DUNFERMLINE star Caroline Weir has created history by helping Scotland’s women reach the finals of a major tournament for the first time.

The 21-year-old Liverpool Ladies midfielder and her team-mates have qualified for next summer’s UEFA Euro 2017 Championships in the Netherlands as one of the six best runners-up in the qualifying round.

Scotland had narrowly missed out on the 2015 World Cup finals in Canada after losing a play-off against the Dutch but they will face no such issues this time as they advanced to the finals behind Group One winners Iceland.

Talented former Hibernian and Arsenal midfielder Weir, who began her footballing journey with Elgin Star, returned to the scene of her first senior cap three years ago on Tuesday as the Scots played their final qualifier in Reykjavik.

Anna Signeul’s team had already guaranteed their spot at the finals after Portugal defeated Finland 3-2 in Group Two last week, but they finished their campaign in style by winning in Iceland.

Weir, who has featured in each of Scotland’s qualifiers for the Euros, played an integral role in Scotland’s 2-1 victory that avenged their 4-0 loss to their opponents earlier this year – their only loss of the qualifying campaign.

Jane Ross headed Scotland’s opener before Fanndis Fridriksdottir equalised before half-time.

Weir came agonisingly close to her sixth international goal when her 25-yarder cracked the base of the post a minute into the second half but Ross’ 56th minute penalty after a foul on Bayern Munich’s Lisa Evans won the match for Scotland.

After their qualification was confirmed, Weir tweeted simply: “So buzzing! Bring on the Euros!”

The national team’s appearance at the finals, which kick off next July, will be the high point of Weir’s Scotland ambitions.

After starting out in Elgin Star’s boys’ team at the age of five, she went on to play for Hibernian and won the Scottish Cup with their under-15 side on the same day as older sister Kirsten did likewise at under-17 level.

Pars fan Caroline then moved to Arsenal in 2013, winning the Women’s FA Cup a year later, before a brief spell with Bristol Academy.

She joined Liverpool in January and has become an integral part of the Reds side that currently sit fourth in the FA Women’s Super League 1 table.

Scotland will be joined at the finals by the hosts, France, Germany, Switzerland, England, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Belgium, Iceland, Austria, Denmark, Italy and Russia, while Romania and Portugal will play-off for the final place.