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Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wales manager climbs Yr Wyddfa to name Euro 2025 squad
Wales head coach Rhian Wilkinson following a squad announcement press conference at the summit of Yr Wyddfa (Image: Nick Potts) Rhian Wilkinson scaled Wales' highest peak before naming her squad. The Wales manager climbed Yr Wyddfa in North Wales ahead of announcing her 23-player squad for Euro 2025, completing the ascent in less than 90 minutes. Advertisement Ms Wilkinson, who earned 181 caps for Canada and has Welsh heritage, said the climb was more than just a physical challenge. She said: "I was listening to political podcasts that were getting me angry so I stormed up. "We've used the mountain as a theme and an image throughout this campaign. "It (qualifying) was always going to be an uphill battle with little setbacks. "As we've moved towards the Euros we've talked about the summit, the Everest part of it. "That something is impossible until it isn't." The team travels to Switzerland as the lowest-ranked side in the competition, sitting 31st in the world, but Ms Wilkinson believes her players can defy the odds. Advertisement She said: "Outside Wales people can think whatever they want. "Our goal is to show up and deliver to the best of our ability. "I am sure people will be looking up Wales on a map very soon." The squad blends experience with fresh talent, featuring seven players with fewer than 20 caps and four centurions, including Jess Fishlock, captain Angharad James, Hayley Ladd, and Sophie Ingle. Ms Wilkinson described Fishlock as 'the face of Wales.' The biggest selection talking point was the inclusion of former captain Ingle, who has 141 caps but has not played since suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury in September. Advertisement She recently left Chelsea after seven years with the club and is one of five unattached players in the Euro 2025 squad. Ms Wilkinson said: "We needed to make sure that Sophie was in a good place. "She's still on her path to full fitness but in a position now where she can contribute, which is important for us. "I don't want to get into it (what role Ingle will be able to play) specifically because Sophie's pushing, she's looking really good in training. "She has to be able to contribute in some way, that was the pre-requisite that I had. "When she was able to meet that, she was straight into the squad." Advertisement Wales begin their European Championship campaign against the Netherlands in Lucerne on July 5, before facing France and England. Three additional unnamed players will travel to the training camp in Switzerland, but the main squad will first spend a week preparing in Portugal. Ms Wilkinson said: "It's felt a bit heavy. "You know when you've those big decisions looming you're going to hurt someone. "It's the worst part of a dream job. "For these people it's their dream and can push them onto great things."
CNA
2 days ago
- Sport
- CNA
Ingle named in Wales squad for Euros despite no games since September
MANCHESTER, England :Former Chelsea midfielder Sophie Ingle was named on Thursday in Wales' 23-player squad for next month's Women's European Championship, despite being sidelined with an anterior cruciate ligament injury since September. "We needed to make sure that Sophie Ingle was in a good place, she's still on her path to full fitness but she's in a position now where she can contribute," Wales manager Rhian Wilkinson said. The 33-year-old, who has been released by Chelsea, tore her ACL in a pre-season friendly against Feyenoord last September, but Wilkinson said the former Wales skipper who has 141 caps showed enough in training to merit a place in the squad. "I don't want to get into (what role Ingle will play) specifically because Sophie's pushing, she's looking really good in training. She made me look foolish yesterday, I should never jump into training anymore, it's not good for my ego." Wales will be making their first appearance at a major tournament at the Euros in Switzerland and they marked the occasion by announcing the squad from the summit of Snowdon, the country's highest peak. Angharad James will captain a squad that includes her Seattle Reign midfield teammate Jess Fishlock, who is 38 and Wales' most-capped player with 161 appearances and 47 goals. "Jess is going to be the face, the name of Wales. She knows that," Wilkinson said. "But equally there is a group of senior players who have come through the whole thing, they have seen it all, been through it all and fought the fights. "To get the team over the line at what may be the end of their careers... it's one of those things as a coach you are really proud of, to help deliver that." Wales are the lowest-ranked squad in the tournament that kicks off on July 3, and were drawn into a difficult group with defending champions England, France and the Netherlands. Wales face the Dutch in their opening game on July 5. Defenders: Charlie Estcourt, Gemma Evans, Hayley Ladd, Esther Morgan, Ella Powell, Rhiannon Roberts; Midfielders: Josie Green, Lily Woodham, Jess Fishlock, Alice Griffiths, Sophie Ingle, Angharad James, Lois Joel, Rachel Rowe;
Reuters
2 days ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Ingle named in Wales squad for Euros despite no games since September
MANCHESTER, England, June 19 (Reuters) - Former Chelsea midfielder Sophie Ingle was named on Thursday in Wales' 23-player squad for next month's Women's European Championship, despite being sidelined with an anterior cruciate ligament injury since September. "We needed to make sure that Sophie Ingle was in a good place, she's still on her path to full fitness but she's in a position now where she can contribute," Wales manager Rhian Wilkinson said. The 33-year-old, who has been released by Chelsea, tore her ACL in a pre-season friendly against Feyenoord last September, but Wilkinson said the former Wales skipper who has 141 caps showed enough in training to merit a place in the squad. "I don't want to get into (what role Ingle will play) specifically because Sophie's pushing, she's looking really good in training. She made me look foolish yesterday, I should never jump into training anymore, it's not good for my ego." Wales will be making their first appearance at a major tournament at the Euros in Switzerland and they marked the occasion by announcing the squad from the summit of Snowdon, the country's highest peak. Angharad James will captain a squad that includes her Seattle Reign midfield teammate Jess Fishlock, who is 38 and Wales' most-capped player with 161 appearances and 47 goals. "Jess is going to be the face, the name of Wales. She knows that," Wilkinson said. "But equally there is a group of senior players who have come through the whole thing, they have seen it all, been through it all and fought the fights. "To get the team over the line at what may be the end of their careers... it's one of those things as a coach you are really proud of, to help deliver that." Wales are the lowest-ranked squad in the tournament that kicks off on July 3, and were drawn into a difficult group with defending champions England, France and the Netherlands. Wales face the Dutch in their opening game on July 5. Squad: Goalkeepers: Olivia Clark, Safia Middleton-Patel, Poppy Soper; Defenders: Charlie Estcourt, Gemma Evans, Hayley Ladd, Esther Morgan, Ella Powell, Rhiannon Roberts; Midfielders: Josie Green, Lily Woodham, Jess Fishlock, Alice Griffiths, Sophie Ingle, Angharad James, Lois Joel, Rachel Rowe; Forwards: Ceri Holland, Kayleigh Barton, Hannah Cain, Elise Hughes, Carrie Jones, Ffion Morgan.
