and losing two of their three group games. And this summer, at long, long last, we'll get to see a Scotland team compete at a World Cup. It's only been 21 years...

Scotland are on the rise under Kerr, building on the foundations laid by her predecessor, and the positivity is almost palpable. Their send-off friendly win over Jamaica drew a record 18,555 fans to Hampden - more than most Scottish Premiership teams get through the gates of a weekend.

Top players make it to the world stage

Kerr's team were much better equipped to tackle England than their 6-0 loss at Euro 2017. In the lead-up to that tournament, Scotland were shorn of two of their biggest players in Kim Little and Jen Beattie through injury, then lost another in the first game when Jane Ross was sidelined.

Little and Beattie featured against Phil Neville's England side, while Ross was on the bench.

Japan are Scotland's opponents on Friday and they conclude their group campaign next Wednesday against Argentina.

Scots have other box-office players

More than half of Scotland's 23-strong squad, including Erin Cuthbert, play south of the border. The seven who remain in Scotland are not full-time, but regularly compete in the Champions League with Glasgow City and Hibernian Ladies.

Cuthbert, the tenacious 20-year-old Chelsea striker, rasped in a glorious strike in the Jamaica win - her 10th in 31 caps and third in five matches - and scored in the Champions League semi-finals.

Manchester City midfielder Caroline Weir has made over 60 appearances at the age of 23. At the same age, Lizzie Arnot plays for the red half of Manchester, joining the newly-formed United last year and scoring their first competitive goal.

At the other end of the experience spectrum, Little has won trophies in Scotland, England, Australia and America and is one of five players to have amassed more than 100 caps. Between them, she and Ross have contributed 111 international goals.

Scotland are in fine form

Kerr swiftly and emphatically quashed any suggestions Scotland were World Cup "dark horses" after their historic victory over Brazil in April, but the reality is that her side are bowling along very nicely indeed.

In the 21 games under her stewardship, they have won 13, drawn two, and lost six. Of those defeats, only one, a 2-1 friendly loss at the hands of Iceland, came against a team ranked beneath them.

They have also claimed some decent scalps along the way. Switzerland, Poland and, most notably, the Brazilians, were dispatched, and only a late penalty denied Scotland an Algarve Cup point against Canada, one of the traditional powerhouses of the women's game.

Scotland have won four of their past six games, which provided some precious momentum heading to France.