Wales predicted XI v Croatia as Wilkinson faces first test

On the eve of her first match in charge of Wales, head coach Rhian Wilkinson has spoken of her excitement ahead of kick off.

Wales begin their European Qualification campaign at the Racecourse against Croatia, and Wilkinson explained occasions like these are why she took the job.

“This is why we want to take these jobs because these exciting games mean something. Myself, my staff, and definitely the players are looking forward to getting out there, playing in front of the North Walian crowd, and hopefully put on a performance they’re proud of.”

The two-time Olympic bronze medallist has been in her post for around a month but has held numerous phone conversations with members of the senior team.

Now able to see them in person, Wilkinson has praised the mentality of her players, and says it’s taken her and her staff by surprise.

“I think it’s so impressive; when you do have a new coach, and as much as I try to keep things similar to what it has been and to try and minimise change, there’s always some change, but they’ve really embraced it.

“They’re trying to implement a lot of the things I’m talking about, and there’s nothing more I can ask them as a coach than them trying. I’ve really appreciated their attitude and work ethic.

“If anything, things have been a lot better than I thought they would be. There’s a wonderful energy in camp, everyone is excited to be together, and it’s a joy to be able to work in a team where everyone enjoys each other’s company and have a great time together.

“At the same time, they keep pushing their own standards and try to get better in every game. It really is a pleasure to be around them and the new faces in my staff have found it remarkable that the players are willing to try things straight away and trust a new voice and a new direction.”

The sentiment coming from the manager is also felt by the players.

Captain Sophie Ingle is liking the approach Wilkinson has brought and says Wales fans can expect a team who show no fear.

“It’s been really good so far. We’ve obviously only had a few training sessions, so it’s been more about us getting to know her and her getting to know us, but so far so good on the training pitch. There’s a lot of positive detail which is really nice.

“I think fans should expect a positive team. When we have the ball, it’s a question of can we go forward. Yes, it’s always nice to keep the ball and keep possession, but do we need to go back in these games, probably not. It’s about us being confident in and around their box, getting shots away and try to get some goals.”

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North Wales factor

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What makes this fixture special is the fact it is being played at the Racecourse in Wrexham.

While the men’s team have played a handful of games at the famous old ground, the women’s team haven’t graced the hallowed turf since a friendly against Estonia in March 2020.

Wilkinson has stressed ever since she came into the role that she wants every corner of Wales to witness what the women’s team are doing, and this is the first step in that plan.

“It’s critical that the Welsh women are seen across the country, and that the young players in the north, central, and west are able to see these icons in person. I hope people come out and support them here.

“I’m not Welsh, but it’s the same thing in every country that, when you have a major city centre like Cardiff, it’s easy to put games there, because there are big stadiums, and the population is larger. Playing across the country is really important to me.”

There are two northerns amongst the Welsh squad in Elise Hughes and Rhiannon Roberts, and Ingle revealed ticket requests are very high in both households.

“They’re both super excited. Elise only lives ten minutes away from Wrexham, and Razza isn’t much further away than that either. They’re buzzing that all their family can come, I think they’ve taken all of our ticket requests to be honest!”

Croatian challenge

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First up for Wales and Wilkinson are Croatia.

Coming off the back of an 8-0 aggregate lost to Norway in the Nations League, the Croats sit 59^th in the FIFA Rankings, 27 places below Wales.

Despite a disparity in the rankings, Wilkinson is still expecting a tough game.

“Croatia are a team that has played in a few different variations, so I think they will pose a structural challenge. They’ve got a couple of really interesting players too. They can play dynamically, aggressively, can transition fast with strong players.

“But overall, I think it will be about Wales and playing the Welsh way. I truly believe if we put in a good performance, we will get the result we’re looking for.”

One player Wales will have to keep an eye on is midfielder Izabela Lojna.

Remarkably, she has scored a staggering 337 goals in 208 appearances for Croatian side Osijek and will be a dangerous runner from the middle of the pitch.

The experienced Ingle knows this and knows Wales will have to be extra careful with her around.

“It’s a really good quality to have as a midfielder, that ability to score goals. She’s a bit of a box-to-box midfielder, and we’ll have to keep a close eye on her in the middle of the park.”

Predicted XI

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It’s always difficult to predict a starting eleven with a new manager at the helm, but I think this could be an easy decision for Wilkinson.

The side that started against the Republic of Ireland played superbly and really put the Irish to the sword in the first half in particular.

If this is the case, expect to see a back five and a frontline that can be dynamic, headed by Elise Hughes.