Wales squad announced for Denmark and Italy clashes
Rhian Wilkinson gave her thoughts after Cymru's qualifying campaign got underway. (Pic by Ashley Crowden/FAW)
Wales manager Rhian Wilkinson has announced her squad for the final two Nations League games against Denmark and Italy.
There are call-ups for Mared Griffiths and Soffia Kelly, both of whom impressed for Wales’ U19s during the last international window.
Youngsters Poppy Soper and Tianna Teisar also retain their places in the squad, which features 26 players.
Among those not selected are goalkeeper Laura O’Sullivan-Jones, who misses out through injury, while Sunderland duo Mary McAteer and Ellen Jones are notable absentees.
Wales will only be allowed to name a 23-player squad when it comes to this summer’s European Championships, but decisions are being made in the background by the manager.
“We’ve got to be looking ahead while keeping the players firmly focused on these two very important games coming up. I haven’t named my squad yet, and the players know that.
“There’s a different intensity that will be a reality of this camp, no matter how hard I try to take the air out of that moment, some of them know they will potentially have their dreams come true, whereas others who have given so much to this qualification journey might not be with us at the end.
“There’s probably about 20 players that I’m clear on taking to Switzerland, then there’s three that can go either way on both sides, and that’s probably where most coaches sit at this point, because there’s always injuries, so things for some players could go right up to the wire.”
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Injury Worries
Jess Fishlock is named in Wilkinson’s squad to face the Danes and the Italians, but the history maker hasn’t played a minute of football since March 23rd and has been out of action with Seattle Reign with a leg injury.
The Canadian isn’t worried about the fitness of Wales’ taliswoman, but praised the medical team at Seattle for the way they’ve handled her.
“Jess is a Seattle player, and she is obviously a Welsh legend. She’s had a few little niggling things, and Seattle have gone above and beyond at listening and supporting Jess, Angharad and Lily in terms of their ambitions for the Euros. Whatever they list her as is what she is.
“I haven’t had eyes on Jess either for about a month and a half, so I’ll leave it up to Seattle to qualify it as whatever they want.”
Another name not involved in the squad is former captain Sophie Ingle, who has been recovering from an ACL injury she suffered in August last year.
It means the centurion will not have played any minutes this season in the run-up to Switzerland, and a decision on whether to take the Chelsea veteran to the Euros is still hanging in the balance.
“I haven’t seen her, so I’d have to say she has a 50-50 of going, because she is ahead of schedule. ACLs are vastly different dependent on the athlete. I don’t always think ahead of schedule is great if you skip steps.
“I trust Chelsea has done everything properly, but I need to see her and have clear conversations with her before I make that decision. I do want her back but not at the risk of Sophie Ingle’s knee.”
Away from injuries, some players in the squad are already looking for new clubs. Alice Griffiths will be leaving Southampton when her contract expires, while the futures of Soper at Blackburn Rovers and Hannah Cain at Leicester are also up in there.
Wilkinson knows how difficult this time of the season can be for players.
“It is a challenge, and we would be naïve to say these things won’t be in the back of their minds. There’s the challenge too of whether you sign before a Euros, do you sign afterwards, and then there’s the pressure of, if I don’t play them at the Euros, and it’s just a very complicated thing.
“Players are at their most vulnerable at this time, where their futures aren’t as clear, but I very much hope third parties that are supporting my athletes are giving them space so they can just play.”
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Survival Hopes
Back to on the pitch matters on Wales face a battle to stay in League A of the Nations League.
Sitting bottom of their group, Wales realistically need to defeat Denmark in Odense next Friday to keep their survival hopes alive, and Wilkinson is relishing the pressure that comes with that.
“We are in such a fantastic group. The fact that everyone is still within touching distance is great. We are a few points off in fourth, but equally, it’s still within our grasp. When you talk about pressure, it’s great, and it’s an incredible opportunity for us.
“I don’t think we would have expected this when we started our Nations League campaign, so we love this opportunity, and we’ve always placed this pressure as excitement.”
These will be Wales’ final two games before they face The Netherlands in their opening game of the European Championships in Luzern.
All of Wales’ Group D opponents; England, France and the Dutch, will have at least one friendly before the start of the tournament, but the Canadian explained the reason behind her side not having any.
“If we had found the right opposition, to have had a game at home would have been really nice, and it would have been a standalone fixture away from our Nations League fixtures.
“The FAW wanted a fixture too, but we were one of the later nations to qualify, and the reality is that the options that were available to me I wasn’t interested in. That isn’t meaning to be disrespectful, it just had to be a very specific type of game.
“We were offered a game against a phenomenal team from Africa, which was exciting, but they are not preparation for the Euros. This was my call. If you don’t have the right opposition, don’t force it. That’s something I learned as a player and as a coach.”
WALES SQUAD TO FACE DENMARK AND ITALY
Olivia Clark (Leicester City), Safia Middleton-Patel (Manchester United), Soffia Kelly (Aston Villa), Poppy Soper (Blackburn Rovers)
Rhiannon Roberts (Real Betis), Josie Green (Crystal Palace), Charlie Estcourt (DC Power), Gemma Evans (Liverpool), Mayzee Davies (Manchester City), Lily Woodham (Crystal Palace), Ella Powell (Bristol City), Esther Morgan (Sheffield United)
Hayley Ladd (Everton), Alice Griffiths (Durham), Angharad James (Seattle Reign), Lois Joel (Newcastle United), Carrie Jones (IFK Norrköping), Jess Fishlock (Seattle Reign), Ceri Holland (Liverpool)
Ffion Morgan (Bristol City), Tianna Teisar (Bristol City), Rachel Rowe (Southampton), Kayleigh Barton (Charlton Athletic), Hannah Cain (Leicester City), Elise Hughes (Crystal Palace), Mared Griffiths (Manchester United)
