Wales' confidence soaring after Sweden draw
Goal scorer Hannah Cain says Wales' confidence is soaring ahead of their first major tournament appearance.Wales' women are heading to Euro 2025 in Switzerland this summer and after her goal gave Rhian Wilkinson's side a shock 1-1 Nations League draw in Sweden, Cain says the squad believes they can compete against anyone.Despite being without the injured Ceri Holland, Kayleigh Barton and cap centurions Jess Fishlock and Sophie Ingle, Wales were extremely impressive in Gothenburg and could have even snatched victory against the side ranked sixth in the world by Fifa."It is almost like a mini Euros for us, the teams that we are playing in every single camp are amazing, they are so strong and we are showing we can compete with them and get performances," she told BBC Sport Wales."We are up there with those sides now."
Cain says the performance, despite having such key players missing, emphasised the progress Wales have made under Wilkinson."We've not really been in this position before where we can still put in a top, top performance despite missing such massive players," she said."They play a key role and we are missing them. Maybe if those four players had been here tonight we could have got the three points, but we still put in a top performance and hopefully they will be proud of us too."
'It was unreal'
For Manchester United goalkeeper Safia Middleton-Patel, the night was especially memorable as she produced a player of the match performance in the biggest game of her career.Still only 20 years old, Middleton-Patel made a string of impressive saves in just her third start for Wales and she admitted the game was a highlight of her fledgling career."It was unreal. I think it was one of our best performances. We showed everyone what we are about, we aren't just underdogs, we are here to play," she told BBC Sport Wales."I am over the moon. The team have put me in this position. It doesn't feel like my third cap, I feel like I've been here for years."Personally for me, it was one of the best games I've played."I will leave my phone turned off for a bit and let everything sink in I think."
Wilkinson pride at 'fantastic' Wales display
Wales boss Rhian Wilkinson said she was proud to see her side once again push one of the top nations in the world, with Wales twice holding Sweden to draws in Nations League group A4 as well as coming close against Denmark and Italy, who both beat Wales by just a single goal."That was a fantastic performance. In possession we had good stretches of the game," she told Match of the Day Wales."In football you have to ride your luck and they [Sweden] came close a couple of times but the way this team never quits, the way they stick in it to get a tie against Sweden away is a phenomenal moment and something we can build on."No matter who we put on, no matter what role I ask them to play, they give everything. It's not always perfect and I don't ask for perfection."That's what I want the Welsh public to be proud of, that this team is putting on performances for them."
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