Wales: A closer look at the nation making history with their UEFA Women’s EURO debut
History is made for Wales. For the first time, the Wales Women’s National team are one of sixteen nations to qualify for the UEFA Women’s European Championships. With the tournament taking place in Switzerland, this will be the trip of a lifetime for Rhian Wilkinson’s Welsh squad.
Whilst so many big names feature in the EUROs, this tournament may seem even more special for the Welsh team, being their first time out on such a big stage.
Since forming in 1973, this is the biggest moment in the history of Welsh football. In December 2023 Welsh dreams came true, beating the Republic of Ireland in the tournament play-offs, Carrie Jones scoring the winning goal.
The twenty-three-player squad
Wilkinson had a tough decision to make, selecting the twenty-three players to represent the Welsh on the most honourable stage. She expresses her belief in those individuals chosen to take their place on the plane to Switzerland.
Goalkeepers: Olivia Clark, Poppy Sober, Safia Middleton-Patel
Defenders: Charlie Estcourt, Gemma Evans, Josie Green, Hayley Ladd, Esther Morgan, Ella Powell, Rhiannon Roberts, Lily Woodham
Midfielders: Jess Fishlock, Sophie Ingle, Angharad James, Ceri Holland, Alice Griffiths, Rachel Rowe, Lois Joel
Forwards: Kayleigh Barton, Hannah Cain, Elise Hughes, Carrie Jones, Ffion Morgan
This side presents the perfect balance between experienced players, edging towards the end of their international careers, and young individuals ready to make their mark on the international stage. Whilst they are unlikely to qualify beyond the group stages, wearing the shirt in the EUROs for the first time ever will be the greatest honour.
One player who must not go unmentioned is the Captain, James. At thirty-one years of age, she is wearing the armband and leading her nation out in their biggest moment in history. James has over a century of caps (116) for her nation, but nothing will feel more special than representing them at this tournament. Her leadership and communication from the midfield prove a key part of their tactical execution.
Their EUROs journey so far
The road to qualification did not seem too challenging for Wilkinson’s side. Wales topped their UEFA Women’s Nations League group (B4) undefeated, which earned their spot in the play-offs. First, they faced Slovakia and secured a win across the two legs; however, the opposition won the first leg 2-1. In the second leg, the Welsh found their fighting spirit to comeback with a 2-0 lead and qualify for the second play-off.
This final round of qualification for the EUROs was a dramatic two-leg clash between Wales and the Republic of Ireland. In the home leg, neither team came out victorious, with a 1-1 draw. Yet, Wales dominated the second leg. Despite playing in Dublin, the home of Irish football, the team dug deep and earned their place in their first ever EUROs. Goals by Cain and Jones sealed the final score of 3-2 on aggregate. Fishlock, Wales’ record goal scorer, described this as the “proudest moment” of her life.
There is no doubt that Wales suffered an unlucky draw in the group stage. Group D is a competitive selection of top nations: the Netherlands, France, and England. Labelled as the ‘group of death’, so many talented individuals belong to these four squads. So far, Wales faced two defeats: losing 3-0 to the Netherlands, and 4-1 to France.
Ones to watch
Despite almost shattering their hopes of qualification to the quarter finals, Wales celebrated the one goal slotted past the French defence. Netted by their all-time top goal scorer, Fishlock.
She calmly slotted in a well-fought ball from Holland, marking Wales’ first ever goal in a major tournament. At thirty-eight years of age, Fishlock is considered a veteran in this team, but age is just a number in football. Her one-hundred-and-sixty-two caps and forty-two goals for her nation spotlight her experience and determination. In fact, her goal made her the oldest ever footballer to score in the EUROs. She is unmatched in Wilkinson’s side and has a legacy never to be forgotten.
Another player with a strong legacy is Sophie Ingle. Ingle has made an incredible return to this international team after picking up an ACL injury: she faced a spell of nine months on the sidelines. Her dedication and leadership are just two of the qualities she brings to the squad. One example of her leadership is her captaincy of the national team, being appointed at just 23 years of age. After nine years with the armband, Sophie stepped down from her role in 2024, with an impressive total of 141 caps. A heartwarming moment was shared between the players and their fans on Wednesday night, as she made her return to the pitch for the first time since suffering her injury.
The final match
Following two challenging performances against both France and the Netherlands, Wales are ready for the ultimate showdown against England on Sunday. They have learnt valuable lessons in a tough group but focus shifts to their final match. Many doubted this Welsh team, due to being the lowest ranked team in this competition. However, could they give one final push and secure an unexpected victory against the holders of the trophy? It is all to play for, but who will come out on top?
Regardless of whether Wales leave the tournament with a win or a loss, this Welsh side have created a new legacy for the younger generations of girls in the country. For so long, Wales have been downplayed on the global map in the women’s game, but they have finally made their mark. Their talent and progression stand out, reminding of the importance and honour of this EUROs for the players, staff, and fans across the globe.