Wales fan seen crying on TV cameras at Euro 2025 describes special moment that tipped him over the edge
His tears summed up the emotion at an historic day in Switzerland
Wales fan Dai Rees cries at the anthem in Euro 2025 as Wales take on the Netherlands
(Image: BBC )
As Wales' women belted out the anthem on the pitch, in the stands in Lucerne, the 4,000 travelling fans did too. One of those who caught the eye of the TV cameras was Dai Rees.
One of those who found the whole experience a little overwhelming, he was caught wiping tears away from his eyes as the pre-match rendition of Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau finished.
Being interviewed on BBC Radio Wales this morning, he joked: "It's the opportunity that I've been waiting for my whole life. I was desperate to be on the telly, now it finally happened when I'm crying."
"I cried at the anthem...it was such an emotional day. In such a positive way from the fanzone to the ground, the walk that the fans did, from the fans down to the ground, mixing with the Dutch and then kind of seeing the players warm up and there's so many families and everything else around. Sign up to the Don't Take Me Home newsletter here .
"I cry at the anthem most times I go watch Wales play, to be honest, but this was extra special and to to feel and see that emotion, all those people around us, it just kind of got a bit on top of me, as you did a couple of strong continental Swiss lagers."
Dai, from the Coleman Had a Dream podcast, shared more of his story in a blog post. "I shouted my way through the start of the anthem and the 'gwlads' tipped me over the edge. I was gone...as I looked up from his tear stained shoulder, I saw myself wiping tears from my eyes on the screen. The realisation that this was on worldwide TV dawned on me and very quickly I had a lot of messages. Nia Jones referred to me as a future meme in radio commentary and I received plenty of friendly ribbing, in the ground too.
Article continues below
Wales fan Dai Rees cries at the anthem in Euro 2025 as Wales take on the Netherlands
(Image: BBC )
"I've heard from kids I used to teach, from Boston to Barry and people I went to Uni with. My old music teacher even messaged me and my mum told me I'd gone viral. I still don't think she knows what that means, so Christ knows who told her that. Whilst I was the one on the screen, I was far from the only one feeling that way. I'm very grateful that the emotion was captured yesterday. A great memory and memento of the day."
Ahead of the game, Welsh and Dutch fans walked together to the stadium, 8,000 joined together, with what the FAW has said was the biggest fan walk in women's Euro history.
In the post match press conference, manager Rhian Wilkinson told journalists the fans had made a huge difference.
"Even better," said Wilkinson, when asked whether the support was as good as the players had dreamt of.
"I spoke to the players before the game as well, and I said: 'These people have shown up to thank you for getting them there.
"They want to see you give it everything you have and they're right there behind you.' And that's exactly what they did.
"From the second I walked out before the players, I got a little bit intimidated, it was quite emotional.
Welsh fans in Lucerne in Switzerland
(Image: Getty Images )
"And of course it was for the players as well. So a huge thank you to all the fans here and back home.
"Of course, we want to push our standards and make sure to get the game a little tighter and make our moments count in these two games.
"But, a huge thank you to the crowd tonight and the Dutch fans, what a cool atmosphere for both teams."
Article continues below
However, Wales' women lost 3-0 in their opening game of Euro 2025, you can read the report here. The team are at their first major tournament ever.
Up next for Rhian Wilkinson's side are two more tough games against France on Wednesday, July 9, and England on Sunday, July 13, in St Gallen.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
13 minutes ago
- BBC News
Wilkinson 'never prouder' despite Wales on brink of exit
Wales boss Rhian Wilkinson says she has "never been prouder," despite Wales being on the brink of Euro 2025 elimination.A 4-1 defeat to France means Wales need a miracle to qualify for the knockout stages in Switzerland, requiring a five goal victory over reigning champions England on Sunday in St Gallen and for France to beat the Netherlands in another three goal defeat, Wales were vastly improved against France and created a moment of Welsh footballing history with their first major tournament goal - a moment that saw Jess Fishlock become the oldest goalscorer in European Championship history."I've never been prouder. This team, they just keep surprising me," Wilkinson said."To be that courageous and to show up against one of the best teams in the world, I truly believe France are easily top three, and to score our fist Euro goal, it was amazing. I'm very proud today." Wales always had a tough task to progress from group D, pitted against reigning champions England and, in France and the Netherlands, the sides ranked 10th and 11th in the says the improved performance is more important to her than the result, especially with Wales complete novices on the world stage."Results are secondary to performance, I say that all the time, I'd rather lose 4-1 and play and show courage than lose 1-0 and just sit and not actually give our fans something to cheer and boy did we cheer," she told BBC Sport Wales."It was a big, big improvement performance-wise from the first game. I guess once again it's just little errors, individual mistakes and at this level obviously you're punished to the fullest extent."Wales is a minnow on the world stage and they've earned the right to be here and to represent our amazing country and now we get to see the difference. The difference between the top teams and where we're at."This is a very new nation to the football world and we showed everyone how proud we are to represent Wales." 'A proud Welsh woman who gives everything' Wilkinson was full of praise for Seattle Reign's Fishlock, 38, who inevitably produced Wales' first memorable moment at a major finals, 19 years after her Wales debut, also in Switzerland."I don't think you have many players anywhere in the world who are such servants to their nation," she said."I mean she plays in Seattle. That flight is terrible, terrible and she's never turned down Wales and she's done it for years."She's at the twilight of her career and whenever she chooses to call it a day she has demonstrated what it is to be a proud Welsh woman who will give everything to her country and to her team and there haven't been so many highlights."Wilkinson is delighted Fishlock has now had a moment in the limelight."There's been great games, there's been fantastic performances but they haven't quite made it to the to the world stage and she's on it and she's on the field and she scores that goal and everyone knows that is one of those moments that we should celebrate," she added."Her career spans the whole of Welsh history on the women's side and we are minnows. We are at the very cusp of what we're going to be doing in Wales with women's football and Jess is leading that charge with the group of women and I am completely in awe of this moment and this group." Fishlock 'grateful' after historic goal Fishlock says she will reflect on the tournament when it is finished, but admitted she was proud to have scored a historic goal, the 48th international goal of her glittering career."I'm really proud of these girls tonight. We were in it and doing exactly what we expected to do," she told ITV."I think the biggest learning for us in this entire tournament so far is in the little moments, we just have to be a little bit better. But we're so close and I'm so proud of this group tonight."I'm very grateful to have scored and maybe after the tournament I'll let that sink in a little bit more."Wales captain Angharad James was delighted for her long-term teammate."I'm so happy for Jess, this was her moment, she's worked so hard as an individual in the last 20 years, and I'm so proud she got her moment," she said.
