Wales Prepare For Crunch Ukraine Double Header
Wales face Ukraine on Friday night at Parc y Scarlets in what will be the first of a key double header in their bid to qualify for the Euros.
Rhian Wilkinson’s Wales side have won two games from two so far after a 4-0 home win against Croatia and a 6-0 thrashing of Kosovo.
Wales now face back-to-back games against a Ukrainian side who beat the Kosovans 2-0 before losing 1-0 in Croatia.
Ukraine travel to Parc y Scarlets on Friday before hosting Wales on Tuesday evening.
On Friday, Wales will be led out by Seattle Reign’s Angharad James who has been given the opportunity to captain the side after Sophie Ingle announced she would step away from the captaincy after nine years in the role.
Wilkinson has said that “many players” will wear the armband before she finalises her decision of who will succeed Ingle.
So far their qualifying campaign has been smooth sailing, with Jess Fishlock scoring twice against Croatia, a feat emulated by Rachel Rowe and Elise Hughes against Kosovo with both scoring a brace alongside goals from Kayleigh Barton and Ffion Morgan.
There was also the not-so-small matter of Fishlock’s 150th Wales cap against Kosovo.
Wales also boast the Euros qualifying joint-top goal-scorer in Rachel Rowe with three goals. Rowe will come into the game on Friday on a high after being part of Rangers’ cup success last Sunday, having been pipped on goal difference by Celtic in the league.
After scoring 10 goals in their opening two games Wales will have to make a change in attack to the side which beat Croatia as Elise Hughes, who led the line, is out with an ACL injury.
Head coach Rhian Wilkinson may opt to select Liverpool’s Ceri Holland or Kayleigh Barton after the latter started and scored against Kosovo.
Fellow forward Hannah Cain is still out with her ACL injury, however, there is some positive news as midfielder Carrie Jones and Manchester United goalkeeper Safia Middleton-Patel return from injury.
So far it has been a positive start to Wilkinson’s reign, having been announced as head coach in February.
Should Wales win both of their games against Ukraine it is possible that they will secure their place on top of the group if other results go their way.
If they do so, they will be seeded for the play-offs to reach Switzerland 2025 and a first major tournament in their history in what could be a special swansong for Wales’ all-time most capped player in Fishlock.