Sweden draw 'no surprise' to Wales boss Wilkinson

Rhian Wilkinson says she is not surprised that Wales claimed a highly creditable 1-1 draw with Sweden in the Nations League.

The visitors dominated long periods of play at the Stok Racecourse and looked on course for victory following Real Madrid star Filippa Angeldahl's 14th minute goal.

But Kayleigh Barton earned the home side a point from the penalty spot in the 76th minute as Wales - 25 places below Peter Gerhardsson's side in the Fifa rankings - clinched their first point of this year's League A campaign.

"I always thought we could [compete against the best]. This is no surprise to me," said Wilkinson.

"I think the women, in training and in every game we play in, are showing themselves how good they are.

"That is the story, it's the reminder that these games are not flukes, you don't put back-to-back performances like that together by accident.

"These women are very deserving to be in League A and they're right up there with some of the top nations in the world and rightly so."

Wilkinson made five changes to the team she selected to start against Italy in Monza four days earlier as she continues to further assess her squad ahead of this summer's Euros in Switzerland.

Having made five substitutions in the defeat 1-0 by Italy, Wilkinson again fully utilised her quota of replacements against Sweden as Wales came from behind to stretch their unbeaten home record under the head coach to six matches.

And Wilkinson was quick to praise her whole squad following the opening camp of 2025, adding that her players deserve to be competing against the world's elite on a regular basis.

"Firstly I'd like to congratulate my entire squad," she added.

"They held on, there were big moments of time where Sweden were all over us.

"Liv [Olivia Clark] again coming up with big saves, and the post, I'll go and thank the post later.

"A top five team, and I felt like we had moments, that's what you do, you hang in to games and football sometimes delivers the moments that you remember.

"So it's a big tie, but equally, I hope no one saw the team over celebrating because these women deserve to be there, they've earned the right to compete against the best in the world."