Wilkinson 'never prouder' despite Wales on brink of exit
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 world.Wilkinson 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.
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Wales Online
27 minutes ago
- Wales Online
The 88 seconds of bravery that ended Wales' 21-month wait for victory
The 88 seconds of bravery that ended Wales' 21-month wait for victory After what seems like an eternity, Wales bagged a win in Japan at the 19th time of asking Dan Edwards scores the crucial try for Wales to seal the game (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd ) The margin between victory and defeat, as Wales have learned the brutal way over the last 21 months, is remarkably thin. Last week, in Kitakyushu, Matt Sherratt's side were unable to hold onto a 19-7 lead in the blazing sun. Now, under the roof in Kobe, leads of 21-3 and 24-10 had vanished. Leading by two points heading into the final 10 minutes, just as they had the previous week, it felt like everyone knew how this was about to play out. Only those decked out all in red at Noevir Stadium were about to flip the script. After 18 consecutive Test defeats, dragging the national team to new lows in terms of the world rankings, they did it. Frankly, it mattered little how they got over the line. Having waited so long for a win, no one cared how it came. But, in all honesty, it was always going to be the case that Wales had to go out and properly win it in the final minutes, rather than just hold on and fall over the line. They'd essentially tried that the week before. It didn't work, with the conditions and fear paralysing Wales. Article continues below It's a familiar story. Throughout this run, Wales have been capable of moments early on in matches. Think Blair Murray's try against Fiji last autumn or Tom Rogers' effort against Ireland in the recent Six Nations. The problems have often come about once the match reaches its conclusion. It looked to be a similar tale this time around. From the off, Wales looked to push an extra pass to stress Japan. Aaron Wainwright, in for Taulupe Faletau, shone early on - showing great work rate to get a second touch as Wales' forwards strung passes together to make ground. There was a clear intent from Wales to shift the ball a little wider than Japan expected. From deep, an extra tip-on pass sets them nicely for Dan Edwards to kick on his own terms. Edwards' high contestable is tapped back by Rogers in the air, with Johnny Williams claiming it. The centre gets isolated and turned over, but Alex Mann - who has been tipped to switch to openside at some point by his coaches - gets over the ball to win it back. From there, the first instinct is to spread it wide. Mann pops it off the deck to Archie Griffin, with Wainwright, Dewi Lake and Josh Macleod getting the ball to Ben Thomas. With Murray and Josh Adams outside him, Thomas targets Japan captain's Michael Leitch's outside shoulder - just about beating the back-row before offloading to Murray. From there, the full-back has a simple two-on-one to put Adams away for his first try for Wales since September 2023. Having moved further ahead from a Kieran Hardy score off the back of some strong lineouts, Wales' third score is just as well-worked as the first. With Japan down to 14 men following a yellow card, they worry little about the fact that Nicky Smith is down receiving treatment after winning a scrum penalty - instead taking a quick lineout to Griffin at the front and working the ball into the centre of the pitch. That's exactly where Wales want it, leaving their options open to go either way. In the end, it's an 11-play they run - one phase infield, then one phase back the other way - with Edwards and Murray sweeping behind as late options. The handling is crisp, with Adams cutting back against the grain beautifully to set up Hardy for his second. Given Wales have had to focus their attention away from the attack in the last five weeks - given there was limited sessions with an almost entirely new coaching group - these are lovely scores. For a while, that seemed to be as good as it got for Wales. A familiar story, flashes of good play leading to an implosion. Defeat had become inevitable, a self-fulfilling prophecy. Last week, Wales seemed to be clinging onto the fact that the lead they'd built was too big to lose. They now knew better. "The messaging this week was we did a lot well for 60 minutes (last week)," said Sherratt afterwards. "So the things we put emphasis on this week were our first three phases. "About 30 or 40 per cent of your possession is lineout attack. I think the lineout at the end, we talked about being a bit brave with the ball. "We probably tried to hang onto a lead last week. So all the messaging at half-time, Dewi spoke brilliantly about going on to kick on and win the game." And then, in the short space of 88 seconds or so, Wales did just that. It all started rather innocuously. Full-back Murray had gone up for an Edwards' up-and-under, but Japan had claimed the ball just outside their own 22. With Wales' lead having been reduced from 14 points to just two, the tension was building uncomfortably fast. Japan's defence coach, former Springbok assistant Gary Gold, notices Murray is still up in the frontline as Japan recycle. He relays the message down to the sideline, letting them know there's space in the middle. Edwards, alone in the backfield, calls Rogers back to cover, but there's still a fair bit of grass to look after as Japan finally pull the trigger on putting boot to ball. However, Taine Plumtree - on for Mann - gets just enough pressure on Seungsin Lee for the fly-half to slice his kick out on the full. By now, Wales are exhausted - with Luke Pearce calling upon them to form the lineout as they take a breather. Murray is barely on his feet by the time Luke Belcher, on for Lake, is towelling off the ball ahead of throwing in. The week before, Belcher had endured a few lineout wobbles on his Welsh debut. He can't afford something similar. He doesn't, nailing a perfect throw to the tail. "That last play summarises it for me," explains Sherratt. "It would have been easy to go to a safe lineout at the front. But we throw to the back, run a more risky play, if you like." Plumtree, the man who Belcher finds at the back of the lineout, agrees. "That clarity is a massive thing come those pressure times in the game," he says afterwards. "Belch came on and threw a perfect lineout that almost got stolen. A few phases later, we scored." Plumtree pops the ball to Reuben Morgan-Williams, the Ospreys scrum-half on for his Test debut. Before now, he'd been deputising on the wing - but Wales have switched him to his preferred position, with Hardy covering out wide. Ben Thomas carries into the heart of Japan's defence from the lineout, with wings Rogers and Hardy in close support