Wilkinson's Wales give themselves World Cup chance

Wales have gone eight games without defeat since ending a seven-game losing streak last December [FAW] Wales started out on the road to next year's Women's World Cup with Rhian Wilkinson suggesting the 2029 European Championship was a more realistic target. She would probably say the same thing now. Nevertheless, Wales have at least given themselves the best chance of reaching Brazil next summer by finishing top of their World Cup qualifying group. Wilkinson's team have not always performed but they have remained unbeaten. And when it came to Tuesday's crunch fixture against the Czech Republic in Cardiff, they delivered their best display of the campaign to secure top spot in Group B1 with a 3-1 win. "We knew the pressure was on, we knew it was a must-win game," said Liverpool midfielder Ceri Holland, Wales' most influential player in the early stages of the post-Jess Fishlock era. "It was a fantastic performance. Now we are really looking forward to the play-off draw." 'Some big players and some fantastic youth' Teenagers Mayzee Davies and Mared Griffiths both look to have bright futures with Wales [Getty Images] This qualifying campaign has seen Wales go back to the well having made history by reaching Euro 2025, the first major women's tournament in the nation's history. Their attempts to repeat the qualification feat have not been helped by the loss of the inspirational Fishlock, who called time on her stellar international career last October. Forward Kayleigh Barton - with 89 caps and 22 goals for her country - was another influential senior figure who said goodbye in the wake of the Euros, leaving head coach Wilkinson with holes to fill. "The transition years can go either way," Wilkinson said after the Czech triumph. "It could be the excuse why you don't perform, but equally it could be the reason that you discover something new." With Fishlock gone, Hannah Cain has emerged as Wales' key goal threat, scoring six goals in the group phase, a tally bettered by only two players across Europe. Cain's progress has been significant given that she had only five international goals to her name before this campaign, and there are others in Wilkinson's squad who have made steps forward. Elsewhere in the attacking department, 19-year-old Mared Griffiths has quickly established herself as a senior international of some note, with her three goals in the group taking her to four in just 10 Wales games. In midfield, Laura Hughes showed signs in the most recent camp that she could have a significant role to play alongside established stars like Sophie Ingle and Angharad James, while Carrie Jones continues to impress having reached 50 caps – and captained Wales for the first time – at the age of just 22. The return to action of centre-back Mayzee Davies, another 19-year-old, after a year out with injury is another significant plus for Wales at the end of the group phase. "We lost some massive characters, some really good players [after Euro 2025]," Holland said. "I think we had some big players [in the previous campaign], but I think we've still got some very big players and we've got some fantastic youth coming through as well." Consistency required to stay on course for Brazil Wales' biggest issue so far in World Cup qualifying has been their away form. Having been fortunate to salvage a draw in the Czech Republic in their opening game in March, they scraped a 1-0 victory in Albania before a shock draw in Montenegro last Friday. There was some mitigation against the Montenegrins, given that Wales' team plane was struck by lightning en route to Pogdorica and then diverted for an unscheduled overnight stay in Italy, but that result would have continued to sting had Wales not secured the victory it left them needing against the Czechs. Having finished top, Wales have secured a more favourable play-off path – but there will still be at least one major hurdle to clear if they are to reach the Women's World Cup for the first time. The play-off draw takes place on 18 June, with Wales knowing they will face a team who ended in second or third place in a League B group in their semi-final. They also know the second leg of the tie will be at home. Should they progress, however, Wales are likely to be paired with a League A side in the final – when the second leg will be away – and even victory there may not mean their job is done. The lowest-ranked of the eight play-off winners in Europe will go into the inter-confederation play-offs early next year, and - should they get that far - there is a decent chance that would be Wales. Wales can reach Women's World Cup - Wilkinson Wales claim top spot as they impress in Czech win As Football Association of Wales (FAW) chief executive Noel Mooney told BBC Sport Wales earlier this week, it is a "convoluted" qualification process. Mooney says Wales are eyeing Euro 2029 in Germany, hence Wilkinson was handed a two-year contract extension last month, but that is not to suggest they are writing off the World Cup. "It'll be difficult to get to the World Cup, but we're obviously aiming to do that," he said. If they are to find a way along the play-off path ahead, Wales will need more consistency in performance levels than they managed during the group phase. Wilkinson says her team can compete "on our day" – but there will be little room for off-days when they return to action in October. For the moment, though, the tantalising prospect of a maiden World Cup appearance remains within Wales' grasp. "The World Cup is the dream you dream as a little girl," Holland said. "But that's a long way away right now. We're on the right path and it's about going one step at a time."