EXCLUSIVE: Caroline Weir on Scotland's first ever Women's World Cup | OneFootball

Scotland’s women’s team will be hoping to make the entire country proud at this summer’s Women’s World Cup, says midfielder Caroline Weir.

Two years on from making their major tournament bow at Euro 2017, Scotland will travel to France for the first Women’s World Cup in the nation’s history.

And Weir hopes their participation will not just boost the profile of women’s football, but Scottish football as a whole.

“Even since qualifying I feel like the interest has gone up a level,” the 23-year-old exclusively told Onefootball.

“I think women’s football itself is growing year on year. Down in England and with us in Scotland, the World Cup is only going to push that forward.

“It’s great for Scottish women’s football and also Scottish football in general that we have a Scottish team at the World Cup. Hopefully the whole nation will get behind us and support us.”

Shelley Kerr’s side go into the tournament off the back of impressive friendly victories against both Brazil and Jamaica, which could be the perfect preparation for a daunting Group Stage which will see them face England, Japan and Argentina.

Manchester City Women star Weir – who netted in the win over Jamaica at Hampden Park – is particularly excited to face rivals England in their opening fixture.

“It’s going to be a huge occasion. You couldn’t really write a bigger game for us at our first World Cup than that,” she said.

“It’s exciting and something I want to be a part of. Both teams know each other very well. A lot of my Man City team-mates are in the England squad so it makes it a bit more interesting but I don’t think we’ll think too much about that.

“We know their qualities, they’re a top team with world class players so it’s going to be a difficult task for us to get a result but we’ll try our best.

“When the draw first came out there was a bit of banter between the Scots and the English but it’s calmed down a bit now. Now it’s actually getting closer we haven’t been talking about it too much.

“I think we’ll forget we’re team-mates for those 90 minutes and just focus on ourselves.”

The Dunfermline-born former Liverpool and Arsenal Ladies playmaker enjoyed an impressive debut season for City in which she created 59 chances – the most in the FA Women’s Super League – and helped the club to the Continental Cup and the Women’s FA Cup.

“Yeah it’s been a good season at City,” she added.

“Winning two trophies in my first season is something I’m obviously delighted with.

“We didn’t win the league but overall it’s been a positive season and that gives me confidence going into the summer.”

Speaking after their friendly victory Brazil in April, Scotland boss Kerr played down suggestions that her side could be in contention to win the World Cup this summer.

And Weir insists the players aren’t getting carried away either.

“We definitely want to get out of the group,” she added.

“That’s something we think we can achieve. Of course we know it’s going to be difficult but we’ve got a strong squad and it’s a tough group but we think we can get something from it.

“We’ll probably just take each game as it comes but we’ll aim to get out of the group and go from there. I don’t think we’ll be talking about anything more than that.”

A no-nonsense former central defender, coach Kerr has been in charge of Scotland since April 2017, during which time she has overseen an unprecedented level of success for the national team.

“Shelley’s great,” says Weir.

“She’s done such a good job along with the other staff members to get us in the place that we’re at now. She’s got us playing an exciting form of football and she’s great to play under.

“Along with Andy [Thomson] the assistant, they’re both so passionate and they really want the best for us, individually and as a team.

“She’s great to play for and it’s such a huge achievement for us to be at the World Cup.”