Cymru manager Gemma Grainger reacts to Nations League draw
Wales manager Gemma Grainger on the touchline Wales v Denmark International Women's Friendly at the Cardiff City Stadium on the 13th April 2021. Lewis Mitchell/YCPD
Cymru manager Gemma Grainger has given her reaction to the Nations League draw, after Wales found out who their opponents would be.
Grainger’s side have been drawn in League A Group 3 of the Nations League, alongside Germany, Denmark, and Iceland.
“There’s no easy games when you’re in League A of the Nations League,” Grainger began. “It’s always been a shift in mentality for me and the team in the fact that we’ve been preparing for these fixtures for a long time.
“It’s great to have these fixtures and finally find out who we’ll be playing. We’ve played two of the teams in our group already in my time here.
“It’s nice to have competitive fixtures to look forward to and I’m really excited to get going.”
The standout team in the group are of course the two-time World Champions and the eight-time European Champions Germany.
With Cymru being drawn against one of the most talented sides in world football, Grainger is hoping the Red Wall can turn up in their droves to watch the spectacle.
“Germany have such a great history. We haven’t played them since 2008, and all of that combined is going to lead to an amazing fixture.
“They are the highest ranked team in the group, so naturally and hopefully, they will bring in the crowds.
“We play at our best when we are in Cardiff when the crowd is there. So, it’s exciting to think of what we can do in the Cardiff City Stadium.
“We keep breaking those records in terms of attendance, and I’m excited to see what the fans are like when Germany come to play and hopefully, we can break that record.”
The other two teams that complete Cymru’s group are the Nordic duo of Denmark and Iceland.
With the inclusion of the Danes, Grainger’s side have avoided pot two’s biggest hitters in Spain, the Netherlands, and Norway.
However, Grainger is still expecting a tough battle and will not change her approach for any opponent.
“For me as a manager, we prepare for every game in the same way, whether that be against Spain, the Netherlands, Denmark, or Iceland. The preparation, the mentality and the approach doesn’t change.
“If any manager was to go in with that approach, thinking that any fixture was going to be easier, or thinking a past fixture will have any reference on the result, it doesn’t work like that.
“Our approach in the Nations League will be the same as any other game. We want to make sure that we get better in every single game, and that’s something we’ll hold ourselves accountable to.
“We’re in League A and we deserve to be in League A, and I’m excited to play the teams that are in there.”
Cymru will begin their Nations League campaign in September.
