Women’s World Cup qualifying: Rhian Wilkinson praises ‘finishers’ before Montenegro test

With no automatic qualification place available because they are in League B, Wales are targeting top spot in their group as that would mean a more favourable play-off path later this year.

Finishing first would mean Wales face a first-round play-off against a side who finish second or third in a League B pool.

If they come second or third, however, they would take on a team who finish in fourth place in League A or a Group B winner.

The second round of the play-offs is seeded and should Wales get that far, they would be likely to face League A opposition.

Even a win at that stage may not mean the job is done, because the lowest-ranked of the eight European sides who get through the play-offs – which could be Wales – will go into inter-confederation play-offs in February 2027.

For the moment, the focus is the short term – and anything other than a win against Montenegro would be a heavy blow to Wales’ prospects.

Having won promotion after an unbeaten Nations League campaign at League C level last year, Montenegro were beaten 2-1 at home by Albania on Tuesday.

Nevertheless, Wilkinson insists there is no room for Welsh complacency against opponents who are “filled with pride”.

“Every game is 90 minutes and that’s where you get upsets and that’s where you get a team that doesn’t show up and a team that has luck or whatever it is,” she added.

“We’ve got 90 minutes to show our fans a new performance and hopefully an improved one from the other night.”