Wales 1-4 Italy: Hosts defeated in final match ahead of first Euros appearance | OneFootball

Wales completed their UEFA Women’s Nations League Group A5 campaign with a severe 1-4 loss at the hands of Italy in Swansea on Tuesday evening, in a match which was the last preparation for the two sides ahead of this summer’s European Championship.Italy, who were robbed of a semi-final place by the narrowest of margins, made a resounding point in the first half, capitalising on Wales’s poor set-piece defence. Wales, whose relegation to League B had already been confirmed prior to this match, looked off the pace in the first 45 minutes, failing to cope with Italy’s aerial threat and aggressive pressing.

As it happened

The game was only nine minutes old when Italy scored first through defender Elena Linari. A corner kick into the box found Linari unmarked, and she volleyed accurately into the net to give the hosts a rightful advantage. That did prove to be the preamble for the rest of the half, as Italy exploited Wales’ dead-ball weakness repeatedly.Italy captain and talisman Cristiana Girelli doubled the lead in the 20th minute, heading home a third corner above the Welsh defence. Girelli was again the architect of Italy’s third, playing a high-crossing pass into the 41st minute which looped over Wales goalkeeper Olivia Clark and was headed by Sofia Cantore.Wales seemed shell-shocked and out of sorts. Their deep, low block offered little resistance or press, and Italy were able to set the rhythm and keep possession. The first half finished in the worst possible way for Wales as Girelli scored her second goal of the game in stoppage time of the first half. Another corner, another miss for a mark the ball deflected before coming to rest in the back of the net, making it 0-4.It was the first time during Rhian Wilkinson’s reign that Wales had conceded more than two goals in a game, and the defending – particularly from set pieces – was terrible.The second half saw Wales improve dramatically. Wilkinson adjusted the formation of her team to a more positive 4-4-2, and the team began to appear more organized and collected on the ball. The midfield began to provide the defence with more cover both in defence and during attacking moves, and Wales finally began to create chances of their own.Their improved second-half performance was richly rewarded in the 82nd minute with a flash of individual creativity by veteran Jess Fishlock. Pouncing on the Italian goalkeeper’s being out of line, Fishlock released a stunning 40-yard shot that sailed above the keeper and into the goal a stunning consolation goal which raised occasional hope of a late turnaround.Despite the better performance during the second half after the break, the defeat had already been sealed in the first half. Italy had defended admirably to secure the 1-4 win and finish second in the group but just fail to qualify for the Nations League semi-finals.

The lineups

WAL: Clark; Woodham, Evans, Ladd; Griffiths, James-Turner, Holland; Jones, Cain, Rowe