Wales’ women are poised for a powerful Euro 2025 debut after an inspiring rise under coach Rhian Wilkinson. Announcing the squad atop Snowdon reinforced their collective climb to this moment. With veterans like Jess Fishlock and Sophie Ingle leading the charge, Wales head to Switzerland ready to make their mark.
00:00Now for Wales women, they are heading to their first major international tournament as a nation when they go to the Women's European Championships this summer in Switzerland and as starts go in terms of their group stage it couldn't really be much more difficult because they have been grouped alongside United Kingdom neighbours England, of course England the current holders defending champions of the Women's Euros and so for Wales it really is a tough
00:29start in their group stage but crucially it's about approaching it with an open mind and going there and not being scared and having no fear and ultimately approaching it with freedom and just playing their football. So for Wales it will be a brand new adventure perhaps an adventure into the unknown as well when it comes to major international tournaments from a women's football perspective but ultimately they just have to go there and do what they can.
00:55So let's go now to our Wales sport correspondent Charles Hague Jones who can tell us more about what they're hoping for from Wales women in Wales at present ahead of the European Championships. Charles is it a case of just taking things as they come in the group stages given the fact that they are alongside England as well as some other big nations too or do Wales women genuinely believe that they can go further in this tournament and perhaps cause a couple of upsets
01:25Yeah it's an amazing achievement you know historic qualification obviously the men's side of the Welsh football team at the moment doing fantastic things but you can't take anything away from Wales women obviously clinching their first ever
01:55in Dublin in Dublin in December last year it was an incredible night for Rian Wilkinson and her side you know but they are facing bigger challenges than that group D you know powerhouses France England the Netherlands obviously England defending their European Championship title as well so a massive massive chance for them I mean the underdog spirit as well that sort of creeps in
02:25and what you are Brazil underestimated you know is that you know we are not a big deal
02:55hope for an amazing first ever tournament they're going to hope it's not their last as well they
03:00want to be consistent at getting there and you know you look at the squad they've got a blend
03:04of youth they've got a blend of veterans as well the core is so strong Jess Fishlock of course
03:10and then you've got the likes of Carrie Jones and Maisie Davis coming through as well so
03:16there's a really really good blend of youth and veterans and I feel women's football is
03:21going down that route you look at the Lionesses side as well very very much the same sort of
03:26patterns with that especially at these major tournaments so yes they have no experience
03:31there but they do have momentum they do have confidence and they do have this legacy that's
03:37sort of growing you know the Welsh government has obviously invested one million pound in programs
03:41to inspire girls and raise the profile of women's sports around the tournament it's a massive
03:47massive summer it's a massive chance for them to go and sort of express themselves and really enjoy
03:52what it's like to represent your country on the biggest of stages as well we can't forget that
03:57this is a massive massive opportunity a massive stage for them to go in and strut their stuff and
04:03be good and Rhian Wilkinson has done all the right things so far I think the FA of Wales you know
04:08are going through a great patch at the moment you know you've got Bellamy of the men's team and
04:12sort of rejuvenating that side then you've got the women's team this investment into them
04:16and it's all sort of paying off so far so yeah massive massive summer a massive tournament
04:22huge opportunities for all these Welsh players to make themselves legends and really really enjoy it
04:29with itself on Europe's stage so really exciting times for Welsh women's football and hopefully it
04:36can continue and they can have some amazing memorable days in Switzerland their first ever major tournament
