Wales women keep Euro 2013 play-off hopes alive

Republic of Ireland 0-1 Wales (June 16)

Wales 5-0 Israel (June 20)

Wales’s women completed a successful few days last night as they recorded a comfortable 5-0 win over Israel in their Euro 2013 qualifier Group 4 encounter at Wrexham’s Racecourse Ground.

Nearly 1,000 fans watched Wales thrash Israel at the Racecourse Ground to move to second in their Euro 2013 qualifying group, behind the unbeaten French. Picture: Flickr, blogdroed

Bristol Academy striker Natasha Harding recorded a first-half hat-trick as Israel suffered another thrashing – they have now conceded 33 goals in just seven qualifying fixtures, and even trailed Scotland 7-0 at half-time of their encounter last weekend.

Sarah Wiltshire and Hannah Keryakoplis also made their mark on the scoreboard as Jarmo Matikainen’s side moved ahead of Scotland in the Group 4 standings – although Scotland, who have two games in hand, will regain second spot if they get a point from their fixture tonight against the Republic of Ireland in Cork.

Class tells as superb France thrash Wales

UEFA Women’s Euro 2013 qualifying: France 4-0 Wales

A hat-trick from Lyon striker Elodie Thomis condemned Wales to a third defeat in five qualifying matches in front of 17,000 fans in Caen.

Fellow OL star Camille Abily came off the bench and got on the scoresheet as the unbeaten French dealt a huge blow to Wales’s chances of qualifying for the next summer’s tournament in Sweden.

France have now won all six of their Group 4 qualifiers to date, scoring 23 goals and conceding just two.

Caen's Stade Michel d'Ornano was four-fifths full as Wales succumbed to the might and class of a dominant French side today. Picture: Flickr, RG1033

Wales are in a battle for second place – and a play-off spot – with Scotland and the Republic of Ireland, who are level on points and two points ahead respectively.