Rhyl Journal
3 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
Belinda Bencic knocks out Mirra Andreeva to reach maiden Wimbledon semi-final
Andreeva, 18, was bidding to become the youngest semi-finalist at the All England Club since Maria Sharapova won the title 21 years ago but Bencic edged a cat-and-mouse battle 7-6 (3) 7-6 (2). It has been a remarkable comeback for the Swiss following the birth of daughter Bella in April last year, and she will now face Iga Swiatek in just the second grand slam semi-final of her career. You better believe it, Belinda. You're a #Wimbledon semi-finalist 👏 — Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 9, 2025 Bencic, the first Swiss woman to make it this far since Martina Hingis in 1998, beamed after putting away the final volley, saying: 'It's crazy, it's unbelievable, it's a dream come true. I tried not to think about it at the match point. I'm speechless. So happy. 'I'm very proud. I didn't say that to myself much in my career but after having Bella I really say that to myself every day. We are just enjoying life on tour. It's been beautiful to create these memories together.' Her first slam semi-final came six years ago at the US Open, which had been by a distance her best major tournament, although Bencic achieved the high point of her career in 2021 by winning Olympic singles gold. A post shared by Belinda Bencic (@belindabencic) The pair had a royal audience, with the Queen sat in the Royal Box, and this was an absorbing contest from the start, with very little to choose between the two. Bencic and Andreeva are two of the best tacticians in the women's game, and they probed each other looking for an advantage, with neither giving up anything until the first-set tie-break, when the Swiss was the steadier. Bencic looked poised to clinch victory when she secured the first break of serve in the contest in the ninth game of the second set to leave herself serving for the match. Andreeva looked to coach Conchita Martinez, back in her familiar role a day after her young charge had played cheerleader during an invitation doubles match, and with her back against the wall she managed to hit straight back. Bencic was struggling with a painful toenail but, having sent the trainer away at 5-4, she battled her way into a tie-break and again showed her experience to move into the last four.
Glasgow Times
3 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Wales on the brink of Euro 2025 exit despite landmark goal from Jess Fishlock
Rhian Wilkinson's side were put to the sword by Les Bleus in St Gallen, despite Jess Fishlock scoring her country's first-ever goal at a major tournament. Clara Mateo, Kadidiatou Diani, Amel Majri and Grace Geyoro bagged for France to leave Wales needing to beat England and manufacture a nine-goal swing in goal difference in Sunday's final match. ⏰ FT | 🇫🇷 4-1 🏴 Defeat for Cymru. — Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) July 9, 2025 Even if they can achieve that unlikely feat, they also need France to beat the Netherlands. Wales must have feared a long night when the French went ahead in just the ninth minute. Mateo did very well to control a flick on from Selma Bacha's inswinging corner and then sent a cushioned volley into the roof of the net. But Wales were level five minutes later as Fishlock created history. Not only did she score her country's first goal at a major tournament, she also became the oldest women to score at the European Championships at the age of 38 years and 176 days when she prodded home Ceri Holland's improvised cross. 🏴 The latest milestone in Jess Fishlock's illustrious career 👏#WEURO2025 — UEFA Women's EURO 2025 (@WEURO2025) July 9, 2025 It was initially ruled out for offside but the decision was overruled by VAR. France went back in front just before half-time from the spot after Holland fouled Mateo and Diani converted, but only just as her weak effort hit the legs of Wales goalkeeper Safia Middleton-Patel and trickled over the line. France made it three in the 53rd minute when Majri swept home after the Welsh defence had been caught playing out from the back. Geyoro put the icing on the cake when she tapped home Diani's cross as France made it 10 wins from 10 in 2025.
