Wilkinson's Wales give themselves World Cup chance

Wilkinson's Wales give themselves World Cup chanceImage source, FAWImage caption, Wales have gone eight games without defeat since ending a seven-game losing streak last DecemberByGareth VincentBBC Sport WalesPublished2 minutes agoWales started out on the road to next year's Women's World Cup with Rhian Wilkinson suggesting the 2029 European Championship was a more realistic target.She would probably say the same thing now.Nevertheless, Wales have at least given themselves the best chance of reaching Brazil next summer by finishing top of their World Cup qualifying group.Wilkinson's team have not always performed but they have remained unbeaten.And when it came to Tuesday's crunch fixture against the Czech Republic in Cardiff, they delivered their best display of the campaign to secure top spot in Group B1 with a 3-1 win."We knew the pressure was on, we knew it was a must-win game," said Liverpool midfielder Ceri Holland, Wales' most influential player in the early stages of the post-Jess Fishlock era."It was a fantastic performance. Now we are really looking forward to the play-off draw."'Some big players and some fantastic youth' Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Teenagers Mayzee Davies and Mared Griffiths both look to have bright futures with Wales This qualifying campaign has seen Wales go back to the well having made history by reaching Euro 2025, the first major women's tournament in the nation's history.Their attempts to repeat the qualification feat have not been helped by the loss of the inspirational Fishlock, who called time on her stellar international career last October.Forward Kayleigh Barton - with 89 caps and 22 goals for her country - was another influential senior figure who said goodbye in the wake of the Euros, leaving head coach Wilkinson with holes to fill."The transition years can go either way," Wilkinson said after the Czech triumph."It could be the...