Nations League B return ‘huge positive’ for Wales

Rhian Wilkinson predicts Wales’ chances of winning a repeat of their 11-game winning streak will be positive.

After her much-changed Wales side was defeated 5-2 by Poland in a harrowing friendly on Tuesday in Newport, the head coach said there were “no excuses.”

The Welsh team’s longest losing streak since the mid-1990s was a result of a Defeat in their first game without the retired Jess Fishlock, which was their seventh consecutive defeat.

Since winning the Euro 2025 play-off against the Republic of Ireland in December 2024, Wales have won 11 games.

Wales will host one or two friendlies in the following month, but no date has yet been given for the fixture.

Wilkinson already has an eye on the upcoming Nations League campaign, which begins in February 2026 and returns to League B after being relegated from the top earlier this year.

When asked if there were any positives to the Poland defeat, Wilkinson responded, “I think there is a huge positive that we are dropping down to Nations League B.”

After her team’s performance against Poland, which made their major tournament debut at Euro 2025, Wilkinson expressed disappointment.

The Poles brutally exposed an experimental home line-up at Rodney Parade despite being 26th in the world, six places higher than Wales.

I don’t believe that’s who we are as a nation or as a team, according to Wilkinson.

Every team has off days, according to the saying, “We have off days.” However, we cannot lose our identity on those days.

We were “committed to a transitional game,” and we are now better than that. It’s not even enjoyable to watch because it’s not our style of football.

“These women give a damn about Wales,” the woman said. “I’m not proud of that performance.

Mia Ross and Teagan Scarlett, both from Charlton, made debuts, while Tianna Teisar made her first start for Wales.

As Wales changed its starting lineup from last Saturday’s friendly defeat to Australia, making nine changes also gave a number of other players the chance to impress.

Wilkinson claimed that some senior players who were playing for Poland “didn’t” get it when the youngsters needed assistance.

In these welcoming windows, I believe that’s crucial. We don’t get many, so I believe we are deserving of using them to really push and stretch ourselves.

Wilkinson claims that Wales “haven’t got anything signed” in relation to friendly opponents in 2025’s final international window.

Wales will be desperate for a win, regardless of who they face, as they prepare for the Nations League, which doubles as World Cup 2027 qualifying.

There has been a period of not winning. That’s a habit we need to break, Williamson said.