First-half headers from Lucy Bronze and Lauren Hemp proved the difference between the Olde’s foes at the Stadium of Light, despite Scotland pressing hard for an equalizer following Kirsty Hanson’s goal on the stroke of half-time.
Hanson hit the crossbar while Martha Thomas had earlier watched as a convincing penalty screamer was waved away after a clumsy push from Millie Bright.
The Lionesses were denied goals twice due to an offside flag at the other end, but Carter knows their performance must improve in Utrecht on Tuesday night.
“We know that we have to be at the highest level to win against the Netherlands,” she said. “All we can do is come back, recover properly and be ready for the next game.
“We are analyzing with the coaches and coming up with the best game plan to beat the Netherlands.
“Scotland certainly proved to be a tough opponent. I wasn’t very happy with my individual performance and I definitely think I could have been better.
“As a team, we were a bit sloppy and looked uncomfortable at times, but obviously the three points are the most important and we have to build on them.
“We knew how important the tournament was before we stepped on the field.
He added: “We enter every match to win, regardless of the opponent, and regardless of the tournament we participate in.”
Great start from the Lionesses 💪 https://t.co/DQkZ8k0OQ6
-England Football (@EnglandFootball) September 22, 2023
Earlier in the week, it was announced that Sarina Wigman will captain Team GB at the Olympics if England, as the qualifying nation, secure a place at Paris 2024 through the Nations League.
The Lionesses head to their confrontation with the Netherlands at the top of Group A after the 2018 European champions lost to Belgium 2-1 on Friday.
Alessia Russo has been deemed ‘unfit’ for the match against Scotland while Keira Walsh remains out with injury.
Chelsea star Carter admitted that the Lionesses are still recovering from the mental and physical effects of the World Cup following their 1-0 defeat to Spain in the August final.
“It’s definitely difficult to recover from a tournament like this,” she said. “That intensity and then being ready to go again is really difficult.
“Everyone is trying to manage things in their own way.
“It was mentally and physically exhausting and then to come back and sometimes only have a week off is ridiculous.
“Everyone wants to reset, recover and be ready to go again at that time, so they did their best to get back to the top level.”