to clear out. Once again, Wales have set up a ruck in the middle of the field - exactly where they want. As Japan work to fold around, Wales go back to the touchline they just came from. The first two carries are executed well. Belcher and Macleod offer themselves up as decoys, with Wales' ruck support on hand to offer quick ball. With no one on the blindside, Morgan-Williams looks to have gone down a blind alley. But he holds the pass nicely, waiting for Belcher to arrive on his shoulder. The Cardiff hooker targets a weak shoulder, making inroads as Japan are again forced to work hard folding around. One more phase to the blindside and Wales are ready to come back the other way. Wales' work effort is superb. Both teams are out on their feet, but Wales are winning the little races. James Ratti carries into contact, with Thomas clearing out. There's a sniff of a jackal opportunity, but Belcher works hard to get off the floor and secure the ruck. Just behind him, Plumtree drifts across - getting beyond the ruck before the Japan defence does. Now, it's time for Wales to really get brave. Japan's fold is slow, with Wales outnumbering them in the open space. Rogers and Edwards both stand beyond Plumtree, with Murray and Keelan Giles outside them in acres of space. Japan's right wing Kippei Ishida is left isolated with several options to cover. With Edwards the deeper option, he - fairly - assumes if the ball does go wide, Plumtree will go out the back - so he bites onto Edwards. Instead, Plumtree throws a little flat reverse pass to Rogers - taking Ishida out of the game. "Just one of the main messages that Jockey gave us was to be brave and express ourselves," says Plumtree. "I think we were under an advantage." There wasn't. "I heard Rog out the back so I pulled it back," he adds. "Thank God it came through." Rogers wastes no time giving the ball to Edwards, with the fly-half getting over for his first Test try at a crucial time. Article continues below "Fair play to Taine," says Edwards afterwards. "Jockey said to be brave and, fair play, Taine was brave doing that." "I didn't intend for him to be that brave," Sherratt admits, "but it worked! In the end, with all the scars, it was going to take something a bit special to end this losing run. Wales were brave when it mattered most and got exactly what they deserved.
Telegraph
33 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Liverpool players told to be themselves in emotional return after Jota tragedy
Arne Slot has said Liverpool will carry the memory of Diogo Jota forever as they make an emotional return to playing duties on Sunday. Liverpool took the tough decision to go ahead with their opening pre-season friendly of the summer, travelling to Preston North End for the first game since the Portugal striker's death. Slot's statesmanship has come to the fore as a club figurehead since Jota died in a car crash on July 3, and ahead of a poignant afternoon he has spoken movingly about the difficulty but necessity to play again in Jota's honour. 'Nothing seems to be important if we think of what has happened,' Slot told 'But we are a football club and we need to train and we need to play again, if we want it or not. 'What I've said to the players, I can say it here as well. It's very difficult to find the right words because we constantly debate what is appropriate. What is appropriate in our actions? What is appropriate [for] what we have to say? Can we train again? Can we laugh again? Can we be angry if there's a wrong decision? And I've said to them, maybe the best thing for us to do is handle this situation like Jota was. 'And what I meant with that is that Jota was always himself, it didn't matter if he was talking to me, to his team-mates, to the staff, he was always himself. So let us try to be ourselves as well. So, if we want to laugh we laugh; if we want to cry we're going to cry. If they want to train they can train, if they don't want to train they can not train. But be yourself, don't think you have to be different than your emotions tell you.' There will be a series of tributes at Deepdale, Liverpool supporters travelling in volume to stand side-by-side with their grieving players. Liverpool retired the No 20 shirt on Friday – a decision announced at 20.20pm – and Slot said that the most fitting tribute will be for the club to demonstrate the togetherness and selflessness which was one of Jota's many assets. 'Jots was the player that if things were really, really, really difficult, I always looked at him and said, 'Now we need something special from you.' And he delivered so many times in those moments,' said Slot. 'I can come up with all of these moments, even before I was here he had many of these moments as well. So we are in a very difficult time, so let's try to do what Diogo did so many times. If it's so difficult then try a little bit harder or just keep on going and try to make it work. 'We will always carry him with us in our hearts, in our thoughts, wherever we go. Maybe especially in difficult moments. To retire his shirt is the one thing we could, should and have done. 'What I take comfort in [is that] in the last month of his life he was a champion in everything. A champion for his family, which is the main and most important thing, because he got married. A champion for his country because he won the Nations League. And of course a champion for us by winning the Premier League.'
The Guardian
36 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Tour de France 2025: stage nine from Chinon to Châteauroux
Update: Date: 2025-07-13T10:30:26.000Z Title: Preamble Content: Hello and welcome back to the Guardian's Tour de France live blog. It's another flat stage today for the riders as they make their way from Chinon to Châteauroux over 174.1km of parcours. There's a low elevation gain of 1,400m, no categorised climbs and an intermediate sprint at 24km in. Châteauroux, which has been renamed 'Cavendish City' temporarily, is a sprinter's finish. Mark Cavendish won three times in the city and notably took the first of his record 35 wins here in 2008. So, unsuprisingly, it's going to be a day for the sprinters. Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) is fresh off a victory yesterday – can he repeat it in another bunch sprint? Tim Merlier (Soudal-Quick-Step) was unlucky yesterday, suffering a mechanical close to the finish and having to expend energy trying to get to the front of the pack before a rush for the line. Perhaps today is his day? Or Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty) could get his first stage win of this Tour today? Oh, and we shouldn't forget Wout Van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike). I'd love to get your thoughts, so please email via the link above. Before the action starts at 1.10pm CEST (12.10am BST), here's a refresher of how yesterday played out:
