UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 qualifier: Ukraine v Wales

Venue: Rodan-Groklin Stadium, Grodzisk Wielkopolski, Poland Date: Tuesday, 4 June Kick-off: 19:00 BST

Coverage: Live on BBC One Wales, iPlayer, BBC Radio Wales and Radio Cymru, the BBC Sport website and app, plus live text commentary.

Highlights: S4C from 22:00 BST and later on demand.

Manager Rhian Wilkinson has defended her decision to name a different captain for a fourth successive game as Wales prepare to face Ukraine in Poland.

Manchester United’s Hayley Ladd will lead her country out for the first time on Tuesday night, a role she has also held at club level.

Sophie Ingle, Jess Fishlock and Angharad James have worn the armband in Wales’ three previous European qualification games.

“I really want to make sure that all our players that are already acting as leaders and captains are being recognised and I am doing my due diligence as a coach,” said Wilkinson.

“Knee-jerk reactions are not something I want to be a part of – it’s a decision that needs to be considered.

“I respect the position too much to just name someone because of pressures from the outside, because they are not from the inside or from the players themselves.

“I don’t know when [a permanent captain will be appointed], I have good conversations with my staff after every camp to see where we are at, and we’re in a good spot right now.”

One concern raised about the decision to rotate captains is the suggestion players will be more focused on earning the role on a permanent basis than the game itself.

That was a problem which Wilkinson dismissed, saying: “You can make the opposite argument that if you give a player an armband too quickly then you have a group of players that are frustrated that they have not been given an opportunity.

“You look back on it, whether you get it right or wrong, you don’t know until later, but I try not to put much emphasis on it.

“I don’t want any of my players to hear clips where I’m talking about one player, it’s a group of them that I feel all have leadership qualities.

“I want to give them opportunities to bring that to the fore and to have the privilege of leading your team out.”

Wilkinson is just three months into the job as Wales head coach, and has had a positive start to her tenure.

Wales sit top of qualification Group B4 with two wins and a draw in the opening three games.

Croatia are currently second in the group, a point behind Wales, while Ukraine are three points behind Wilkinson’s side going into Tuesday’s game.

Friday’s 1-1 draw against Ukraine at Parc y Scarlets was the first time under Wilkinson that Wales have faced any adversity.

Ukraine took the lead in the third minute when Rhiannon Roberts’ wayward pass was intercepted by Veronika Andrukhiv, who could not miss with goalkeeper Olivia Clark out of position.

The goal shook Wales, despite the fact Wilkinson’s side had more than 72% possession and did not allow Ukraine another shot on target.

Even though Wales dominated the contest, Wilkinson said she was unhappy with the way the early Ukraine goal affected her team and reiterated the challenge Tuesday’s opponents pose.

“You’ve got to work for everything, even if you have huge amounts of possession it doesn’t mean anything if you’re not finishing,” said Wilkinson.

“It was a reminder that things are not always going to go your way, and then what are you going to do? How are you going to fix it?

“I was really not happy with losing 45 minutes with the team being unsettled and resorting to a type of play we are better than, but I was really pleased with the reaction [in the second half].

“Ukraine are one rank below us in the Fifa rankings and they qualified for the last Euros – this is a very good team.

“They played fantastically, they were shattered at the end of the game and they gave it everything they had.”

Wales will be without Josie Green on Tuesday, as the Leicester City midfielder has been forced to withdraw from the squad with an injury.

Goalkeeper Laura O’Sullivan has also not travelled to Poland having withdrawn from the squad for personal reasons.

Green’s Leicester team-mate Hannah Cain, and striker Elise Hughes, continue to be sidelined after having ACL surgery.

With the exception of O’Sullivan, Wilkinson will be able to select from all the players she had at her disposal on Friday.

“Everyone is fully fit, there’s a few little knocks, but nothing that will keep anyone out of the line-up,” said Wilkinson.

“Josie has an injury that needs to be looked after, she’s a big player for Wales and we are sad that she’s not here.

“But we are glad that we are looking after her and her club are looking after her and she’ll get the best possible care and hopefully be back soon.

“I think [the next camp in July] might be a bit soon for her, we want her back as soon as possible but we don’t want to rush her back.”

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