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The Guardian
3 days ago
- General
- The Guardian
Women's Nations League: Wales and Scotland both relegated after defeats
Wales and Scotland both had their likely relegations confirmed while the Republic of Ireland enjoyed a late winner on a dramatic night of Women's Nations League action. Wales lost 1-0 away to Denmark in controversial fashion in Group A4. Rhian Wilkinson's team had realistically required victory in Odense to avoid being sent down to League B but Pernille Harder's 48th-minute strike consigned them to a third defeat of the campaign and bottom spot. It could have been a different story had Jess Fishlock's first-half effort been awarded, with her follow-up shot seemingly crossing the line but not given by the officials and with no VAR in operation, Wales went down narrowly. A 2-1 home loss to Denmark in April put Wales on the verge of relegation from the top tier and they got off to a poor start with defender Mayzee Davies forced off after only six minutes. The 18-year-old sustained a knee issue which could put in doubt her participation in this summer's European Championship. The Welsh did regroup and a moment of controversy occurred midway through the half when Ceri Holland was denied by Maja Bay Østergaard and Fishlock sent an effort towards goal, but Stine Ballisager got back to clear. Replays later appeared to show the ball had crossed the line, but it remained goalless at the break after Amalie Vangsgaard squandered a fine opportunity for Denmark and Harder was twice thwarted in quick succession. It would not take Harder long after half-time to break the deadlock, though, as the Danish forward slotted home in the 48th minute. Wales had chances but relegation to League B was confirmed. Melissa Andreatta began her tenure as Scotland head coach with a 1-0 defeat by Austria which confirmed their relegation and meant they are without a point from their five games to date. The lacklustre home side were fortunate to go into the interval level at Hampden Park with goalkeeper Lee Gibson in fine form. However, the more dominant visitors broke the deadlock in the 62nd minute of the Group A1 clash when ever-dangerous attacker Julia Hickelsberger glanced in a header from a corner. Scotland picked up later in the second half but ended the game still bottom of the tabl. Their final fixture of the campaign comes against the Netherlands on Tuesday for their final fixture, which will also be the final international outing of their captain Rachel Corsie, who came on as a substitute on Friday. Barcelona star Ewa Pajor scored twice within the opening nine minutes as Poland romped to a 4-0 Group B1 win over Northern Ireland in Belfast. Pajor celebrated her 100th senior international cap with a quickfire double at Seaview before Paulina Tomasiak and Adriana Achcinska put the game beyond Tanya Oxtoby's side, who travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday needing a point to finish second behind the Euro 2025-bound Poles. Sign up to Moving the Goalposts No topic is too small or too big for us to cover as we deliver a twice-weekly roundup of the wonderful world of women's football after newsletter promotion The hosts enjoyed a huge escape inside the opening 60 seconds when Pajor lobbed advancing goalkeeper Jackie Burns and saw her attempt bounce over the bar and on to the roof of the vacant net. However, the respite proved temporary and Pajor gave Poland a fifth-minute lead and then doubled her tally four minutes later after catching the keeper in possession. Paulina Tomasiak made is 3-0 before Adriana Achcinska added a fourth shortly after the restart. Northern Ireland finished strongly with Rebecca Holloway and Rebecca McKenna both going close to a consolation goal before substitute Emily Wilson hit the bar at the death. Substitute Emily Murphy's first senior international goal handed the Republic of Ireland a 2-1 comeback victory in Turkey to secure second spot in Group B2. Murphy's 89th-minute winner, which came after Busem Seker's own goal had cancelled out Kader Hancar's opener at the Esenler Stadium, sent Ireland into Tuesday night's home clash with group leaders Slovenia just three points adrift.
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Fishlock frustrated by lack of goal-line technology
Jess Fishlock has questioned why Wales' key Nations League game with Denmark did not have goal-line technology, saying: "It needs to be better."Midfielder Fishlock appeared to have given Wales the lead in Odense in a game they needed to win to avoid relegation from Nations League the 21st-minute effort was not given with neither VAR or goal-line technology in use for the top tier Harder's second-half goal ensured Wales were left frustrated by the decision, with Wales' record goal scorer Fishlock saying: "When it's about whether you stay in League A or League B and the complications with that, we should be having goal line technology."It's so obviously a goal so I'm asking the ref 'how did you miss that?' It puts us 1-0 up and changes the game. It's super frustrating." Wales had suffered a difficult start to the game – including losing teenager Mayzee Davies to a worrying injury with the defender leaving the stadium on crutches – but Fishlock added: "We started to settle, started to play and scored a goal – it needs to be better. At this level we need the technology and everything to ensure it's fair."Several Football Association of Wales officials at the ground were puzzled why a League A game was not employing what has become increasingly standard assistance for match officials. Uefa have been asked to Wales head coach Rhian Wilkinson also questioned why the technology wasn't in use having been led to believe otherwise by the fourth official."Maybe I didn't understand, maybe she didn't," Wilkinson said. "But I'm frustrated, it's lessons for us but, equally, for a competition of this stature this shouldn't be happening."My team worked hard and put everything on the line; you get a goal, you want your goal." Wilkinson said she remained proud of her side as they prepare to face Italy in Swansea on Tuesday, their final fixture before they open their Euro 2025 campaign against the Netherlands in Switzerland on 5 she will have to wait to see whether she has lost 18-year-old Davies who looked in considerable pain after a non-contact injury after just four minutes, although she did call for calm and patience as they await a full diagnosis."Any player who gets an injury like that is frightened," she said. "I'd ask we just allow the medical team to their great job, let the swelling come down and fingers crossed it's not as serious as it first appeared."Wales will also assess whether Rhiannon Roberts is able to feature against Italy. The Real Betis defender suffered an issue in training on the eve of the match in Odense and was withdrawn, although Wilkinson stressed it was precautionary and would not risk any players' fitness this close to the tournament.
