Introduction to Wales’ Debut in Euro 2025
They are debutants, the lowest rated team in competition, and face the two previous champions in the group phase. But Wales believes that they have a few ways to get an advantage, namely book clubs, yoga, and a "Walsh Redwirder" that runs through the squad. After a series of failures in previous qualification campaigns, Wales secured a place in the Euro 2025 with a win against Ireland under Canadian coach Rhian Wilkinson in December. Like many of her players, Wilkinson has roots in Wales, which they run deep.
The Path to Success
"I think we are starting to see how [women’s] Football is becoming increasingly professional that Pathway player, players with connections to Wales are now justified, and we use it more," she told DW. "What I have to balance as a trainer is that we never lose that this is a Welsh team with a Welsh red vein go through. That is critical. We can never lose this connection, this pride and I think Pathway players have to feel and feel as strong as a born Welsh player what they do. We have a great team."
Making the Best of It
After Wilkinson took over the team in early 2024, despite relatively less large players, he lost only one of their eleven games in their first year. "We don’t have the depth and talent pools that have larger nations," said Wilkinson about a country with 3 million inhabitants. "But what we have is a connection to the team, to this sisterhood, to this family, which enables them to play on a standard that I think there is consistently surprising people because they will give everything for their team and their badge."
The Team’s Experience and Leadership
Wilkinson won 181 caps as a player for Canada and has appointed an experienced squad under the direction of 38-year-old Jess Fishlock. The midfielder of Wales was described by her trainer as "incredibly important". When the former FFC Frankfurt, Lyon and Seattle Reign midfielder made their debut in Wales in 2006, things were very different. Just three years earlier, Wales had withdrawn from the qualification for the euro in 2005 after the Welsh Football Association (FAW) was too expensive for the trips to Belarus, Kazakhstan, Estonia, and Israel.
The Future of Women’s Football in Wales
The pace of change was fast in the two decades since then. But while all Welsh squads are professional, the domestic league is not because not a single member of the squad is pulled out of it. Welsh players still have to move abroad, most often to neighboring England, to make it as a top baller. Bethan Wooley, the strategic advantage of the FAW for women’s and girls’ football, believes that Euro 2025 will deliver a springboard for further changes. "People will be able to see our players on the world stage for the first time. It is about visibility and awareness and to ensure that our young girls have someone to look up," she said.
Preparing for the Tournament
England recorded a rapid increase in participation when they organized and won the 2022 euros and Wooley, that Wales also saw an increase. But that makes a race to be ready for an increase in euros. "It is all-round to ensure that there are so many options for women and girls to ensure that the facilities are appropriate and are suitable for female participants, and that we can bring the investment back in playing with women and girls so that it can flourish in many different ways. This is a great chance for us."
Unique Challenges and Preparations
But before the legacy can be measured, there is a tournament that has to be played. Wales begin his euro in 2025 against the 2017 Champions, the Netherlands, on July 5, followed by games against France (July 9) and England (July 13). It is a difficult question about a page that has 30th place in the world. According to goalkeeper Olivia Clark, the players are ready for the unique challenges of a tournament environment. "I think it’s just exciting," she said. "Fortunately, we all get along very well and we are a massive family. But we have a few things going. We have a small book club, we have a small yoga club, and we are also in such a beautiful place, in Switzerland, I am sure that there are many things to do. We are pretty relaxed and we are pretty relaxed."
Managing Social Media and Pressure
Wilkinson will hope that her squad will stay that way when the spotlight becomes more intense. Wales is under the little pressure to escape such a hard group, but the examination of social media and more frequent abuse has become a constant problem for athletes, especially women. "I encourage them to switch off the comments and I encourage them not to read anything," added the coach. From the player’s point of view, Clark is confident that the close-knit nature of the group and individually tailored plans for social media during the tournament enable Wales to concentrate on football and to "sleep a few people" on the words of their trainer.
