Wales Aims for Clean Sheet Against Albania in Women's World Cup Play-off

Wales is set to compete against Albania in the first leg of the Women's World Cup play-off semi-final on Friday at the Loro Borici Stadium in Shkoder. Rhian Wilkinson, the head coach, has identified maintaining a clean sheet as a primary objective for the match.

Wales previously defeated Albania twice during the World Cup qualifying group stage, achieving a 4-0 victory at home followed by a 1-0 win away. However, the team is facing challenges due to injuries, with nine regular players unavailable for this crucial match.

Despite the absence of key players, including Ceri Holland and Hayley Ladd, Wilkinson expressed confidence in her squad's ability to adapt, highlighting the inclusion of several young and inexperienced players. The match against Albania is critical, as it could lead to a two-legged World Cup play-off final against either Norway or Romania in December.