We can do it... but it’ll take our best shot, says Ludlow
WALES manager Jayne Ludlow is confident her side can pick up results in their European Championship qualifying double-header, but believes it will need the best performance of her players’ international careers.
Wales play Faroe Islands on Thursday, October 22, at Rodney Parade, hoping for a repeat performance of their 6-0 win last August, before coming up against group leaders Norway on Tuesday, October 27, at Cardiff City Stadium.
A disciplined and threatening display in Oslo last month wasn’t enough to stop Wales falling 1-0 to Norway, ending their unbeaten run this campaign.
Ludlow said: “In general terms, [it was] a really positive performance from the group in how they took to the field against a class nation and competed very well for the majority of the game and created far more opportunities than we would ever have done against a level of team like that in the past.
“We do take the positives from it but alongside that, we want to win and that’s the challenge for us now.
“We enjoy this level of competition, but we don’t just want to turn up and be happy to lose. That’s not what we’re about. But we do know the levels that we have to get to be able to take the three points against teams like that.”
Wales produced a strong display against the World Cup quarter-finalists and created plenty of chances against a side ranked 22 places above them, but came unstuck through a Guro Reiten goal after 28 minutes.
“We let ourselves down in certain situations [against Norway],” added Ludlow.
“Obviously the goal wasn’t a positive for us, but it’s an easily correctable thing, the rest of the game plan – the majority of the time – was understandable to the players, they were making good decisions through the 90 minutes to alter things they needed to.
“Our challenge is, can we create just as many opportunities this time, and can we put some away.”
Aiming to qualify for a first major tournament, Wales Women only have one more qualifier after this double-header - against Belarus in December - so Ludlow’s side know they need results to prevent Belarus or Northern Ireland from leapfrogging them in the table to claim second spot.
Wales currently sit second in their qualifying group, two points ahead of Belarus, and three points ahead of Northern Ireland.
The nine group winners and the three best runners-up (not counting results against the sixthplaced team) qualify directly for the final tournament, while the remaining six runners-up advance to the play-offs.
“The reality is for us to get the result we want and need against Norway, every single player taking that field – whether that’s for the 90 minutes or shorter – has to play the best they’ve ever played.
“We’re not messing about. We understand the levels we’re at and we understand their levels, but if we can step on the pitch and give our best performances, then we can get the result.”