Wales’ best days are ahead of them, as squad prepare for Denmark clash

Wales are preparing to take on Denmark in their penultimate Nations League fixture, as they look to keep their place in League A.

Currently sitting bottom of the table with two points, Wales ideally need a win out in Odense to keep their survival hopes alive, while a draw could also maintain their hopes of staying up if results elsewhere go their way.

However, if they are to stay up, Wales are going to have to do something they have never done, which is to beat a team in the top 20 of the FIFA Rankings.

Two draws against Sweden shows that Wales are closing the gap between themselves and Europe’s elite, and captain Angharad James says Wales’ best days are still ahead of them.

“We’re growing, we’re getting better, we’re reviewing games and working on things as a group we know we need to get better at, and results will come off the back of that. We’ve had some good results in League A and every game is a challenging game.

“These are teams that have constantly gone to Euros and World Cups in the past, and we’re putting on performances to be proud of, but we still have room to be better, and we will be better. We’ve had good days, but we haven’t had our best day yet.”

It is difficult to not get distracted by the Euros which takes place in just over a month’s time, but manager Rhian Wilkinson says her team will be going all out to try and keep their place in the top tier.

“We’ve taken this Nations League campaign seriously from the start and we continue to do so. It’s been a great challenge for us but equally a great measuring stick for us to see where we’re at.

“We want to stay in League A, but I’ve said from the very beginning I’m not going to sacrifice my preparation for the Euros to stay in League A, but we will do everything we can to stay up.”

Wales look like a completely different team to the one that graced League A last time. Long gone are the days of heavy defeats, epitomised by the fact Wales have conceded the fewest goals in their group.

James believes the difference has been putting in a full match performance, and that’s something they can take into the summer.

“It’s been nice coming back into League A to play top nations regularly, because it’s a really good thing for us. Our growth has been there over the last year or two, and we’re now competing with the best teams.

“We always did our best before and we put in performances against Germany in Swansea, but now we’re putting in 90-minute performances.

“Those performances and games might be a little different because we’re having more possession and creating more chances, and that’s something we can take into these two games and the Euros.

“We’re confident every time we step onto the field that we can get the right result.”

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Clinical Edge

Speaking to anyone in the Welsh camp this week the message has been clear: the need to be more clinical.

Chances have come and gone against all three teams in their group, and it has led to frustration and disappointment among players and staff.

Wilkinson admitted some in her team may be guilty of overthinking in the vital moment, but stressed it’s an aspect of their game they are working hard to improve.

“I don’t think we can blame everything on psychology, but I do try! Against top teams, they will have opportunities, and we have to have our keepers playing well, and also have a bit of luck.

“On the other side of things, we may not get as many shots on target as the opposition, but when we’re in the final third, we have to make it count. We talk about maybe having fewer chances, I’m comfortable with that, but they have to count for more.

“Sweden, for example, had 17 shots inside the box with seven on target, while we had four shots inside the box and all four on target. We have to continue to work on those areas of our game, and it’s fine to say that and to put a bit of pressure on the players.

“When the time comes, there is a little bit of overthinking at times, but we’re getting better.”

One player who could be key to bucking that trend is Hannah Cain.

Cain scored the crucial equaliser out in Sweden and has had a sensational run at the end of the season with Leicester.

James was full of praise for the forward and believes she will only get better.

“Hannah has always been the player she shows on the field. I remember her first cap when she came on in Cardiff City Stadium, and she put in an unbelievable performance in the 10-15 minutes that she got.

“It was unfortunate for her to pick up that second ACL injury, but she’s worked so hard, and being around her, I see that every day. She’s in the gym for long periods of time, warming up before others, and she’s been great recently for both Leicester and Wales.”

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Experimentation Over

Wilkinson only has two games left to assess her squad before she has to pick 23 names to take with her to Switzerland.

The Canadian says that experimentation time during these two Nations League matches will be limited, but she still has a few questions she needs answering.

“I don’t think there will be too much experimenting at this point.

“There are a few last questions I need to have answered, and we can’t hide from the fact that these will be the last two games before the big decision needs to be made in terms of the Euros squad.

“We need to have all the answers we need.”

One question that has seemingly been answered is in the goalkeeping department.

After Safia Middleton-Patel’s heroics against Sweden, some suggested the manager might have a selection dilemma on her hands, but Wilkinson reiterated once again that Olivia Clark is still her number one.

“Goalkeepers are parts of a team, and I look at my bench and I need everyone on there to be able to step onto the field and deliver a top performance, and I have that same expectation of my keepers.

“We got Saf an important game against Sweden and she played really well, but Liv has been playing really well too. Liv is our number one, Saf is our number two, but it’s a brilliant position for me as a manager to be in to have two top keepers.”

(Featured Image: Ashley Crowden/FAW)