Wales still have the chance to make qualifying history, but if Jayne Ludlow’s side are to reach the Netherlands for the UEFA Women’s EURO 2017 finals, they will need to claim an impressive scalp against a decorated Norwegian outfit that have already claimed a 4-0 victory over Wales in the reverse fixture, reports faw.cyrmu.
However, Ludlow will relish brining the best of Group 8 to Wales for the final three games, and there have been enough positive signs in recent performances to suggest that there could still be a few twists and turns before the final group positions are decided.
WALES V NORWAY
UEFA Women’s EURO 2017 Group 8 Qualifier
Tuesday, 7 June 2016. KO 5.00pm. Newport Stadium, Newport.
Admission: Adults – £5, Concessions – £2
The first of three ‘must-win’ games for Wales as the side head into the final straight with home advantage for all of their remaining fixtures. Norway have already proved to be difficult opposition for Jayne Ludlow’s side and claimed a 4-0 victory in Aalesund last October. But Wales reacted to the reverse in the best possible way, and are undefeated since that loss having claimed seven points from an available nine to put the side in third place heading into their final three games.
Norway sit in second place behind Austria with a game in hand, but the two sides meet in Oslo on 2 June, and if Norway can complete the double over their closest rivals then they could head to Newport as group leaders depending on the result of Austria’s home game against Israel on 6 June.
Wales still have it all to do if they are to qualify at the end of the campaign, and while there are still nine points left for Jayne Ludlow’s side to play for, they will also be dependent on a couple of favours elsewhere in the group in order to stunt the progress of the top two.
Realistically Wales need to target second place, and if they can end their campaign with the required three victories, then they will be competition with Austria for that coveted position. Austria have two games before Wales play Norway, against Norway and Israel, and the ideal outcome would be for Austria to lose both.
If this should happen, and Wales can then beat Norway, then Wales will be two points behind Austria with a game in hand and the two sides bring the group to a close on 20 September.
However, a busy month brings with it a lot of ifs, and all Wales can do is concentrate on their three remaining games in order to ensure that they are in position to take advantage should Austria slip-up in their final few fixtures.
WALES SQUAD
Jo Price (Unattached)
Claire Skinner (Cwmbran Celtic)
Natasha Harding (Liverpool)
Jess Fishlock (Seattle Reign)
Loren Dykes (Bristol City)
Rhiannon Roberts (Doncaster Rovers Belles)
Charlie Escort (Reading)
Rachel Rowe (Reading)
Sophie Ingle (Liverpool)
Angharad James (Notts County)
Nadia Lawrence (Yeovil Town)
Melissa Fletcher (Reading)
Kayleigh Green (Yeovil Town)
Hayley Ladd (Bristol City)
Helen Ward (Reading)
Chloe Chivers (Cwmbran Celtic)
Gemma Evans (Cardiff City LFC)
Kylie Davies (Reading)
Kylie Nolan (Cardiff City FC Women)
Cori Williams (Cardiff City LFC)
