Jayne Ludlow has insisted she was pleased with her team’s display despite a 2-0 defeat for Wales against Italy ahead of UEFA Women’s Euro 21 qualifiers later this year.
In tricky snowy conditions, Wales went down to a loss in Cesena where the kick-off was brought forward by two hours because of forecast heavier snowfall later in the day.
Ilaria Mauro scored twice for the Italians, who are World Cup finalists in France this summer and stand 10 places ahead of Wales in the FIFA rankings.
But Ludlow – who handed Hayley Ladd her 50th cap and gave a debut to Emma Jones, and a first start to Cori Williams – believed there were positive factors to take from the friendly defeat.
“We were disappointed in how the two goals went in but they were in areas we can work on,” said the Wales manager.
“The things we worked on in training came out in the game and we competed fantastically well against a top level team.”
Wales’ next match is another friendly against the Republic of Ireland on 28 February, which will be played on neutral ground in Malaga, Spain.