Wales centurion-to-be Helen Ward has urged her side to have no fear when they come up against top seeds France in a crucial 2023 World Cup qualifier on Friday night (7.45pm kick-off).
Gemma Grainger's Wales side play the third best side in the world at Parc y Scarlets in front of what is set to be a record attendance for a women's international in Llanelli as they enter the business end of their qualification campaign. Wales are bidding to qualify for their first major tournament, and resume international duty five points behind unbeaten group leaders France and two ahead of Slovenia in the race for second spot and a play-off place.
Ward is set to join Jess Fishlock, Loren Dykes and Sophie Ingle as Welsh centurions in Friday's fixture, while Chris Gunter, Gareth Bale and Wayne Hennessey have reached the three-figure milestone in the men's game. The 35-year-old striker is urging her team to repeat their strong defensive performance against France in November and learn from their lapses in concentration which saw France score both of their goals at the end of each half. Fishlock almost levelled at the death but Kayleigh Green's sending off made an equaliser seem a step too far.
