Scotland beat Israel 6-0 in its World Cup qualifier in Hungary, but the result came with a heavy cost as Erin Cuthbert was taken away on a stretcher after clutching her right leg. The win kept Scotland top of European qualifying Group B4, yet the mood at the final whistle was far from celebratory.
The match was played at the Bozsik Arena, the home of Honved, and treated as Scotland’s home qualifier against Israel even though only a handful of friends and family were allowed inside the 8,000-capacity stadium. That setting only sharpened the focus on a result Scotland needed to protect its place above Belgium on goal difference, with the group picture still hanging on the final round.
Cuthbert’s injury was the moment that changed the night. She went down during the match holding her right leg and later left the field in obvious agony, then headed to hospital while Scotland closed out the biggest result it could have asked for. The concern around her condition quickly overtook the scoreline, because no one inside the Scotland camp could know yet how serious the damage was.
Scotland had started the night four goals better off than Belgium, and that margin survived because Belgium also beat Luxembourg 6-0 in the later kick-off at Den Dreef Stadion. Belgium had already put seven past Luxembourg at Hampden when Scotland won by the same scoreline, which is why the standings remain so close going into Tuesday’s final fixtures.
Melissa Andreatta said the situation will depend on “how it pans out,” while Kirsty Hanson said Cuthbert is being well looked after and hoped for good news. That is where the story now sits: Scotland still control their fate at the top of the group, but the more immediate answer everyone wants is whether Cuthbert’s right-leg injury will keep her out after a night that should have belonged only to the scoreline.
