Women's Nations League - Wales 0-0 Germany reaction

1. Use play icon at the top of the page to watch live coverage
2. Wales earn famous draw in final game of Nations League Group A3
3. Rachel Rowe hits post with Wales on top in first half
4. Wales already relegated after losing to Iceland on Friday
5. Germany win group as Denmark lose to Iceland
6. Wales 23 places below two-time world champions Germany in world rankings

KICK-OFF

We are off and running at the Swansea.com Stadium.

Germany's big incentive

Michael Pearlman

BBC Sport Wales at the Swansea.com Stadium

Wales are playing Germany at the worst possible time as Horst Hrubesch's side target a spot at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

Group winners will advance to a play-off and Germany have the advantage over Denmark in Group A3.

They need to win tonight to ensure top spot and to continue their improvement after their shock exit at the group stage in the World Cup.

There is absolutely no chance of Germany taking their eye off the ball tonight, they will be focused on collecting three points.

Grainger expects a strong finish

Wales v Germany: Boss Gemma Grainger expects strong Welsh finish

Despite the difficulties Wales have faced in this Nations League campaign, Gemma Grainger insists she is expecting her team to finish well this evening.

The Wales boss says there are no issues over her players' motivation, even though relegation was confirmed last Friday.

'Losing five games in a row isn't helping'

Kath Morgan

Former Wales captain on BBC Radio Cymru

The problem we have is, we're not familiar with playing six games of this standard in a short space of time

It's been disappointing, we haven't performed as we'd have hoped.

I disagree a lot with Gemma Grainger that the team are improving by playing against top teams. Conceding 15 goals and losing five games in a row isn't helping.

Fewer horses - and fewer goals?

Wales v Germany: When the world champions came to Haverfordwest

Speaking of Gwennan Harries, she has taken a trip down memory lane to recall the time when Germany, who were reigning world champions, came to Wales and found "horses on the side of the pitch" in Haverfordwest.

"We held them out for about 20 minutes, which we were quite chuffed with at the time," Harries said.

That was 16 years ago and Germany won 6-0.

Wales will be hoping for better tonight, when there won't be any horses.

Wales have 'underperformed'

FAW

Wales' recent results may not be a huge shock given the quality of their opponents in recent times.

Nevertheless, there has been some criticism of their performances during this difficult Nations League campaign.

Former Wales striker-turned-pundit Gwennan Harries highlighted issues at both ends of the pitch, as well as an apparent lack of confidence in the squad, following Friday's 2-1 defeat to Iceland in Cardiff.

"We were [previously] really tough to break down, really hard, really organised, disciplined. We're not seeing that anymore, unfortunately," she said.

"I think there's a lack of confidence defensively and add that to the lack of quality in the final third, the desperation in the final third. It's just not a good mix at the minute."

Read more: Relegated Wales underperfomed, says Harries

'Hopefully pain will help us'

FAW

Captain Sophie Ingle is one of the few players in the Wales squad who is used to competing with some of the best in the women's game on a regular basis.

The Chelsea midfielder, who recently broke the record for most appearances by any player in the Women's Super League, hopes Wales' recent struggles will lead to future progress.

In all, Wales have lost six straight games since their draw with Portugal in April, while they have registered just one win in their last 10 internationals.

"We are used to suffering a lot of pain... but there are positives we can take from these games," Ingle said.

"We have never played top teams every three weeks before. Hopefully it is going to help us, next year and the year after.

"It is all part of our growth. We knew it was always going to be a tough challenge against the best, but we wanted that challenge and we are learning from it."

'Wales not ready for League A'

Katie Sherwood

Former Wales midfielder on Match of the Day Wales

Putting into context we're playing high level opposition, but there is that realism that we're not quite ready to play in League A.

We've made too many individual errors and we haven't been defensive strong enough.

Wales swimming with the big fish

Getty Images

Wales have been swimming with big fish during this Nations League campaign, with their three opponents in this top-tier group ranked well above them.

They will be in League B of this competition next time around after defeat against Iceland on Friday night confirmed relegation.

They have conceded 15 goals in their five group defeats and scored four, yet Gemma Grainger is adamant that exposure to opponents such as Germany, Iceland and Denmark will help her team's bid to reach a first major championship.

"Playing in League A is exactly where we want to be in terms of learning," Grainger said.

"Our next step is qualification for the Euros and this is the very best way to prepare."

Grainger says the focus this evening will be on delivering a performance against former world champions Germany, who thumped Wales 5-1 in Sinsheim in October.

Team news - Popp returns for Germany

Michael Pearlman

BBC Sport Wales at the Swansea.com Stadium

Germany make four changes from the side that thrashed Denmark 3-0 on Friday to take control at the summit of Nations League group A3.

Paulina Krumbiegel, Sara Doorsoun, Elisa Senss and Jule Brand all come into the starting XI.

Germany are without Bayern Munich's Lea Schuller, who is injured, but captain Alexandra Popp is fit to lead the attack having missed the home game against Wales.

BBC Sport

Team news - Wales make three changes

Michael Pearlman

BBC Sport Wales at the Swansea.com Stadium

Wales make three changes to the side beaten 2-1 by Iceland in Cardiff on Friday.

Kayleigh Green, Ceri Holland and Hayley Ladd all drop out of the starting XI with Charlie Estcourt, Josie Green and Elise Hughes coming into the side.

Hughes will lead the Wales attack after scoring her first international goal against Iceland, having made her last start in October 2021 as a central defender.

Wales look likely to switch to five at the back with Green joining Rhiannon Roberts and Gemma Evans in central defence.

BBC Sport

Good evening from Swansea

FAW

Hello and welcome to our coverage of Wales' Nations League game against Germany at the Swansea.com Stadium.

This is the final game of Wales' first campaign in this competition and, in truth, it has been a bit of a struggle.

Gemma Grainger has consistently talked about learning from experiences at this level.

Should they emerge from this competition in better shape than when they started, then Wales will have learned the hard way, having lost all five of their games in Group A3 this far.

Can they change that record tonight? It would be quite something if they do, given the calibre of the opposition.

We'll bring you all the build-up, match action and reaction, but let's start with a look at the teams.