Andy Murray's reminder to the wider sporting world last week that women play tennis in addition to men, was timely for those of us wrapped up in football year round.

The 2017 UEFA Women's European Championship tournament is underway and Scotland, after a number of near misses on the qualifying front, are there. At the fourteenth attempt, they'll at last line up in a major finals.

The fact is, in relative terms, the Scottish women's team, stands higher up its ladder, than the men's equivalent. Yet we have a long way to go in the promotion of the sport on our shores.

With every game televised live on terrestrial television by Channel Four, there is every reason to believe a new audience for the women's game will emerge. It helps greatly that the opening fixture for Scotland happens to be against England, at the Galgenwaard stadium in Utrecht tomorrow night. There is no better way to concentrate minds and encourage the previously uninterested to give women's football a chance, than a meeting with the country's greatest football rivals.

In my first spell living in the USA in the early 90s, I discovered first hand how compelling the women's game can be. Of course it didn't hurt that the US team, featuring talented players such as Mia Hamm and Julie Foudy, was the best in the world at that particular time. I'll never forget the buzz generated all across the country as that trailblazing team coached by the late Tony Dicicco, lifted the World Cup trophy in 1999.

Scotland have a chance to be trailblazers this month, albeit on a smaller scale. Most of our players toil away in relative anonymity without the glamour or financial reward that goes to men who play football professionally. You get the sense that there is an important ambassadorial role bestowed upon every member of Anna Signeul's squad. Yes, it's about the here and now, but it's also about inspiring a younger generation of girls to take up the sport. For that to happen, role models are needed.

England's Lionesses succeeded on that front with their unexpected rise at the last World Cup 2 years ago, finishing in third place.

With that English performance in mind, there's no doubt this is potentially a baptism of fire for Scotland. England are rightly ranked amongst the favourites to win the Euros and so stopping their opponents will be priority number one for the Scots.

It's just a pity having worked so hard to reach a major tournament finals, Scotland are without three key players through injury. Kim Little, a world superstar in women football, Jen Beattie (the daughter of former Scotland rugby player and now respected broadcaster John) and Emma Mitchell will be badly missed. It's hard to replace more than 250 caps and 75 goals in any side.

But others will undoubtedly step forward. This is a Scotland team accustomed to battling against the odds and they deserve your support. Most have to leave the country to play professionally and the squad is drawn from seven different national leagues.

The main story reported ahead of the Euros has had to do with the players and their disputes with the SFA, feeling an overall lack of respect from the governing body. But now that everyone is on the same wavelength, it's time to focus on the actual football.

England, as mentioned will represent a challenge. Spain, in the final group game will be difficult opponents, too. The middle match against Portugal on Sunday in Rotterdam, is the one the Scottish players must regard as their most winnable.

But wins and losses are not ultimately how this Scotland team will be judged. Granted we would rather see the former than the latter. But building anything takes time. Just by making it to the finals, Scotland's women have surpassed their male counterparts.

I know who I'll be cheering for these next few days.