SCOTLAND'S most-capped outfield player, Jo Love, believes her side has been given a great chance of qualifying for their second successive major championship.

The Scots landed in Group 2 alongside Switzerland, Poland, Belarus and Albania when the 2019 Women's World Cup draw was made in Nyon yesterday. With only the seven group winners certain to join hosts France in the final, it was essential to avoid the top nations – and especially Germany and France.

Switzerland and Italy were the lowest ranked of the seven top seeds, so the draw gives incoming head coach Shelley Kerr a realistic chance of taking Scotland to a first-ever World Cup.

“In my opinion it's a good draw,” confirmed Glasgow City midfielder Love, who has happy memories of recent games against Poland and Belarus.

“It's going to be a tough ask if only one team go through from the group, but we are coming together nicely as a group of players.”

Love, who won the first of her 175 caps in 2002, continued: “It will also be the start of Shelley's reign and we will be looking to take confidence and experience from the Euros into the new World Cup campaign.

“We are all excited for the challenge, but have Holland as the complete focus for the time being.”

Scotland beat Switzerland 5-0 in a friendly at Falkirk Stadium the last time the sides met in 2011. First half goals from Jane Ross (2), Julie Fleeting and Kim Little made the second 45 minutes a formality.

The Swiss have improved rapidly since then and are up to a best-ever 16 in the Fifa rankings, five ahead of Scotland. They qualified for their first World Cup in 2015, and are also in this summer's Euros.

Their star player is 26-year-old forward Ramona Bachmann. She joined Chelsea, where she is a team-mate of Scotland teenager Erin Cuthbert, from Wolfsburg in December.

Switzerland also won last month's Cyprus Cup impressively, beating both North and South Korea and hammering Italy 6-0. Yet bizarrely they also lost 8-1 to Spain in a friendly in January.

Scotland beat Belarus home and away during Euro 2017 qualifying. They won 7-0 at Fir Park, with Love grabbing two late goals. The 31-year-old was the only scorer in the Minsk return last June.

The Scots also beat Poland twice in 2015 World Cup qualifying. They won 4-0 away, with Love again on the scoresheet and Ross notching a hat-trick, then 2-0 at home.

Scotland have never played Albania at senior level.

Kerr, who was in Nyon to negotiate the fixtures, was not made available for comment yesterday.

She told the Scottish FA website: “There are some tough groups when you look at the draw, but overall we're happy with it.

“We're not taking anything for granted. Switzerland are a great side, as are Poland, but I'll be working with a group of players who are very professional and prepare well.”

England and Wales were drawn together in Group 1, as were the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland in Group 3.

Scotland head coach Anna Signeul will have Spain and Austria to beat in Group 7 when she joins third seeds Finland after the Euros.