Women's Nations League: Reaction as Germany thrash Wales

1. Use the icons at the top of the page to watch/listen to BBC Radio Wales or BBC Radio Cymru commentary
2. Wales suffer third straight defeat in Nations League Group A3
3. Wales visit Denmark on Tuesday
4. Star Germany striker Alexandra Popp out injured
5. Wales without midfielder Rachel Rowe due to injury
6. Hannah Cain and Kayleigh Green recalled to Wales side
7. Lea Schuller puts Germany ahead as hosts dominate, then restores lead early in second half
8. Ceri Holland scores a fine first-half equaliser against the run of play
9. Giulia Gwinn makes it 3-1 with emphatic penalty
10. Sjoeke Nusken's deflected effort stretches Germany's lead
11. Substitute Nicole Anyomi taps in as Wales crumble late on

YELLOW CARD

The game's first yellow card goes to Germany's Lena Oberdorf, who looks puzzled as to why she's been booked for a foul on Sophie Ingle.

It was late, even if there wasn't a huge amount of contact.

Kath Morgan

Former Wales captain on BBC Radio Cymru

We need to remember, this Germany team are building, they're young.

But from a talent level and fitness-wise, they look like they've been together for years.

Jo Price

Former Wales goalkeeper on BBC Radio Wales

It's unfortunate for Wales that they've conceded 26 minutes in.

It'll be interesting to see how they respond to this.

I admire Gareth's optimism.

If there's any way back for Wales in this game, there's been no sign of it yet.

Gareth Bailey

BBC Sport Wales at the PreZero Arena

Germany score, and there's an almost half-speed version of Zombie Nation playing here in celebration.

Normally a song to pump Wales up at the Cardiff City Stadium, will the hosts have accidentally galvanised the visitors to come straight back with their music choice?

'Fantastic finish'

Jo Price

Former Wales goalkeeper on BBC Radio Wales

Getty Images

Germany are relentless in their attack.

It's a fantastic finish.

GOAL - Germany 1-0 Wales

The phrase "it's been coming" could have been invented for this goal.

Left-back Sarai Linder, who has impressed so far, sets off on another surging run to the byline and crosses well.

Despite the presence of Welsh defenders around her, Lea Schuller leaps and heads in.

The least Germany deserve.

Watch as Lea Schüller opens the scoring for Germany against Wales

The size of the task

Michael Pearlman

BBC Sport Wales in Sinsheim, Germany

In four previous games against Germany, Wales have conceded 34 goals and scored none, losing all four games.

As former Wales international Gwennan Harries told me on the way to the ground, "the last time I played against Germany I touched the ball twice in the entire 90 minutes".

Wales even reaching this point of the game with the score level can be seen as a sign of the progress they are making.

Cain concern

Kath Morgan

Former Wales captain on BBC Radio Cymru

When someone's in the air and then falls down on their knee, the way she landed, maybe's she's panicked a bit after having an injury previously, that's natural, but she'll know how it felt.

Getty Images

As we mentioned in the build-up to today's game, Hannah Cain has had some horrible misfortune with injuries over the past couple of years.

Fingers crossed this isn't another serious injury for her.

Wales won't mind how much of the ball they have if they can pose a threat on the break, and they do just that as a rare foray forward leads to a cross from the right which just evades Hannah Cain.

Cain stays down in the Germany penalty area and will receive some treatment.

Just having a quick look at the stats and Germany have had 80% possession so far.

Is it only that much?

Jo Price

Former Wales goalkeeper on BBC Radio Wales

Germany are probably only in their first gear at the moment but they've got more gears to come.

When Wales get the ball, they need to keep it better.

When they do have it, they need to take care of it.

Germany captain Svenja Huth connects with a sweet right-footed strike outside the penalty area but it goes wide, much to Olivia Clark's relief.

Wales struggle to clear a cross from the left and it falls to Lena Oberdorf, whose shot sails well over the bar.

The ball has barely left the Welsh half in these opening 20 minutes.

Kath Morgan

Former Wales captain on BBC Radio Cymru

Fair play, Wales are well organised defensively.

Clark in dreamland

Michael Pearlman

BBC Sport Wales in Sinsheim, Germany

Five years ago Olivia Clark was playing tier seven football.

At Christmas 2021, Clark lost her job when Coventry were liquidated.

Fast forward and this week, she's made her WSL debut against Arsenal and is now lining up against two-time world champions Germany.

Roy of the Rovers stuff really.

Wales goalkeeper Olivia Clark receives some treatment but looks OK to continue.

She hasn't had a real save to make yet, despite the constant German pressure.

Ceri Holland puts it behind for a corner, albeit by almost scoring a comical own goal.

The Wales winger volleys a German cross clear but only as far as her own face. Luckily for Holland, it goes out for a corner, which Wales clear.

Kath Morgan

Former Wales captain on BBC Radio Cymru

Gemma Grainger often says this is the level they want to play at and that they can learn at lot from it.

But psychologically it's hard to play teams like this.

I've been there, it's hard.