Wales told to show up in Albania qualifiers

Rhian Wilkinson has told Wales they must "show up" in their Women's World Cup qualifying double-header against Albania if they are to maintain their bid to finish top of the group.

Wales face the Albanians at Wrexham's Stok Cae Ras on Tuesday (19:15 BST) before travelling for the return fixture in Elbasan next Saturday (17:00 BST).

Wilkinson's side began their bid to book a place a Brazil 2027 in positive fashion last month, when they followed up an away draw against Czech Republic with a comprehensive home victory against Montenegro to lead the way in Group B1 on goal difference.

The Czechs, who are one place below Wilkinson's team in the Fifa rankings, are expected to be Wales' main rivals to claim top spot and the more favourable play-off path which comes with finishing first.

Wilkinson says the target this week is two victories – but insists her players cannot take Albania lightly.

"We're looking to win the group, that's the goal, the ambition, we don't want to be shy about saying that," the Wales head coach said.

"We go again against Albania who we don't know much about and we need to make sure that we're hitting the ground running because it's going to be a tight race with [only] a few teams in our group.

"I think they've got a few really excellent players and in that way on any given day, if you don't show up, you'll be punished. On paper I think that we are the favourites in these games, but we will need to show up."

Double-header means 'different' window

Image caption,

Safia Middleton-Patel is set to add to her eight Wales caps this week

Wales' preparations for Albania have not been helped by the loss of Ceri Holland, who is arguably Wilkinson's most influential player following the retirement of Jess Fishlock.

Liverpool's Holland has withdrawn from the squad named earlier this month – as has Lois Joel – while goalkeeper Olivia Clark is absent with an issue picked up during the previous international camp.

As a result, Wilkinson will abandon her usual policy of rotating her keepers, with Manchester United's Safia Middleton-Patel in line to start both Albania games.

The hope is that Middleton-Patel will not be overworked against opponents ranked 71st in the world, 40 places below Wales.

Albania were thumped 5-1 at home by the Czechs last month, though they do have three points on the board having opened their qualifying campaign with a 2-1 victory in Montenegro.

Wilkinson says playing the same opponent twice in quick succession means a "different" international window.

"For my analysis team they're happy there's only one team to break down," she said with a smile.

"No matter what the first result is, you're going to face the same team again in a few days. Can you go again if it's a good performance, can you turn it completely around if it's not? It's a different kind of challenge."

Wilkinson expects progress in performances

Last month's 6-1 victory over Montenegro in Llanelli was Wales' first competitive success since they beat the Republic of Ireland in December 2024 to book a place at Euro 2025, the maiden women's major championship in the nation's history.

They were beaten in all three games at the tournament, with the trio of losses part of a 12-game winless run which ended last December courtesy of a creditable friendly win over Switzerland.

Having been boosted by the Swiss triumph, Wales maintained momentum thanks to Elise Hughes' added-time equaliser against the Czechs, even if their performance in Uherske Hradiste was not wholly convincing.

And though Montenegro were swatted aside, Wilkinson was not entirely satisfied with her team's display in that game either.

As a result, she believes there is room for improvement this week.

"Four points from the first window is not a bad thing at all - we're very pleased with it," she said.

"But I think there's this step up that I expect from the team and our standards.

"I hope that no-one here has ever heard anything different from me… that performance is what I think I want to be judged on, because that leads to consistency which leads to real change."