by Steve Hopper
Wales: From Heartbreak to Hope
After heartbreak in 2023, Wales’ women are no longer outsiders — they’re contenders with belief, balance, and a growing fanbase behind them.
Look, if you told me a couple of years ago that Wales would be pushing for a spot at a major tournament (and I mean really pushing) I’d have nodded politely and offered you a dragon-themed pint glass for your optimism. But here we are. And it’s happening.
This is UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 qualifying, and this Welsh team? They’re not here to make up the numbers. They’re playing like a group who’ve had enough of being nearly-women and want their seat at the top table, thank you very much.
We’re talking about a side that, just a couple of years ago, missed out on a World Cup place by the narrowest of margins. Remember the heartbreak against Switzerland? That one still stings for Y Dreigiau. But heartbreak’s funny. It either breaks you, or it builds you. And Wales? They’ve clearly chosen the latter.
Wilkinson’s Warriors Take Shape
Enter Rhian Wilkinson. Quietly building something serious since taking over, she’s added structure, belief, and, dare I say it, swagger to this Welsh side. Not the flashy kind, but the gritty, stubborn, we-will-run-through-brick-walls-for-each-other type. And it’s working.
Jess Fishlock still pulling strings like it’s 2015, Sophie Ingle being an absolute rock in midfield, and now a new crop of young talent filtering in? It’s a blend that’s beginning to click.
And it’s not just about individuals. It’s the energy. The organisation. The fact they’ve gone from “hoping to compete” to expecting to take points off bigger names. This isn’t the same old Wales.
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The Red Wall Rises
Group D? Yeah, it’s no picnic—more like a hike up Brecon Beacon. You’ve got giants France, former champs the Netherlands, and current holders… gulp… England. But Wales aren’t rolling over. They’re getting stuck in, nicking points and scrapping for every second ball like it’s a final.
Let’s be honest, the fan base is growing too. There’s something brewing. The Red Wall isn’t just turning up for the men’s team anymore. There’s proper noise around this women’s side now. Flares in the stands? Maybe not just yet. But flags, songs, pride? Absolutely.
And who knows, come July 2025, maybe Wales will finally be where they’ve so nearly been before: at the party. Not on the outside peering in. But inside the stadium, on the pitch, anthem blaring, daffodils waving, making history.
