Holland back in Wales squad after Euros scare
Liverpool forward Ceri Holland has been named in the Wales squad for the final Nations League group matches, two months after fears that she could miss Euro 2025.Holland, 27, is part of a 26-strong squad named by manager Rhian Wilkinson for the decisive League A matches against Denmark in Odense on May 30 and against Italy in Swansea four days later.The winger was stretchered off during Wales' 2-1 defeat to Denmark in April but scans showed her leg injury was not as serious as first thought and she returned for Liverpool later that month.The news came as a great relief to not only the player, who was in tears coming off the pitch, but to a Wales team preparing for its first major women's tournament when they take on the Netherlands on July 5 in Lucerne, Switzerland.Record cap-holder Jess Fishlock and striker Kayleigh Barton have also returned to Wilkinson's squad for the upcoming Nations League matches.
Like Holland, 38-year-old Fishlock, who is in line to win a 161st cap, was a late injury withdrawal for the 1-1 draw away to Sweden. Barton, 37, also missed the trip as well as the Denmark game in Cardiff four days earlier.But experienced goalkeeper Laura O'Sullivan-Jones does not feature after sustaining an ACL injury which has also ruled her out of Euro 2025.18-year-old Aston Villa keeper Soffia Kelly has been called up in her place, one of three uncapped teenagers along with fellow stopper Poppy Soper and Bristol CIty forward Tianna Teisar. Manchester United's once-capped 18-year-old midfielder Mared Griffiths is also included.Wales will be relegated from League A if they lose to Denmark or if they draw and Italy do not lose to Sweden.
Wales squad
Goalkeepers: Olivia Clark (Leicester City), Safia Middleton-Patel (Manchester United), Soffia Kelly (Aston Villa), Poppy Soper (Blackburn Rovers).Defenders: Rhiannon Roberts (Real Betis), Josie Green (Crystal Palace), Charlie Estcourt (DC Power), Hayley Ladd (Everton), Gemma Evans (Liverpool), Mayzee Davies (Manchester City), Lily Woodham (Crystal Palace - on loan from Seattle Reign), Ella Powell (Bristol City), Esther Morgan (Sheffield United).Midfielders: Alice Griffiths (Durham - on loan from Southampton), Angharad James (Seattle Reign), Lois Joel (Newcastle United), Carrie Jones (IFK Norrköping), Jess Fishlock (Seattle Reign), Mared Griffiths (Manchester United).Forwards: Ceri Holland (Liverpool), Rachel Rowe (Southampton), Kayleigh Barton (Charlton Athletic), Tianna Teisar (Bristol City), Hannah Cain (Leicester City), Ffion Morgan (Bristol City), Elise Hughes (Crystal Palace).
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Leader Live
27 minutes ago
- Leader Live
Josh Rock and Daryl Gurney clinch first World Cup crown for Northern Ireland
Josh Rock and Daryl Gurney – the tournament's fourth seeds – broke down in tears after holding their nerve to make history with a 10-9 defeat of Jonny Clayton and Gerwyn Price. Having trailed 7-5, the triumphant pair hit back to lead 9-7, only to miss four match darts for the title at 9-8, allowing Clayton and Price – champions in 2020 and 2023 – to force a decider. NORTHERN IRELAND ARE THE 2025 @BetVictor WORLD CUP CHAMPIONS 🏆 Josh Rock and Daryl Gurney have done it… Northern Ireland win the World Cup for the very first time!! What a final as they beat Wales 10-9 👏 — PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) June 15, 2025 Rock and Gurney, who threw first in the final leg, regained their composure to clinch the title before sinking to their knees during an emotional embrace. Playing together for the first time, the champions picked up a team first prize of £80,000. Rock told Sky Sports: 'Me and Daryl said we'll win this World Cup; I wasn't expecting it to be the first time. But we've done it. 'I have the privilege to have made history, we've won the World Cup for Northern Ireland and there is always going to be a star on the back of this shirt. For the very first time… NORTHERN IRELAND ARE WORLD CUP CHAMPIONS 👏 — PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) June 15, 2025 'As a team, we were fantastic. We fought hard all the way through. 'One of the two of us will win a major this year, I think, because when you win on the big stage in front of Sky Sports, it's obviously a different story.' Northern Ireland led 3-1 but then lost six of the next eight legs before regaining control of a captivating contest courtesy of a devastating combination of Rock's scoring power and Gurney's finishing. Following the four missed darts for glory in the penultimate leg, Wales were given a glimmer of hope, only for Gurney to finally nail double eight to secure the trophy. A special, special final… 🏆 — PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) June 15, 2025 'Josh was power scoring and all I had to do was clean up the finishing,' said Gurney. 