Latest news with #EliseHughes
ITV News
01-07-2025
- Sport
- ITV News
How Wales is preparing for their Euro 2025 debut in Switzerland
The excitement is palpable in the Wales camp. As we arrived at their Swiss training base of Weinfelden, about an hour's drive north west of Zurich, we were each greeted with a gift. It was, of course, a bucket hat - coloured red, yellow and green - that unmistakable emblem of Welsh football. The team has carried them to Switzerland in bulk, ready to distribute to travelling fans ahead of their Euros group matches. If this heatwave continues, they might well come in handy! As team Wales warm up - in all senses of the word - for their first ever Euros tournament, they know the sweltering temperatures are far from the biggest challenge they will face on the pitch. As debutants, they have been drawn in the so-called 'group of death'. Their first two games will see them up against the Netherlands and then France - both serious title contenders - before they face reigning European champions England. Thirtieth in the world, Wales are the lowest ranked side competing at the Euros this summer. Reaching the knockout stages will be very tough, but that is where this team believes it belongs. Speaking at their first press conference today, the players reiterated that they are not here simply to make up numbers. Rhian Wilkinson's side want to cause some disruption at their first major tournament, and show the world what they can do. Striker Elise Hughes, who plays for WSL side Crystal Palace, said her team was excited to play. 'It's a Wales thing to be an underdog and you we're relishing in that that opportunity," she said. "And you know we want to come here and play in the biggest games, and our group is allowing us to do that, and we'll be more than ready." The players hope to emulate the success of their male counterparts, whose fairytale run to the semi-finals of the Euros in 2016 has gone down in Welsh sporting history. They say they are settling well into their Swiss base camp. 'Where we are staying is very Welsh scenery', said Hughes. 'We feel right at home here.' They won't be getting too comfy just yet, though. They took part in a training session on Tuesday morning, knowing every single moment of preparation will count. Their tournament kicks off on Saturday against previous champions The Netherlands. Despite all the pressure, this is a team determined to enjoy a moment both the players and the country have waited so very long for. So far, insists midfielder Rachel Rowe, 'we are keeping the nerves at bay'.
BBC News
01-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Euro 2025 kept Wales' Hughes hungry during ACL recovery
Wales striker Elise Hughes says the worry of missing out on Euro 2025 kept her motivated during the "bad times", as she recovered from anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) 24-year-old Crystal Palace striker returned to action in February after missing nine months of football following the knee cap centurion Sophie Ingle has also returned to the squad after suffering the same injury, while goalkeeper Laura O'Sullivan, defender Mayzee Davies and midfielder Megan Wynne have all been ruled out of the tournament in Switzerland after ACL football governing body Fifa is funding research into whether hormonal fluctuations during menstrual cycles could be contributing to the rise in ACL injuries in women's year-long study at Kingston University London began in suggests female footballers are two to six times more likely to suffer the injuries than their male who was the top goalscorer in the Championship when she suffered her injury, is now hoping to make a big impact with Wales as they compete in their first major tournament. 'You never think it'll be you' Hughes had just sealed promotion with Crystal Palace when she suffered her ACL injury, but attention quickly turned to Wales."Obviously the injury at the time was really bad. It came in a season for me that I thought I did really well in," Hughes told BBC Sport Wales."I returned in February already knowing that the girls had qualified for us, and so then it was just an added motivation to be back and to be better and to be ready for the stage this summer."I was out for nine months. I fought every day to try and make it shorter but that's just not safe."Hughes says the road to recovery from an ACL injury is tougher than people realise, but she found the hardest thing was not being able to immediately return to play at the same standard."Obviously, at the start, you strip it right back to obviously learning to walk again, and you just never think that's going to be you," she said. "You obviously know that an ACL injury plagues the women's game in particular, but you just never think it's going to be you until it's you."But I feel like I didn't really understand it, I didn't really accept it until like three or four months in."Everyone is different. For me the hardest part for me was returning because I didn't return the same as when I left. And that was hard for me because I just thought I was going to come back in and be fit and firing, but I had just spent the best part of a season out of the game."No one prepares you for that moment. For me personally, the hardest part was coming back because of the expectations I have for myself." Sharing Ingle's injury burden Hughes says she made it a priority to try and help her international teammate when she suffered the same injury during pre-season in timeline always meant she would be touch and go to be fit for Euro 2025 and although she has been named in Wales' squad, the former Chelsea midfielder has not played a competitive game in more than a year."It was the first time I was more experienced than Soph at something, because I was obviously a few months ahead," Hughes said."I just said to her, like, listen, it's obviously awful."I reached out to Soph at the start, like once a week. She probably thought I was annoying at times! And then after that every month, just to make sure that she was feeling good, and you know that she was feeling positive, because sometimes you can slip away from the positivity."You know, it was harder for Soph with her time frame, and she was in a bit more of a hurry to come back, but she has done really well to do so safely. It is so great to have her back." Fit and firing for Switzerland Now fully fit, Hughes says she is desperate to make her mark in Wales' first major tournament Wilkinson's side have been drawn in a daunting group with England, France and the Netherlands, but Hughes says the Wales squad are already feeling at home in Switzerland and are ready to compete."It's really surreal to be here. We got here. The staff that came out the week before we were here have made it a home away from Wales. Where we are, in particular, is very Welsh scenery, so we feel right at home already," she added."Honestly, walking in is just everything we've ever wanted. And now that we're here, we're ready to go. We're really excited."Being at a major tournament is amazing. It's honestly once in a lifetime and you can just tell as soon as we got here, it was a real pinch-me moment."It was one of those moments where you really have to be in the present to appreciate it. And let me tell you, I think that the squad are very much there and we're really enjoying it."
