Wilkinson urges more fans to watch Wales v Denmark
Wales boss Rhian Wilkinson says she is disappointed with ticket sales for the upcoming Nations League visit from Denmark.Wales played in front of a record crowd in north Wales for their Nations League draw against Sweden last month and she is hoping the fans will show the players their support before a first major tournament appearance this summer at Euro 2025."I don't think we've sold as many tickets for Cardiff as I would like to see," Wilkinson said prior to the visit of Denmark on Friday, 4 April."This is something we can't shy away from, the fact we maybe haven't had the audiences in-person that we would like to get."This is a huge game for us. Come and support your team, let this wonderful group of women see how loved they are."
Wilkinson has previously said Wales is "culturally behind" when it comes to supporting the women's team.And she insists she will continue to make that point with Wales men's team regularly selling out Cardiff City Stadium and with over 2,000 fans making the trip to North Macedonia to watch Craig Bellamy's side in World Cup qualifying this week."To anyone who was out in North Macedonia or watching it on television, to the Red Wall, this is a sporting nation, men, women, youth, get behind your team," she told BBC Sport Wales."This is one of the last opportunities to see this team before the Euros. Can you help me in letting them feel supported? Because I know that there is so much support and sometimes we just don't always see that in the numbers coming out to the games, but this is an important game for us, a huge game for us."So I would ask people to come out to support their team and let this wonderful group of women feel as loved as they are."Wilkinson believes people will regret it if they do not get to watch Wales' top goalscorer and record appearance-maker, Jess Fishlock, before it is too late, with the Seattle Reign midfielder now 38-years old."I don't know when she'll retire but she will not play forever," added the Wales boss."If you haven't had the privilege of seeing someone like her play then get out to Cardiff. These are things I think we as Welsh people take for granted. "Those who didn't see Gareth Bale when he was playing regret it. Don't regret this. She is a very special player who is really delivering in every single game she plays in."There are players on this team that are generational players that you will not see for very much longer. This is a history-making team, so connected to their country and wanting to put this team on the world stage and deliver results."
Wilkinson says Wales women have a passionate fanbase, but is hoping more fans who regularly attend men's games, will start to come and watch her side."Welsh support and pride for everything we deliver to the world should be celebrated. No one should be lost in [distinctions between] men's, women's, youth or senior football," she said."This is an opportunity to come out and support a Welsh team that is fighting on the international stage to be the best that they can be before attending a major event."The Red Wall is something real to us, they deliver time and time again. So thank you for coming to support a team that I feel deserves the support of their country."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
30 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Mauricio Pochettino eyed for sensational Spurs return but key obstacle remains
Tottenham enjoyed a successful period with Mauricio Pochettino at the helm and he's being considered as a replacement for Ange Postecoglou - but finances may scupper any hope of a return Mauricio Pochettino is being considered as the next Tottenham manager but it would take a mammoth fee to get him back to north London given he's currently in charge of the USA national team. Daniel Levy is on the lookout for another new manager after sacking Ange Postecoglou on Friday. The Australian won the Europa League, but it wasn't enough to keep him in a job given a dire Premier League campaign, which saw them finish 17th. A list of possible replacements has been drawn up with Pochettino, who led the club for five years, being linked with a return to the post he left in 2019. The Argentine has since gone on to lead the likes of PSG and Chelsea but now finds himself in international management with the USA, who are looking forward to hosting the World Cup next year with Pochettino at the helm. The BBC reports that if Tottenham wanted to get Pochettino out of his contract and back to Tottenham the compensation package they would have to pay would be one of the "biggest in football history". That could leave them looking elsewhere despite there previously being talk of a return for Pochettino, who was axed just months after guiding the club to the final of the Champions League. Despite missing out on a trophy he consistently got Tottenham into the top four, finishing second in 2017. He previously admitted a return was on his radar, but not right now: "I am in the USA, so I am not going to talk about that now - but what I said then I still, after six years or five years, feel in my heart. Yes, I would like one day to come back." Brentford boss Thomas Frank is among the other names being considered to replacement Postecoglou. He's continued to work impressively in west London despite losing his best players annually, yet he's been able to ensure Brentford consolidate themselves in the top flight. He has a £10million release clause though and Tottenham are also considering Fulham's Marco Silva. The Portuguese boss recently claimed he intends to remain as the Cottagers boss, but has been shortlisted.
Evening Standard
42 minutes ago
- Evening Standard
How to watch Andorra vs England FOR FREE: TV channel and live stream for World Cup qualifier today
They will be expected to run up a handsome score in a mismatch against lowly Andorra, who are ranked down at No173 in the world by FIFA, having worked hard during a recent training camp in Girona where they tried to mimic the sweltering conditions they would face at the World Cup.
BBC News
44 minutes ago
- BBC News
Is Kelleher Republic of Ireland's World Cup 'trump card'?
"We talked before about who will be the player to take them to the World Cup? I think he is the biggest trump card."Former Liverpool and Germany midfielder Dietmar Hamann was full of praise for Caoimhin Kelleher after the Republic of Ireland's 1-1 draw with Senegal. Kelleher's resolve was finally broken in the 81st minute after making three big saves to keep the African side out in Dublin. It has been a big week for the 26-year-old, who left Liverpool to join Brentford for an initial £12.5m, which could rise to £18m with to former Premier League goalkeeper Shay Given, "in the current climate he's worth every single penny, if not more"."No disrespect to Brentford, but I'm surprised there wasn't a few more bigger clubs in," Given said on RTE Sport."Unless clubs have gone, 'let's have a look at him at Brentford. We know they are a selling club, let's see him as a number one for a year or two'. "At 26 years of age he's still plenty young enough. He looks the real deal" Given reflected upon the goalkeeping situation at Manchester United and Chelsea, and said "I would have gone in and got him".He was speaking after Kelleher made three big saves against Senegal. The first came early in the second half when he tipped Krepin Diatta's header onto the crossbar when it looked destined for the back of the was a save Given described as "world class", and Kelleher followed it up with another save to push the ball off the line after a big deflection onto the post, and then the initial stop with his foot to keep the ball out before Ismaila Sarr fired home the rebound in Dublin."I don't think there is a keeper in the group who is anywhere near as good as he is," Hamann said on RTE when talking about the key role Kelleher could play for the Irish ahead of World Cup qualifying in September. "I said last year, I think he is one of the top five keepers in the Premier League. "Obviously one of those better than him was playing for the same club [Liverpool's Alisson]. "You'll struggle to find three of four better players than him in the Premier League and I think he'll show it next season." Former Newcastle United and Manchester City stopper Given believes Kelleher will have a point to prove as he heads to Brentford as their first choice goalkeeper after deputising for Alisson while at who joined Liverpool as a 16-year-old, played in 25 Premier League games since making his debut five years ago."He would have benefited but he would have missed out on so many games as well," Given said on Kelleher's time at Liverpool. "He'll not get that back now. He'll be hungry to play every single week and be successful in his own right. "His patience paid off. He's gone to Brentford with a Premier League medal and it's not like he made one or two substitute appearances. "He played really well and it was in a part of the season when the league was far from won. There was high pressure and he can deal with it, he's got the whole lot."
