Wales to face Estonia, France, Greece, Kazakhstan, and Slovenia in World Cup qualifying
Wales huddle before the second half Wales v Denmark International Women's Friendly at the Cardiff City Stadium on the 13th April 2021. Lewis Mitchell/YCPD
Wales have drawn fourth ranked France in their 2023 World Cup qualification group as Gemma Grainger hopes to guide Wales to a first major tournament.
Slovenia, Greece, Kazakhstan and Estonia join Wales and France to make up the remaining team’s in Group I.
Wales’ campaign will begin at home against Kazakhstan on Friday 17 September 2021, before ending just under a year later with another home match against Slovenia on September 6 2022.
The team that tops this six-team group will directly qualify for the finals in Australia and New Zealand with the runner-up entering the playoffs.
Two nations will qualify via the play offs with the third entering the inter-confederation play off tournament.
This will be the first time that Wales have face France, who hosted the 2019 World Cup, during qualification for a tournament.
However, Wales did faced France’s B team in 2015 during the Istria Cup. It was France who came out on top winning 1-0 thanks to a Marina Makanza stike.
Les Bleues have qualified for the past three World Cups are currently boast the likes of Wendie Renard and Marie-Antoinette Katoto.
They recorded their best finish back in 2011, finishing fourth in Germany.
Unlike France, Wales do have previous with Kazakhstan. In 2009, they faced the currently 81st ranked nation in a pre -qualification group.
Cymru topped the group, beating Kazakhstan 2-1 in Armenia thanks to goals from Gwennan Harris and Jayne Ludlow.
They also faced Kazakhstan during qualification for the 2017 European Championships, beating them 4-0 home and away.
Wales would once more face Kazakhstan in qualification for the last world cup in 2019. Once again they won on both occasions, with the scores 1-0 this time.
More recently Wales faced Estonia, the lowest ranked nation in this group, in a friendly at the Racecourse in 2020.
Megan Wynne and Nadia Lawrence scored as Wales cruised to a 2-0 victory.
Estonia are currently managed by former Wales head coach Jarmo Matikainen who preceded Ludlow between 2010 and 2014.
Last chance for Fishlock and Co
This campaign may be the last chance that the likes of Jess Fishlock, Helen Ward and Natasha Harding get to play at a World Cup.
Having come to close in 2019 under Ludlow the senior members of the squad will be even more motivated to reach the finals this time around.
Fishlock has passionately expressed her desire to represent Wales on the world stage: “I would throw my entire career in the bin if it meant that I could go to a major tournament with my country. It’s why I’m still here.”
Group I
France (4), Wales (32), Slovenia (50), Greece (65), Kazakhstan (81), Estonia (102)
Fixtures
Wales v Kazakhstan – 17/09/2021
Estonia v Wales – 21/09/2021
Slovenia v Wales – 22/10/2021
Wales v Estonia – 26/10/2021
Wales v Greece – 26/11/2021
France v Wales – 30/11/2021
Wales v France – 08/04/2022
Kazakhstan v Wales – 12/04/2022
Greece v Wales – 02/09/2022
Wales v Slovenia – 06/09/2022
