WEST FIFE footballer Caroline Weir has helped Scotland create history after the national side qualified for their first-ever World Cup finals this afternoon.

The Dunfermline-born midfielder, who plays for Manchester City at club level, was in Shelley Kerr's side that defeated Albania 2-1 to finish top of their qualifying group.

After beating group leaders Switzerland by the same scoreline on Thursday night to join them on 18 points, the Scots had to better the Swiss' result in Poland to qualifying automatically for next summer's finals in France.

Weir was named in the starting line-up, winning her 54th international cap in the process, and her side took a first half lead through Kim Little.

Although Albania equalised on the stroke of half-time, Jane Ross' second half goal proved decisive as, after Switzerland could only draw, Scotland clinched top spot in Group 2 and their place at the finals.

It comes little more than a year after former Pittencrieff Primary and Dunfermline High pupil Weir and her team-mates featured in their maiden tournament finals at Euro 2017 in the Netherlands.

Despite being beaten by England and Portugal, Weir scored the only goal in an historic first win for Scotland at a tournament finals in their third match against Spain, but it wasn't enough to take them through to the knockout stages.

Following that experience, she told Press Sport of her determination to reach the World Cup, and can now celebrate achieving that aim.

Scotland will join the hosts and the likes of England, Sweden, Germany, Italy and Spain at next summer's tournament.