Italy defeat ‘a punch in the face’ – Wilkinson

Wales head coach Rhian Wilkinson has told her side to learn from painful lessons after likening their Nations League defeat by Italy to “a punch in the face”.

In their final fixture before this summer’s European Championships, Wales suffered their heaviest defeat under Wilkinson at the worst possible time.

But despite warning her side that “hard moments are coming”, Wilkinson insisted they will be better for the loss having taken heart from an improved second half showing.

Wales were four down at half-time as their defence crumbled in Swansea and Wilkinson said: “The first-half felt like a punch in the face.

“Games in this campaign have been really tight, but we haven’t had a heavy defeat like this – so that first half was important because who do we want to be?

Wilkinson’s side had been defensively impressive for most of their League A campaign, but before a summer in which they will face the Netherlands, France and England in their Euro 2025 group, the former Canada international said Wales were shown what happens when you “tune out”.

“Italy punished us for every mistake and we have to react faster,” Wilkinson said, who included herself and her coaching staff in accepting they needed to learn lessons.

“Hard moments are coming; this is a hard thing we’re about do, the Euros are going to be very difficult.

“We’re going to have to be at our best and what we have learned is any mistake will be punished.”

Wales rallied after the interval to give Wilkinson belief there will be no scarring heading towards Switzerland.

She added: “I told the players at the end we can’t say this was a good performance and what happened to us wasn’t good.

Wales’ fans in Swansea were lifted by a wonder goal from Jess Fishlock, a record-estending 47th goal in an unmatched 162 appearances for her country.

Striking home from 35 yards, Wilkinson repeated her appeal to fans to appreciate the 38-year-old while she still wears her country’s shirt.

Fishlock gained important match minutes off the bench after a recent injury lay-off, while Wilkinson will now wait for news on defenders Rhian Roberts (groin) and Mayzee Davies (knee) before naming her squad for Switzerland on 23 June.

But the Wales boss played down concern over goalkeeper Olivia Clark who left the field after a second blow to the head in as many games.

“She had a significant black eye from the Denmark game and we the did proper protocols for concussion, and we were positive she was in a good spot,” said Wilkinson.