September will see the side face their first campaign since manager’s departure
REACHING their first ever FIFA Women’s World Cup is the target for Wales, after failing to qualify the 2021 European Championship this summer.
“We should have done that with our eyes closed. If anything, it has probably motivated us to want to qualify for the next one,” said midfielder Natasha Harding.
The 26-player squad is currently training at the Vale Resort in Pontyclun. The training squad includes Wales’ most capped player Jess Fishlock, alongside Cardiff City Ladies’ Laura O’Sullivan, Maria Francis-Jones, Nadia Lawrence and Kylie Nolan.
This is the first time the side have been together since the departure of manager Jayne Ludlow in January.
Interviews will begin next week to pick her successor, with an interim coaching group in place, led by Football Association of Wales’ technical director David Adams.
He is being supported by Loren Dykes, the 105-capped international recently retired from professional play and Wales Under 18s manager Matty Jones.
One notable difference for Ludlow’s successor is that they will be in the role full-time, no longer having to lead the junior sides alongside the senior squad.
“It’s crucial really for where we want to be and where to take this team. You look at a lot of other teams that are performing well on the international stage and all of them have got full-time managers,” said midfielder Hayley Ladd.
The first major task for Wales’ new manager will be to build on Ludlow’s legacy ahead of their next qualifying campaign.
Despite the difficult task, Harding was optimistic about her side’s ability to qualify.
“I think we’ve got a really good chance with regards to the allocation of Europe being upped. For me, the group right now is probably the best one that they’ll have for a number of years.
“I believe that the older ones are hitting their prime and probably playing some of the best football they’ve played and then the younger ones who are coming through are really exciting,” she said.
Ladd added: “It’s really a crucial time for us but a positive one as well. We know we’ve got what it takes and now we’ve got a bit more experience to hopefully take it that one step further and get to where we want to go”.
- The draw for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers will take place on April 30, with the World Cup scheduled to get underway from July 10 to August 20 in Australia and New Zealand.
