Wales fan seen crying on TV cameras at Euro 2025 describes special moment that tipped him over the edge

Wales Online

5 days ago

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.
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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."
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"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.
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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.
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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.
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"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 )
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"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."
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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.