Rhian Wilkinson insists Wales must take nothing for granted despite a 1-0 advantage going into their World Cup play-off semi-final second leg against Albania on Tuesday. Wales are favourites to move a step closer to a first World Cup after their narrow first-leg success. Wilkinson's side will achieve their longest unbeaten run of 10 games if they come through unscathed from the match in Llanelli.
But the Wales head coach believes it would be foolish to think the job is close to being done against Albania after saying her team "got away with one" in Shkoder last Friday. "That Albanian team are right on the edge of something special because they really fight for everything," Wilkinson said. "When I speak to the older, more experienced players with Wales, they remember being that team that is ranked lower but is scrapping and fighting for everything and they get results because they catch people unaware.
"We're very aware of them - this is a dangerous Albanian team. We need to make sure we don't sit back and rest because they're going to be knocking on the door." Women's World Cup qualifying play-off semi-final second leg Live on BBC iPlayer, BBC One Wales, BBC Sounds, BBC Radio Wales, Radio Cymru, BBC Sport website and app, plus live text commentary. Wales thrashed Albania 4-0 when the nations met during the group phase of qualifying in Wrexham in April.
But they scraped a 1-0 away success in the return group match and duly repeated the trick courtesy of an unconvincing performance three days ago. Wales are ranked 31st in the world - 37 places above the Albanians - but Wilkinson knows her players must match their opponents' "effort and pride" to triumph at Parc y Scarlets. "It's one where you better expect to be crawling off the field exhausted if you want to be walking away with a successful game." Victory in Albania last week saw Wilkinson's side match the record nine games without defeat set between November 2013 and August 2014.
Head coach Wilkinson was unaware of the potential landmark tenth unbeaten game on the eve of Albania's visit. "What a wonderful record [that would be] for me to have, but more than anything, this is about the team showing up for each other and delivering to a standard we can be proud of," she said. "Win or lose, this is a very special team and I'll stand with them all day.
But we know we want to be better for ourselves and equally for the fans." Wales hope pattern continues in Albania return Hughes focused on Albania before World Cup dream Wales are still without nine regular squad members due to injury with the likes of Olivia Clark, Hayley Ladd, Rhiannon Roberts, Ffion Morgan and Ceri Holland - arguably their most influential player since Jess Fishlock's retirement - all missing. Wilkinson hopes a number of the absentees will be fit should they progress to a two-legged play-off final in early December. Wales are likely to face Norway - who won 2-0 in Romania in their semi-final first leg - in the next stage.
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