BBC News
06-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Send in your questions for Wales women's football stars
We want to hear your questions for Lily Woodham, Josie Green and Elise Hughes - football stars who play for Cymru, the Wales national team. Newsround will be chatting to the Welsh players ahead of an exciting time for the women's team. Cymru will make their first ever appearance in an international tournament with Euro 2025 this summer. Send in your questions in the comments!
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wales recall injured duo Hughes and Morgan for Nations League games
Wales have recalled long-term injury absentees Elise Hughes and Esther Morgan for their Nations League opening matches against Italy and Sweden. Rhian Wilkinson's side will begin their preparation for their first major tournament, Euro 2025, with defender Hayley Ladd on the brink of a milestone 100th cap, a feat she will achieve if she plays in either match. Wales visit Monza on Friday, 21 February to face Italy, before hosting Sweden in Wrexham on Tuesday, 25 February but will do so without midfielder Rachel Rowe, who is injured. Wales to tour country for Nations League campaign Wales 'culturally behind' with women's football - Wilkinson What does Euro 2025 qualification mean for Wales? Rowe joins cap centurion Sophie Ingle, who is recovering from knee surgery, on the sidelines. However, the return of Hughes and Morgan will provide a welcome boost for boss Rhian Wilkinson. Hughes has been out of action since April after ACL surgery, but made her return for club side Crystal Palace earlier this month. The lay-off has been even longer for 22-year old defender Morgan, who has been beset by injury issues in recent seasons. Wilkinson also names Manchester United academy defender Scarlett Hill, 17 in her squad as one of three uncapped players. Hill has previously been involved in England's youth set-up. Olivia Clark (Leicester City), Laura O'Sullivan-Jones (Gwalia United), Safia Middleton-Patel (Manchester United), 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), Scarlett Hill (Manchester United), Esther Morgan (Sheffield United), Alice Griffiths (Durham- On loan from Southampton), Angharad James (Seattle Reign), Lois Joel (Newcastle United), Carrie Jones (IFK Norrköping), Ffion Morgan (Bristol City), Jess Fishlock (Seattle Reign), Ceri Holland (Liverpool), Ellen Jones (Sunderland), Kayleigh Barton (Charlton Athletic), Mary McAteer (Sunderland), Mared Griffiths (Manchester United), Hannah Cain (Leicester City), Elise Hughes (Crystal Palace)
BBC News
12-02-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Wales recall injured duo Hughes and Morgan for Nations League games
Wales have recalled long-term injury absentees Elise Hughes and Esther Morgan for their Nations League opening matches against Italy and Wilkinson's side will begin their preparation for their first major tournament, Euro 2025, with defender Hayley Ladd on the brink of a milestone 100th cap, a feat she will achieve if she plays in either visit Monza on Friday, 21 February to face Italy, before hosting Sweden in Wrexham on Tuesday, 25 February but will do so without midfielder Rachel Rowe, who is injured. Rowe joins cap centurion Sophie Ingle, who is recovering from knee surgery, on the the return of Hughes and Morgan will provide a welcome boost for boss Rhian has been out of action since April after ACL surgery, but made her return for club side Crystal Palace earlier this lay-off has been even longer for 22-year old defender Morgan, who has been beset by injury issues in recent also names Manchester United academy defender Scarlett Hill, 17 in her squad as one of three uncapped has previously been involved in England's youth set-up. Wales squad Olivia Clark (Leicester City), Laura O'Sullivan-Jones (Gwalia United), Safia Middleton-Patel (Manchester United), 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), Scarlett Hill (Manchester United), Esther Morgan (Sheffield United), Alice Griffiths (Durham- On loan from Southampton), Angharad James (Seattle Reign), Lois Joel (Newcastle United), Carrie Jones (IFK Norrköping), Ffion Morgan (Bristol City), Jess Fishlock (Seattle Reign), Ceri Holland (Liverpool), Ellen Jones (Sunderland), Kayleigh Barton (Charlton Athletic), Mary McAteer (Sunderland), Mared Griffiths (Manchester United), Hannah Cain (Leicester City), Elise Hughes (Crystal Palace)
