The Cymru WU19 squad will have home advantage for Round 2 of their UEFA qualifiers next month and head coach Nia Davies believes that support will be crucial for the next generation against three tough opponents.
“It’s a massive opportunity for us as a group of players and staff,” explained Davies to FAW.cymru this week. “It’s also so nice for the players to have their families and friends around, but hopefully it will motivate young girls to come out and watch the games to support us and cheer us on. These games will be very challenging so we will need that support, and we can’t wait to show the home fans how much this group has has progressed over the years.”
Cymru will play their three Group A6 games at Stebonheath Park, Llanelli and the mini-tournament begins on Wednesday 2 April as they take on France (5pm) before facing the Republic of Ireland on Saturday 5 April (1pm). The final match against Serbia takes place on Tuesday 8 April (3pm). Only the group winners will progress to the UEFA WU19 EURO Championship Finals that will take place in Poland in June, with the other group matches taking place at Ynys Park, Trefelin and Old Road, Briton Ferry.
“All three games will be big challenges for us, but different challenges,” Davies added. “France are probably in the top five in Europe for this age group, so they are a very good team. But that’s what we want, we want that challenge to see what we can do against these teams. We’re a small nation, but we’re in Group A for a reason. We want to challenge them and make it difficult for them coming to Wales. Ireland and Serbia are both very physical, but technically we can play and give them a good game.”
Manchester United duo Mared Griffiths and Scarlett Hill were both involved with the Cymru senior squad in February, with Griffiths making her senior debut in the UEFA Nations League match against Italy. Both players now return to the WU19 squad and Davies believes their experience can be invaluable. “There’s an opportunity for then to have more game time and hopefully it gives that motivation to the rest of the group that with hard work and dedication the pathway is there for them.”
Cymru moved up to Group A for Round 2 of these qualifiers back in November with a perfect record in Bosnia & Herzegovina. Olivia Francis was the hat-trick hero in the opening match against Lithuania as Cymru won 4-0 before four different goalscorers matched that scoreline in the second game against Georgia. Francis and Charlotte Lee were then on target in the final match against the hosts as Cymru claimed top spot in the group with a 2-1 victory.
“We had a task to do in Group B and we achieved it,” explained Davies. “Which was great, but it showed in those performances that we probably should be in Group A. It was a good step, and obviously the challenge goes up when you get promoted and that’s what we’re facing next.” The side recently played three friendlies against Portugal, Poland and Finland as part of their preparations for the upcoming Round 2 fixtures, but the experience of three defeats showed the level that the team will need to reach in order to compete.
“It was a difficult and challenging camp from a number of aspects,” Davies explained. “We didn’t have a fully-fit squad and we probably didn’t perform to our capabilities in that camp. But also it’s a realisation that Group A can be very difficult, and if we don’t prepare correctly for it you can get punished. It was a real opportunity for us to realise that we have to be stronger against Group A opposition.”
It was back in 2013 that Cymru made their one and only appearance at the UEFA WU19 EURO Championship Finals when they hosted the tournament that was eventually won by France. Current Cymru senior team captain Angharad James was part of that Cymru team that competed against Europe’s elite, and the challenge for Nia Davies and her squad now is to reach that level again.
S4C will be live streaming Cymru’s opening match oon Sgorio’s YouTube and Facebook channels. Cymru’s remaining two games will be available to watch on RedWall+ together with the other matches in the group which will also be live streamed on the platform. Entry on the gate for all matches in the tournament will be £3 for adults and free of charge for children.
Fixture details
Serbia v Republic of Ireland – Ynys Park, Trefelin – Wednesday 2 April (1pm)
France v Cymru – Stebonheath Park, Llanelli – Wednesday 2 April (5pm)
Republic of Ireland v Cymru – Stebonheath Park, Llanelli – Saturday 5 April (1pm)
France v Serbia – Old Road, Briton Ferry – Saturday 5 April (5pm)
Republic of Ireland v France – Ynys Park, Trefelin – Tuesday 8 April (3pm)
Cymru v Serbia – Stebonheath Park, Llanelli – Tuesday 8 April (3pm)
Cymru WU19s: Soffia KELLY (Aston Villa), Cadi DORAN (Liverpool – Dual signing with Liverpool Feds), Casi EVANS (Blackburn Rovers- Dual signing with Halifax, Shurima VINE (Gwalia United), Evie HUGHES (Sporting Khalsa- On loan from Stoke), Amy RICHARDSON (Partick Thistle- On loan from Celtic), Teagan SCARLETT (Arsenal), Gwen ZIMMERMAN (Eclipse Select), Charlotte SALISBURY-WILLIAMS (Halifax- On loan from Blackburn), Elena COLE (Gwalia United), Amelie CURTIS (Bristol City- Dual signing with Cheltenham Town), Charlotte LEE (Aston Villa), Keira O’KEEFE (Gwalia United), Scarlett HILL (Manchester United), Ffion BOWEN (Leicester City), Mared GRIFFITHS (Manchester United), Ania DENHAM (Sporting Khalsa- On loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers), Casi GREGSON (Gwalia United), Olivia FRANCIS (Manchester United- Dual signing with Liverpool Feds), Emily COLE (Liverpool Feds- On loan from Everton).
