Cymru v Germany
5th December 2023
Swansea.com Stadium, Swansea
Stephen @stephenjbaker returns with the game roundup; a fixture with signs of a few positive shoots.
The sixth and final Nations League Group A3 match for Cymru before they head down to Group B, after losing all previous five matches in the competition. Cymru took on the World’s fourth best team Germany (Cymru 31st) at the Swansea.com Stadium.
Embed from Getty ImagesKayleigh Green, Ceri Holland and Hayley Ladd all dropped to the bench with Charlie Estcourt, Josie Green and goal scorer on Friday Elise Hughes all starting. Germany made five changes to the side that beat Denmark 3-0. Captain, Alexandra Popp returns having missed the first game against Cymru. Paulina Krumbiegel, Sara Doorsoun, Elisa Sense and Julie Brand all started.
Y Wal Goch turned out again in numbers on a cold night in South Wales (is there any other kind?) to get behind Cymru for the last time in 2023. With some fans fearing the worse tonight, it wasn’t long before they were jumping up and down (and not just to keep warm).
Embed from Getty ImagesFrom the start, Cymru took it to the German side who needed to top the group to ensure qualification for the Paris Olympics next year. Within the opening five minutes Cymru broke through twice, but both times just missing that final ball. This led to the first of six first half corners for Cymru, the training ground routine left Sophie Ingle free 10 yards out, only for the ball to go straight to the keeper.
Embed from Getty ImagesCymru kept the high press and at times the German defenders looked very nervous, especially when Rachel Rowe had the ball. It was the excellent Rowe who had the next chance when she took an extra touch from a Jess Fishlock pass just outside the box. Rowe’s low fired shot agonisingly hit the post.
Cymru continued to face the German’s head on and for most of the first half were the better side. A performance like this on Friday would have seen Cymru staying in Group A.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe second half started with more of the same from Cymru. But German came close in the 55th minute when Olivia Clark, who biggest concern of the first half was keeping warm, leapt into action. Elisa Senss deflected shot from outside the box was heading into the top right hand corner only for Clark to tip it around the post.
Embed from Getty ImagesDespite some of Cymru scoreline’s this campaign Olivia Clark has been excellent throughout and kept some of the defeats to single figures.
With the score still 0-0 at the 65 minute mark, Gemma Grainger surprised many of the 5,982 fans inside the ground and made substitutions. Ella Powell and Ceri Holland came on for Rachel Rowe and Lily Woodham, both of who were outstanding and unlucky to come off. Powell and Holland both made a positive impact on game though.
Embed from Getty ImagesCymru held one of the best teams in the world deep into 90 minutes. Could they pull off a shock result and get a draw? With Olivia Clark in goal you bet. Deep into injury time with the ball bouncing around, a low shot to the bottom corner looked like it would break Welsh hearts; but yet again the hand of Olivia Clark tipped it around the post.
You could say that Cymru was unlucky not to win the match, but this was still an amazing result after six defeats in a row. A draw and more importantly a clean sheet is a great way to head into 2024 and the Euro qualifiers.
Embed from Getty ImagesAs with every campaign there are a few ‘if only’s – one of them being that just one more performance like this and Cymru would have stayed in Group A. But on to the Euros qualifiers in April. C’mon Cymru!
Cymru 0-0 Germany