Elise Hughes Eyes World Cup Glory but Prioritizes Albania Showdown
Wales forward Elise Hughes has had stints with Charlton Athletic and Crystal Palace, and now she’s eyeing a significant milestone in her career.
The chance to play in the World Cup is a dream come true for Hughes, but she insists that the immediate focus is on the pivotal play-off match against Albania this Tuesday.
Rhian Wilkinson's squad heads into this crucial second leg with a slim 1-0 lead after a hard-fought first match. A draw will be enough to see Wales progress to the next round of qualifiers for next summer's tournament in Brazil.
"When you're a kid, it doesn't get bigger than that," Hughes reflected on the World Cup dream.
"You spend countless hours in the garden imagining it, and now we have a real shot with this group. But first, we must secure a win on Tuesday. This is the most critical game we've faced so far because it’s the next one."
If Wales can overcome Albania, they will face either Norway or Romania in a two-legged play-off final set for December.
However, even a successful play-off final could lead to a tricky inter-confederation playoff in February, adding another layer of complexity to their journey.
Coach Wilkinson noted that her team has room for improvement following their shaky 1-0 win in Shkoder.
"There's always room for improvement," Hughes told BBC Sport Wales.
"We’ve definitely won by larger margins before, but there’s always something to work on. We knew Albania would be a tough opponent, and we let them into the game. It’s all about maintaining focus and getting the result we need."
