Match Hub: France vs Cymru

Cymru manager Gemma Grainger spoke to the media earlier today and highlighted the scale of the challenge facing her team on Tuesday as the side head to Group I leaders France.

"When we came into this job we knew the foundation of this team has been how defensively sound they have been in previous campaigns," said Grainger to BBC Sport Wales. "We have to work exceptionally hard and we have to defend well in all areas. We will have a game plan for when we are out of possession.

"France are a brilliant team. But we will be the highest ranked team they have faced and we will be viewing it as a good challenge. At the end of this game we will learn a lot about where we are."

Meanwhile, the squad were back on the training ground in Cardiff this morning before traveling to France. Here are a few photos from earlier today.

Click here for more from Gemma Grainger and captain Sophie Ingle on the BBC Sport Wales website

The Cymru squad were back on the training ground earlier today as preparations continue ahead of the challenge of taking on Group I leaders France on Tuesday.

Both teams enjoyed convincing victories on Friday as Cymru defeated Greece 5-0 in Llanelli while France maintained their perfect record with a 6-0 win over Kazakhstan. 

The two nations last met in UEFA Women's EURO 2013 qualifying when France claimed respective 4-1 and 4-0 victories and subsequently won the group. Cymru, managed by current Estonia boss Jarmo Matikainen at the time, finished third behind runners-up Scotland. 

Here are a few photos from training today.

Romanian Iuliana Demetrescu will take charge of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifier between France and Cymru in Guingamp on Tuesday night.

This will be the second match of the campaign for the 31-year old as she also refereed the 1-1 draw between Poland and Belgium in Group F back in September. Demetrescu also took charge of the UEFA Women's Champions League qualifier between Servette and Chelsea earlier this month.

Petruta Iugulescu and Mihaela Tepusa are the assistant referees while Cristina Trandafir is the fourth official. All of the officials are from Romania.

Following the convincing 5-0 win over Greece on Friday, Cymru now head to Guingamp to take on Group I leaders France on Tuesday night for their final game of the year.

The victory on Friday continued Gemma Grainger's undefeated start to the campaign and the confidence within the squad is at a premium ahead of this latest challenge. France continued their perfect record with a 6-0 win over Kazakhstan on Friday, while Slovenia kept the pressure on Cymru with a 6-0 win over Estonia.

Slovenia are also in action on Tuesday when they take on Greece in Nova Gorica. Here is the current Group I table following Friday's games.

Goals from Natasha Harding, Kayleigh Green, captain Sophie Ingle and a brace from Ceri Holland earned Cymru a convincing 5-0 win over Greece at a wet and windy Parc y Scarlets on Friday night.

The victory extends their undefeated start to the 2023 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign and Gemma Grainger's side now head to Group I leaders France on Tuesday evening high in confidence. The side were also boosted by a crowd of over 4,000 fans despite the weather conditions. 

"It was a really good performance, three points that we wanted and we also wanted to build on our performances and I felt we did that," said Grainger to BBC Sport Wales after the match. "Apart from the weather it was a perfect evening for us, the weather could have thrown a spanner in the works, but the team coped really well with it.

"We will enjoy this evening and then first thing tomorrow all attention turns to the France game. I think dominant is a great word for our performance, Greece have some strengths, but we stopped them and we are so happy to have kept a clean sheet, that's important to us. We are really pleased."

Cymru manager Gemma Grainger will not underestimate Greece this evening but is confident that her side can continue their excellent start to 2023 FIFA World Cup qualifying.

"We really want to continue the momentum we have built in the previous two camps," said Grainger to BBC Sport Wales. "Greece have some really good strength in possession and some really good players, but they also hopefully have some areas we feel we can exploit. We want to build on our performances and how we can exploit the opposition as well.

"We knew when planning for this World Cup campaign that we would have to be adaptable. We have shown in the last camp there are players ready to step into positions, it is nice to utilise the whole team. Everyone will have to play a part."

Click here for the full interview with Grainger and captain Sophie Ingle

Rachel Rowe is back with a selection of songs that will be played at the FIFA Women's World Cup Qualifier between Cymru and Greece. 

Check it out right here.

Cymru need the Red Wall behind them like never before on Friday as Gemma Grainger's side look to take another important step towards 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying.

Tickets are still on sale for the Group I fixture against Greece at Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli and can be bought here in advance of the match which kicks off at 7.15pm. Close to 4,000 tickets have already been sold as Cymru look to extend their undefeated start to the campaign.

Henrikke Nervik will take charge of the Group I qualifier between Cymru and Greece on Friday night.

The 33-year old refereed the World Cup qualifier between the Czech Republic and Cyprus back in September as well as the UEFA Women's Champions League qualifier between Juventus and FK Vllaznia, and is the daughter of former FIFA referee Egil Nervik.

Nervik will be assisted by Monica Lokkeberg and Elisabeth Thoresen while Ingvild Langnes Aarland is the fourth official. All of the officials are from Norway.

The Cymru squad were back on the training ground earlier today as preparations continue ahead of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifier against Greece at Parc y Scarlets on Friday (7.15pm).

Gemma Grainger's side are currently undefeated in Group I and head into a crucial week as they also head to France to take on the group leaders next Tuesday evening. Once again, the Red Wall have a huge part to play in this campaign, and tickets are now on sale with another big crowd expected to get behind the team on Friday night.

Here are a few photos from today's training session.

Cymru currently sit second in Group I behind France ahead of a busy week of international action with all six teams in action over the course of the two matchdays.

Gemma Grainger's side are currently undefeated and have only conceded one goal ahead of their match against Greece on Friday night, while France boast a perfect record of four wins ahead of their match at home to Kazakhstan. Elsewhere on Friday, Slovenia take on Estonia in Nova Gorica.

The Group I fixtures continue on Tuesday when Cymru take on France in Guingamp while Slovenia play their second home game of the international window as they take on Greece. Here are the current standings.

Cymru manager Gemma Grainger has described midfielder Jess Fishlock as an inspiration after she was named the Most Valuable Player in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).

"It epitomises who she is in terms of her hard work and dedication," said Grainger about the OL Reign star (below) in an interview with BBC Sport Wales. "To be named most valuable player of arguably the best league in the world with some of the best players, she should be so proud.

"She's playing in a league with World Cup winners and Olympic gold medallists and she is the most valuable player. It's even more impressive that she has been travelling home for international fixtures. In lockdown she worked incredibly hard to recover from an ACL injury and she continues her hard work behind the scenes. I'm not sure I can do it any justice with words. She continues to inspire us".

Click here for the full interview on the BBC Sport website

Cymru end the calendar year with two crucial Group I qualifiers as Gemma Grainger's side look to take another step towards the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup finals.

Grainger has named a strong squad for the upcoming fixtures against Greece and France but will be without injured duo Rachel Rowe and Hannah Cain. Meanwhile, Jess Fishlock will look to extend her record as the most-capped player in the history of the Cymru national team as she prepares to make her 128th international appearance on Friday.

There are three uncapped players in the squad in Plymouth Argyle goalkeeper Poppy Soper, Morgan Rogers of Tottenham Hotspur and Chloe Williams who is currently on-loan at Blackburn Rovers from Manchester United.