Jess Fishlock Tells Wales: This Must Be Our New Normal

SWANSEA, WALES - DECEMBER 05: Jessica Fishlock of Wales passes the ball whilst under pressure from Sjoeke Nuesken of Germany during the UEFA Womens Nations League match between Wales and Germany at Swansea.com Stadium on December 05, 2023 in Swansea, Wales. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

Jess Fishlock Tells Wales: This Must Be Our New Normal

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By Hannah Blackwell

Jess Fishlock has told her Wales teammates they have found a new level they must deliver as a minimum standard in future.

The country’s most capped player was reacting after Wales earned their first Women’s Nations League point in their concluding group match as they held Germany to a goalless draw in Swansea.

Gemma Grainger’s side, already confirmed as relegated from Group A3, put in a highly commendable performance as they kept their two-time world champion opponents at bay and almost took the lead early on, with Rachel Rowe hitting a post.

“I’m tired but it’s a great result for us and, more importantly, a great performance,” Fishlock told BBC’s Match of the Day Wales.

“We’ve talked about this being a journey and a process and it may have taken us a little longer than we thought but we’re at the end of it now.

“They (Germany) needed to win, by the way, this was not a nothing game for them.

“They came here and we shut them down. That’s our progress.

“We have to take this as our bare-minimum standard now and push on from here.

“I thought we were the better team and there are moments we need to tidy up.

“I couldn’t be any prouder of these girls and this group. We’re going to take this, push on and take it into the Euro qualifiers.”

While Wales end a losing run that had stretched to six matches in total, including July’s friendly loss to the United States, the point for Germany was enough to take them through to the Nations League finals – and potential Paris Olympics qualification – with second-placed Denmark having been beaten 1-0 at home by Iceland.

A lively start by the hosts saw Elise Hughes opt to pass rather than shoot from a good position in the seventh minute, with Kathrin Hendrich making a block.

The resulting corner came to Sophie Ingle, the skipper’s volley was saved by Merle Frohms and the ball was then in the net as Gemma Evans followed up, but the effort was disallowed for a foul with her having knocked the ball out of the goalkeeper’s hands.

Wales then threatened again just past the quarter-hour mark as Rowe saw her low shot from the edge of the box hit a post.

Germany, struggling for momentum, registered an effort when Sjoeke Nusken’s shot was dealt with by Olivia Clark, before visiting captain Alexandra Popp was on hand to get in the way of another attempt by Ingle.

The away side went close in the 41st minute when Sarai Linder’s shot went narrowly over, and – after a double German change at the break saw Giulia Gwinn and Linda Dallmann introduced – Popp’s free-kick was caught by Clark early in the second half.

Frohms dealt with an Evans attempt, while Clark made a good save to turn behind Elisa Senss’ shot that deflected off Ingle.

Substitute Ceri Holland and Jess Fishlock made further unsuccessful attempts for Wales and Dallmann saw a deflected 80th-minute strike gathered at the other end.

Clark then did well again in stoppage time, turning Klara Buhl’s drive behind at the near post as Wales secured the draw.

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