'I have never been so proud of this man and myself.' Second seeds Wales began Sunday as favourites for silverware after English top seeds Luke Littler and Luke Humphries suffered a shock second-round defeat by Germany on Saturday. Clayton and Price overcame Hong Kong 8-4 in the quarter-finals before defeating Dutch duo Danny Noppert and Gian van Veen in the last four, while Rock and Gurney reached the final by beating Ireland 8-5 and then thrashing German pair Martin Schindler and Ricardo Pietreczko 8-1. An epic title showdown featured 16 maximums – 11 for Northern Ireland. Beaten finalist Price said: 'We started off really slow. We were trying to get into the game, it was really difficult. But we got ourselves in front – the leg to go 8-5 up was a crucial leg for us, and then we find ourselves 8-7 behind. 'Testament to the Irish team, Josh was scoring unbelievably – we probably couldn't keep up with him. In the last leg, I banged a 180 in and thought, 'yeah, we've got them back', then he hits a 177. 'At the beginning of this tournament, I predicted a Wales-(Northern) Ireland final – I just predicted we would win. But fair play to them, they were fantastic.'
Scottish Sun
31 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Daryl Gurney makes disgusting admission after winning World Cup of Darts for Northern Ireland in dramatic finale
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) DARYL GURNEY made a gross revelation after winning the World Cup of Darts. Northern Ireland triumphed in Frankfurt, Germany, with Gurney and his team-mate Josh Rock delighted with the win. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Daryl Gurney made a shock admission after the World Cup final Credit: Getty 3 Gurney and team-mate Josh Rock were in tears after their win Credit: Getty 3 Northern Ireland beat Wales 10-9 in a tense thriller Credit: Getty The pair were put through the emotional wringer after missing five match darts. The match against Wales went down to the final leg as Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton refused to accept defeat. And Gurney, who missed four of those match darts before sealing the win by hitting double eight, revealed nerves almost got the better of him. He told Sky Sports: 'Firstly congratulations to Wales. They showed their class. Jonny and Gezzy, absolute legends of the game. READ MORE IN DARTS GONG GONE Sky Sports pundit jokes Littler and Humphries should be stripped of MBEs 'Josh had the power-scoring and I just had to clean up the finishing. 'I hope I don't get a fine for this but every time I went for double five a wee bit of poo fell out! 'I was never going to miss double eight. I have never been so proud of this man and myself.' Gurney and Rock broke down in tears as they embraced on stage after their win. BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS They will collect an £80,000 jackpot and Rock felt the win was never in doubt. He said: 'When we said we are paired together we'll win it. We didn't expect to do it, but we did it. 'Stupid' - Josh Rock hits out at 'disrespectful' World Cup of Darts rival's on-stage antics 'As a team we were fantastic. We fought hard all the way through.'
The Sun
31 minutes ago
- The Sun
Daryl Gurney makes disgusting admission after winning World Cup of Darts for Northern Ireland in dramatic finale
DARYL GURNEY made a gross revelation after winning the World Cup of Darts. Northern Ireland triumphed in Frankfurt, Germany, with Gurney and his team-mate Josh Rock delighted with the win. 3 3 The pair were put through the emotional wringer after missing five match darts. The match against Wales went down to the final leg as Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton refused to accept defeat. And Gurney, who missed four of those match darts before sealing the win by hitting double eight, revealed nerves almost got the better of him. He told Sky Sports: 'Firstly congratulations to Wales. They showed their class. Jonny and Gezzy, absolute legends of the game. 'Josh had the power-scoring and I just had to clean up the finishing. 'I hope I don't get a fine for this but every time I went for double five a wee bit of poo fell out! 'I was never going to miss double eight. I have never been so proud of this man and myself.' Gurney and Rock broke down in tears as they embraced on stage after their win. They will collect an £80,000 jackpot and Rock felt the win was never in doubt. He said: 'When we said we are paired together we'll win it. We didn't expect to do it, but we did it. 'As a team we were fantastic. We fought hard all the way through.'