BBC News
4 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Wales seek statement win in fairytale city
Nations League: Denmark v WalesVenue: Odense Stadion, Odense Date: Friday, 30 May Kick-off: 18:15 BSTCoverage: Live on BBC Two Wales, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio Wales and Radio Cymru, the BBC Sport website and app, plus live text commentaryHighlights: S4C and BBC iPlayer, 21:35 BST and later on demand. If tension is building in the Wales squad in the build up to Euro 2025, it's not is little more than a month before the lowest-ranked side at Switzerland this summer appear at a major finals for the first written off by many, they are yet to record a win in League A of the Nations League and need to avoid defeat against Denmark on Friday if they are to avoid dropping out of the fact, with fixtures against former winners, current holders, and traditional women's football powerhouses all in store this summer, it's worth remembering that Wales have never managed competitive win against a side in the top 20 of Fifa's yet the mood of the Welsh camp is one that is more determined than daunted, given the strides they have made."This team is ready to win, let me tell you," said head coach Rhian Wilkinson with two games left before they kick-off their Euros tournament; Italy in Swansea on Tuesday following this Danish test against a side ranked 12th in the world."This is what these next two games are about; how do we show up and get a result? There's no reason to hide from that, I'm excited by it." They looked it too as Wilkinson and Wales prepared in a city where they could easily find more although it is tempting to talk of fairytales in the birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen, there is more relevance to another son of Odense whose name adorns a stand above where Wales will play on the approach to the stadium is a tribute to the monumental achievement of Richard Moller-Nielsen, the manager who led the country to one of international football's great shocks in men's European championships won by a team who had not been meant to be there.A reminder of the possibilities, then, for a side that have certainly earned the right to be at this stage - and are adamant that they are getting their last appearance in League A brought heavy defeats, Wales have been consistently competitive this time around."Every game is a challenging game against opposition who've been at Euros and World Cups in the past," said captain Angharad James. "We're putting on performances that we can be proud of, but we still have room to be better - and we will be better." There is evidence to show they are getting defeats by Italy and Denmark were both by the odd goal. They should have taken a glorious chance to beat Denmark in Cardiff a month ago, only to concede soon they followed up a 1-1 draw with Sweden in Cardiff with a superb performance in Gothenburg that produced the same have looked defensively sound, caused problems on the counter, rarely overawed, and aware of where they need to improve if they are to go from matching sides to beating them."This is where we want to be," added Wilkinson. "This team now that understands they are right where they should be, among the best in Europe in those top nations, there are frequently big scores – but these are tight margins."We want to keep getting better; we're not going to celebrate getting ties against big nations – some people have said it (the draw with Sweden) could have been Wales' best ever, but it's only 'so-far' because it's going to keep getting better."This team is constantly looking for more and that's who we want to be." James spoke of the belief in a greater depth of the side, helped by Wilkinson's commendable decision to give experience to youngsters during this Roberts was among those this week who acknowledged Wales will need to be more clinical in front of goal to add to their defensive record if they are to collect that statement win."The foundations are there, defensively we've been fantastic and now we need to put a little bit more pressure on ourselves to take our chances," said the Real Betis defender."But we already have the confidence we can beat these sides."All that is left for Wales is to prove it and take that scalp, though Wilkinson denied there is a psychological need to do so before Switzerland."We're here not by fluke," reminded Wilkinson. "And you don't get four consistent performances in row by accident, if things go our way in front of their net, we have every opportunity in the next two games to make that history. I'm surprised it hasn't happened already."
BBC News
6 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Wales' focus still on Nations League
Nations League: Denmark v WalesVenue: Nature Energy Park, Odense Date: Friday, 30 May Kick-off: 18:15 BSTCoverage: Watch on BBC 2 Wales, listen on BBC Radio Wales, live text updates on BBC Sport Online Jess Fishlock says Wales still believe they can stay in the top-tier of the Nations despite Wales' historic qualification for Euro 2025 this summer, Fishlock insists their focus remains on the Nations League until 'the job is done'.Rhian Wilkinson's side retain ambitions of remaining in League A, despite finding themselves bottom of Group 4 with two games against Denmark in Odense on Friday would confirm relegation for the next edition of the competition – which is tied to qualification for the 2027 World Cup. With excitement building ahead of Wales' first major tournament appearance, the game in Odense and Tuesday's clash with Italy in Swansea are Wales' final fixtures before Fishlock, 38, said: "These games are all about the Nations League. "We want to stay in League A so we are just focused on getting the wins here and then we'll look to the Euros when the job is done."Fishlock has been named in Wilkinson's squad after being an unused substitute in a 2-1 defeat by Denmark last month and withdrew from the squad prior to the 1-1 draw with Sweden in returned from injury for Seattle Reign on Friday, making a 30 minute appearance off the bench in her side's loss to Washington Spirit in the National Women's Soccer League.
BBC News
24-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Fishlock returns from injury ahead of Wales duty
Jess Fishlock has returned from injury for Seattle Reign ahead of Wales' Nations League double header with Denmark and 38-year-old was an unused substitute in a 2-1 defeat by Denmark last month and withdrew from the squad prior to the 1-1 draw with Sweden in Fishlock, who has won 160 caps for her country, was introduced off the bench in the 61st minute of Seattle Reign's National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) loss to Washington Spirit on Friday has been included by Rhian Wilkinson for Wales' upcoming matches with Denmark in Odense on 30 May and Italy in Swansea four days about Fishlock at her squad announcement, Wilkinson said: "Jess is a Seattle player, and she's 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 (James) and Lily (Woodham) 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."Wales sit bottom of Nations League Group A4 having drawn two and lost two of their four matches so far.
