Natasha Harding gives glowing review of Gemma Grainger ahead of World Cup qualifying opener
Hensol, Wales. 8th June 2021. Natasha Harding of Wales during training at the Vale Resort. Credit: Lewis Mitchell/YCPD/
Natasha Harding has given a glowing review of Wales boss Gemma Grainger ahead of their first 2023 World Cup qualifier against Kazakhstan on Friday.
Grainger was appointed in March with the view of guiding Wales to a first major tournament.
She has shown enough in her first six months at the helm to impress the experienced vice-captain Harding.
“I think Gemma is fantastic. I think it was going to be big shoes to fill coming in after Jayne [Ludlow] because she did so much with us.
“For me Gemma is ahead of any other coach or manager who is out there now. Her off-field work by far eclipses many others.
“It’s not just her knowledge of the game but her want to improve players and her belief in players that makes you feel like you’re the best.”
All of Wales’ previous campaigns have ended in heartbreak as they’ve narrowly missed out on qualification for major tournaments.
Now, according to Harding, Grainger has changed the mentality amongst the squad going into this fresh campaign.
“Gemma has changed the language that we use. Over the past few years it’s always been ‘we hope to qualify’ this time it’s been ‘when we qualify’.
“We have to believe in that and it’s something that the group has to get used to. We cant be shy to say that we want to qualify.
For players like Natasha Harding and Jess Fishlock this could be the final chance they get of reaching a major tournament.
That possibility isn’t lost on Harding: “We want to look back in a few years time and say that we were the pioneering group that did it.
“That’s what always spurred us one. We’ve always wanted to put Wales on the biggest stage because we love our country so much.
“If you asked me or Jess we would probably tell you we want to play until we are 45 because thats how much we love Wales.”
Wales kick off their qualification campaign at Parc Y Scarlets against Kazakhstan on September 17th before traveling to face Estonia on September 21st.
