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Wales Look to Sophie Ingle for More Inspiration . . . at 150 Not Out

Wales' Sophie Ingle. Pic: Alamy

Wales' Sophie Ingle. Pic: Alamy

As far as part one of the April international break is concerned, it was an emphatic case of job done for Wales, as Ian Mitchelmore reports.

Rhian Wilkinson's side cruised to a 4-0 win over Albania in Wrexham to remain on course to secure top spot in their World Cup qualifying group.

In the absence of the legendary Jess Fishlock - her country's record goal scorer and appearance maker - others have had to step up to the plate of late.

On the back of a long injury lay-off, captain Sophie Ingle was recently a surprise source of goals and has remained an integral figure in qualifying so far.

READ MORE: Rhian Wilkinson Tells Wales: Don’t Worry About the Table . . . Just Keep Winning

Ingle may be 34 but she remains a huge presence in the current team and she is poised to reach her landmark 150th cap for her country this weekend.

Her goalscoring may have been unexpected, but it is a bonus to the likes of Hannah Cain, who is proving lethal in front of goal and filling the immense void left by Fishlock.

The Leicester City star scored a brace in between efforts from Elise Hughes and Rhiannon Roberts at Stok Cae Ras as the home side secured an emphatic victory.

It was the 27-year-old's fifth goal in just three qualifying matches, and the fourth international fixture in succession in which Cain has bulged the net.

Put simply, she has stepped up to the plate when most required.

"I'm loving it right now," Cain told BBC Sport Wales

"The way we're playing, we create chances and we're scoring goals. 

"I've got to say thanks to my team-mates because they're putting them on a plate for me. 

"I like getting the chances and I know if one doesn't go right, I'll get another. I just need to keep working on putting them away."

READ MORE: Rhian Wilkinson Tells Wales: No Slip-Ups Against Albania

Wales were dominant in the first match of their double header against the Albanians.

The Red Dragons had 75.9% of the possession while Albania - 40 places below Wales in the FIFA rankings - failed to register a single shot on target in addition to having just two touches of the ball in the Wales box.

It was also Wales' first clean sheet in 18 matches, a run stretching back to the 2-0 Euro 2025 play-off semi-final second leg victory over Slovakia in October 2024.

But having come up against some of the world's elite in both the Nations League and at Euro 2025 last year, there is no doubt that the level of opposition Wales are facing at present is significantly weaker than it was in 2025.

READ MORE: Mayzee Davies is Amazing . . . But She Won't be Rushed Back, Insists Rhian Wilkinson

To that end, former Wales captain Kath Morgan admitted, despite the numerous positives from the 4-0 win, Wilkinson's side still have strides to make in future.

"For many people, it was a successful performance, but, for me, there's still a lot of work for the team to do moving forward," she told BBC Radio Cymru.

The positive is that Wales have taken seven points from a possible nine in qualifying so far, and they are now unbeaten in five matches having previously been winless in 11 games.

Saturday's return fixture against Albania in Elbasan will undoubtedly conjure up more hurdles for Wales to overcome than required in Wrexham on Tuesday night.

But there is no doubting Wilkinson's troops are in a good space, and their hopes of finishing at the top of their group remain firmly in their own hands.

Their home showdown with joint-group leaders Czech Republic in the final fixture on June 9 will likely prove decisive, although Wilkinson says her side's focus must lie solely on their own business as they look to make more history by reaching next year's global showpiece in Brazil.

"We play them (Czech Republic) in the last game of our group stage. We know that," Wilkinson said.
 
"It's not about their scores, it's making sure we take care of our own business. 

"When you force things, that's not how good football occurs. So we take care of our own business and [Czech Republic] will mind their own."

 

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