By Hannah Blackwell
Gemma Grainger has insisted Wales are heading towards qualification for a major tournament – even though they could be relegated from the top tier of the Women’s Nations League.
The Wales manager watched her team deliver a much improved performance, although it was not enough to prevent them failing to a 2-1 defeat in Denmark.
GoaL! | Denmark W 1-0 Wales W | ⚽️ A. J. Vangsgaard pic.twitter.com/G5L8Sga792
— FootColic ⚽️ (@FootColic) October 31, 2023
But Grainger insists the experiences Wales are gaining from a campaign in Group A of the Nations League will pay dividends when it comes to qualification for a World Cup or European Championship.
“We are going to qualify for a major tournament,” said Grainger.
“The realism about what sort of team Denmark are and how we finished the game are really positive. At 2-0 at half-time we could have folded.
“We are focused on what we’re here to do, the Nations League is a step for us, it’s part of a process, we know where we are and where we want to be.
“It’s the first time playing in League A, we earned the right to be here. We’re the lowest ranked team here and we want to stay, we have to keep perspective.
“We know what the plan is, we don’t want to play in League B and stand here saying we have won four games in a row. We want to be in League A and qualify for the Euros, it’s as simple as that.”
https://twitter.com/BBCSportWales/status/1719387503826768215?s=20
Wales remain rooted to the bottom of their and the pressure is rising on Grainger who has now overseen five successive losses, including all four so far in the Nations League.
Grainger told BBC Wales: “One of the things we want to do in these games is keep improving as a team, we know what our longer-term goal is and with performances like that we will get there.
“The difference between Denmark and us is a big gap but it’s one we are determined to close, it will take time.”
First-half goals from Amalie Vangsgaard and Sofie Bredgaard put the Danes in control before Jess Fishlock gave Wales hope late in the game.
They could not find a leveller and succumbed to another defeat, with a huge clash against Iceland coming up in November, which could decide whether they get relegated to the B League.
https://twitter.com/BBCSportWales/status/1719427392249229732?s=20
The visitors were masters of their own downfall twice in the goals they conceded in Viborg.
Denmark took a 28th-minute lead when Rhiannon Roberts gave the ball away in a dangerous area and Paris St Germain striker Vangsgaard superbly headed home.
Ten minutes later it was 2-0 as Bredgaard coolly found the top corner after Angharad James gave the ball away in her own box.
The hosts missed several chances to kill the game and ended up sweating as Wales gave themselves a lifeline.
This time there was an error in the Denmark defence as Isabella Bryld Obaze’s poor touch allowed Wales to win the ball back and Fishlock fired home from Sophie Ingle’s pass.
Wales boss Gemma Grainger says she was pleased with the improvement shown by her side in Denmark this evening ⚽#BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/TyVCkrqovi
— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) October 31, 2023