Sky News
2 days ago
- Sport
- Sky News
Wales announce squad for women's Euros
Wales have announced their squad for the women's Euros ahead of the start of the tournament next month. The competition in Switzerland will be Wales women's first major tournament in their history. The announcement was made by manager Rhian Wilkinson at the summit of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), Wales' highest mountain, on Thursday morning. Angharad James has been named Cymru captain and is one of four female players with over 100 caps for the country, the others being Hayley Ladd, Sophie Ingle, and Wales's most-capped player Jess Fishlock, who has 162 appearances for her country. Ingle returns to the squad after a period recovering from an ACL injury, with Wilkinson saying she was "still on her path to full fitness". The squad will leave Cardiff on Sunday 22 June for a week-long training camp in Portugal, before they travel to Switzerland on 29 June. Wales will begin their Euros campaign in Lucerne against 2017 tournament winners the Netherlands on 5 July. The team will then travel to St Gallen to face France, who reached the semi-finals in 2017, on 9 July. Rhian Wilkinson's women will then face reigning champions England on 13 July. More than 2,000 Welsh fans are expected to be in attendance for each match. Wales women choose 'spectacular setting' for announcement Rob Harris Sports correspondent @RobHarris This was the most spectacular setting for a sports squad announcement — the highest peak in Wales. And while I took the small mountain train up to the summit of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), manager Rhian Wilkinson spent just under 90 minutes walking to the summit, distracting from the looming Euros pressure by listening to political podcasts. It's the most perfect of days - showing Wales at its summer best, with the stunning landscape in full view under bright sun. But the location symbolises the journey of Wales qualifying for their first major women's tournament. Wilkinson spoke of the "baggage" and "feeling cursed" previously missing out before finally making it to the European Championship. "It was always going to be an uphill battle," she said. "We have used this mountain as an image throughout this campaign." The headline name travelling to Switzerland is Jess Fishlock — the 38-year-old with the appearances and goals record. The biggest relief will be felt by Sophie Ingle, who hasn't played for Chelsea since suffering an ACL injury last September. What is the peak of their capabilities? Nothing unachievable. It is about being realistic facing holders England, 2017 winners the Netherlands, and 2022 semifinalists France. At a news conference, Rhian Wilkinson said there had been "sleepless nights" as she decided on her 23-player squad. "I hope I've been really clear, there's names that aren't on this list who've given everything for their country. And those phone calls where I had to break their heart were and are always going to be the worst part of my job," she said. "Just a really great mix on this squad, which I think is exciting for me. Equally, for the Welsh public, a wonderful representation of the country." Asked how far Wales would get in the tournament, the Canadian said she had a mentality of "Why not?" "I think outside of Wales, people can think whatever they want, you can look at rankings and think whatever you want," Wilkinson added. "Our goal is to show up and be really present and to deliver to the best of our ability. And I've said from the beginning that when you deliver consistent performances, results follow. So we won't chase results, but we will chase consistency." The full Wales squad: Goalkeepers Olivia Clark Poppy Soper Safia Middleton-Patel Defenders Charlie Estcourt Gemma Evans Josie Green Hayley Ladd Esther Morgan Ella Powell Rhiannon Roberts Lily Woodham Midfield Jess Fishlock Alice Griffiths Ceri Holland Sophie Ingle Angharad James Lois Joel Rachel Rowe Forwards Kayleigh Barton Hannah Cain Elise Hughes Carrie Jones Ffion Morgan
BBC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Women's Euro 2025: Wales squad revealed for Euro 2025 finals
Big news for Wales fans out there, the team for the UEFA Women's Euro 2025 finals has been coach Rhian Wilkinson has announced her squad for the tournament in Switzerland, the first major women's tournament in their James will captain the team and is one of four centurions in the team - players that have 100 caps for Cymru, the Wales national team. The other 'centurions' are the most-capped Welsh player Jess Fishlock, Hayley Ladd and Sophie Ingle. The squad announcement took place on the summit of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), overlooking the Eryri National Park in north Wales.A 23-player squad was announced but places could be offered so extra players can travel with the squad at a later date. Cymru, who have qualified for a women's major tournament for the first time will travel to Switzerland on 29 June before their first game against Netherlands on Saturday 5 July. Next Wales faces France on 9 July in St Gallen, before building up to the big home nations clash as they face England's Lionesses on 13 July.
