Grainger unfazed by criticism before Denmark test

Jess Fishlock has scored 37 goals in 144 Wales appearances

Venue: Energi Viborg Arena, Viborg Date: Tuesday, 31 October Kick-off: 17:00 GMT
Coverage: Live on BBC Two Wales, BBC Radio Wales extra, Radio Cymru 2, BBC Sounds, the BBC Sport website & app & live text commentary on BBC Sport website & app.

Manager Gemma Grainger says she is unfazed by criticism of her and her side as Wales prepare for another daunting Nations League match.

Wales are yet to win a point in the campaign and that has led to criticism, with ex-Wales goalkeeper Jo Price calling for a change of manager.

"People are entitled to their opinions," Grainger said.

"For me it comes down to realism and perspective. The gap between us and the first and second seeded nations is significant, for us we want to compete but I think we have that realism and perspective that this is our first time [at this level].

'Like Merthyr playing Man City' - pundits' verdict after Germany 5-1 WalesWales hammered by Germany in Nations League

"We've earned the right to be in league A, we want to be here and take lessons from it, but we have to be realistic.

"If you look at the results against Denmark and Germany, rather than the performances, then I think that is where most of the opinions are coming from.

"We are playing at this level for the first time. We know we can compete with any seed three teams, but these seed one or two teams are at a different level.

"We don't want to be a team that sits in and loses 1-0 and doesn't get close to winning. That isn't going to help us to qualify for a major tournament, which is our aim.

"But I don't mind people having an opinion. But I think it should be on the performance, not the result.

"The gap between the top seeded teams in women's football and the rest is massive."

Nations League Highlights: Germany 5-1 Wales

Wales are looking for a positive response after being thrashed 5-1 by Germany on Friday, in a game where the hosts had 35 efforts on goal.

However, Wales' most-capped player, Jess Fishlock, says she and her team-mates believe they are doing the right thing in playing in a more expansive manner than they have previously.

"The Germany game was good for us in certain aspects, but I know the result is at the forefront of everyone's minds," she told BBC Sport Wales.

"But we know this is a process and I do believe we are learning... we need to keep the bigger picture in mind when we feel deflated with results.

"This is a tough path for us as a group, but you learn a lot from tough times and we will."

'The end is near, I know my timeline' - Jess Fishlock

Fishlock says there remains a belief in the Wales squad that their Nations League experience will stand them in good stead in the future.

Wales' hopes of avoiding relegation from the top tier are likely to rest on their home game against Iceland on 1 December.

"We know exactly what we are doing and where we are going and what our bigger picture is," she said.

"We are here playing these games because of everything we have done in the past, but it is still a massive jump.

"Our performance against Denmark has to be better than it was in Germany and so does the result.

"We take it game by game, camp by camp."

TEAM NEWS

Wales' difficult test in Denmark is made harder by the fact they will be without three key players through injury.

Rangers midfielder Rachel Rowe was unable to travel to Germany due to a muscle injury and Liverpool's Ceri Holland and Leicester forward Hannah Cain both suffered injuries in Wales' 5-1 defeat in Germany.

However, Denmark, who laboured to a 1-0 win in Iceland on Friday, are also without key performers. including star striker Pernille Harder, who scored a hat-trick in the Danes' 5-1 win in Cardiff.

Harder is unavailable through injury, while Sofie Junge and Simone Boye were also unable to play in Iceland.

MOST RECENT MEETING

Wales 1-5 Denmark (Tuesday, 26 September)