Relegated Wales Are Making Progress, Insists Gemma Grainger After Five Defeats In Five Matches

CARDIFF, WALES - DECEMBER 01: Jessica Fishlock of Wales challenges Selma Sol Magnusdottir of Iceland during the UEFA Women's Nations League match between Wales and Iceland at Cardiff City Stadium on December 01, 2023 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

Relegated Wales Are Making Progress, Insists Gemma Grainger After Five Defeats In Five Matches

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By Hannah Blackwell

Gemma Grainger has called for “some perspective” after a fifth straight defeat for Wales in the UEFA Women’s Nations League Group A3 saw then relegated to League B.

The Wales manager watched her team slide to a 2-1 home defeat to Iceland at the Cardiff City Stadium which made it a whitewashed campaign for the hosts.

Wales have been competing at the top level, but their limitations have been exposed even though most of their matches have been competitive.

Grainger has claimed the results and performances are indicative of a team still finding its feet among the best sides in Europe and believes progress has been made.

Her team have one more chance to pick up a victory, although it will be a tall order against Germany in Swansea on Tuesday.

“We are disappointed and we are frustrated with the result tonight,” she said.

“We’re the only team in League A that hasn’t been to a major tournament so let’s have some perspective.

“We wanted these games, we knew they were going to be hard. I’m proud of the improvements this team has made.

“Our goal is to qualify for a European Championship. Did League A help us get closer to that? Yes it did.

“This experience ticks off the next stage of the journey for us.

“The higher ranked teams are the higher ranked teams because they are clinical and they score goals and see out games.”

Wales, ranked 29th in the world, have lost all five of their games in a campaign competing against sides ranked sixth, 12th and 14th.

The must-win match against Iceland ended with victory for the visitors, leaving Wales six points adrift with one game left.

Wales were on top and denied a penalty for a challenge on Jess Fishlock, but Hildur Antonsdottir would poke home to give Iceland an interval advantage.

Hlin Eiriksdottir also had the ball in the Welsh net but was penalised for handball, after Olivia Clark had saved the initial effort from Selma Sol Magnusdottir.

Fishlock saw her powerful effort saved by Telma Ivarsdottir, then with 11 minutes left of the 90 Dilja Zomers doubled the lead from distance.

Elise Hughes headed home Lily Woodham cross deep into added time but it was just a consolation.

Wales end their Nations League campaign with the visit of Germany to the Swansea.com Stadium on Tuesday 5 December.

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