Iceland v Wales: Team News, Tash Harding and the opposition
Natasha Harding of Wales celebrates scoring her sides fifth goal. Wales v Greece in a FIFA Women's World Cup Qualifier at Parc y Scarlets on the 26th November 2021. Credit: Lewis Mitchell
Wales manager Gemma Grainger has praised the commitment of Tash Harding after her retirement from football.
Last Saturday, the former forward announced that she had retired from the game with immediate effect. Harding had played for Cardiff City, Bristol Academy, Manchester City, Liverpool, Reading, and Aston Villa.
Her 101st and final appearance for Wales came against New Zealand out in Pinatar in June 2022. Her relationship with the FAW strained after that and she wasn’t selected for any camp after the game against the Kiwis. However, Grainger has praised Harding’s dedication to the Welsh shirt.
“Any player who has over 100 caps for their country is incredible. It’s such an honour and it’s a sign of her commitment on the pitch to Wales. That’s one thing Tash certainly did on the field was give 100%.
“From her first cap all the way to her last, she’s seen how the women’s game has developed, and her contribution on the pitch was great. She always gave everything.”
Team News
The good news ahead of Wales’ Nations League opener against Iceland is that every player is fit and available for selection.
In terms of places that are up for grabs, up front seems to be a position with question marks around it. Hannah Cain isn’t involved due to injury, and while Kayleigh Green has often filled that spot, Elise Hughes has been in scintillating form this season, and Grainger is impressed with the Crystal Palace player.
“I’ve been very impressed with Elise. She’s dedicated, and she’s not only dedicated in terms of her own development, but she also wants to learn in as many different ways as she can.
In the last couple of years, she’s made decision on what is right for her, and now this season, she’s currently the top scorer in the Championship.
“That form is down to her reflection and her analysis of how she needs to work on certain things.”
Grainger also says she is looking to play Rachel Rowe in a role further up the field, where she has been playing since the defeat to Switzerland in the playoff final.
Fitness also could be an issue. The WSL players involved in the squad are yet to get their season started, but Angharad James says that it won’t be an issue come kick-off on Friday night.
“It’s important that we prepare in the same way. The majority of us have had a good pre-season with our clubs, and then you have the likes of Jess who are in season. We’ve worked hard over the last few weeks since the USA game and beyond that.
“We are in a good situation, it’s not a great situation because we haven’t had those competitive games yet, but when we put that red shirt on, we will all be giving 100%.”
The opposition
Yesterday saw the players and staff make the trip north to the Icelandic capital Reykjavik, ready for tomorrow’s clash.
These two met in the Pinatar Cup back in February, with the game ending 0-0. Captain Sophie Ingle is expecting a tough game, even though the two sides are familiar with each other.
“They’re a very physical side and we’re quite a small squad, so we’ll have to learn how to battle with them first and foremost. They’re a direct team too, and they’ve got fast wingers, so we’ll have to be ready for that, like we were out in Pinatar.”
One name that will leap off the Icelandic team sheet will be Sveindís Jónsdóttir. The winger has quickly become one of Europe’s best wingers in her time with Wolfsburg, and Ingle is a big admirer of her.
“She’s definitely been improving since she’s been at Wolfsburg. For Iceland as well, she’s become one of their key players.
“She’s very direct, she can run at you with pace, she can run off your back shoulder; it’ll be a good test for our backline to come up against her, because she’s one of the best wingers around right now.”
In their group Wales are the lowest seed, but Grainger is hoping her team can perform and spring a surprise or two.
“Success in this Nations League is us performing and competing. If we finish fourth, we would have met everyone’s external expectations, but internally, those are certainly not our expectations.
“Ultimately, we want to qualify for the European Championships and being in League A gives us the best opportunity to do that. As a team, since the Switzerland game, we’re unbeaten, apart from the game against the USA.
“That gives us a lot of belief, and when we do play those teams, who know we can compete against them and win games.”
Wales start their Nations League campaign away to Iceland tomorrow night. Kick-off is at 7pm and the game will be live on BBC One Wales.
