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BBC News
08-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Wales' confidence soaring after Sweden draw
Goal scorer Hannah Cain says Wales' confidence is soaring ahead of their first major tournament women are heading to Euro 2025 in Switzerland this summer and after her goal gave Rhian Wilkinson's side a shock 1-1 Nations League draw in Sweden, Cain says the squad believes they can compete against being without the injured Ceri Holland, Kayleigh Barton and cap centurions Jess Fishlock and Sophie Ingle, Wales were extremely impressive in Gothenburg and could have even snatched victory against the side ranked sixth in the world by Fifa."It is almost like a mini Euros for us, the teams that we are playing in every single camp are amazing, they are so strong and we are showing we can compete with them and get performances," she told BBC Sport Wales."We are up there with those sides now." Cain says the performance, despite having such key players missing, emphasised the progress Wales have made under Wilkinson."We've not really been in this position before where we can still put in a top, top performance despite missing such massive players," she said."They play a key role and we are missing them. Maybe if those four players had been here tonight we could have got the three points, but we still put in a top performance and hopefully they will be proud of us too." 'It was unreal' For Manchester United goalkeeper Safia Middleton-Patel, the night was especially memorable as she produced a player of the match performance in the biggest game of her only 20 years old, Middleton-Patel made a string of impressive saves in just her third start for Wales and she admitted the game was a highlight of her fledgling career."It was unreal. I think it was one of our best performances. We showed everyone what we are about, we aren't just underdogs, we are here to play," she told BBC Sport Wales."I am over the moon. The team have put me in this position. It doesn't feel like my third cap, I feel like I've been here for years."Personally for me, it was one of the best games I've played."I will leave my phone turned off for a bit and let everything sink in I think." Wilkinson pride at 'fantastic' Wales display Wales boss Rhian Wilkinson said she was proud to see her side once again push one of the top nations in the world, with Wales twice holding Sweden to draws in Nations League group A4 as well as coming close against Denmark and Italy, who both beat Wales by just a single goal."That was a fantastic performance. In possession we had good stretches of the game," she told Match of the Day Wales."In football you have to ride your luck and they [Sweden] came close a couple of times but the way this team never quits, the way they stick in it to get a tie against Sweden away is a phenomenal moment and something we can build on."No matter who we put on, no matter what role I ask them to play, they give everything. It's not always perfect and I don't ask for perfection."That's what I want the Welsh public to be proud of, that this team is putting on performances for them."
BBC News
04-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Holland to be assessed in hospital after leaving field on stretcher
Wales midfielder Ceri Holland will be assessed in hospital after leaving the field on a stretcher in Wales 2-1 Nations League defeat to Denmark at the Cardiff City received treatment for close to 10 minutes and was taken straight to hospital with her right leg in a protective boot after a heavy scored Wales' goal and was their player of the match as they performed admirably against Denmark with boss Rhian Wilkinson admitting the injury is a concern."I don't know. It looked like a really big tackle. We are hoping for a bone bruise, but we don't know anything at this point so we won't speculate," Wilkinson said."She has gone to hospital to get checked out and is with our fabulous medical team."She was excellent tonight. She has been for the last few games. She gives everything and puts her body on the line. We hope it is just one of those that hurt a lot. Fingers crossed that is what it will be." Holland was in tears as she was stretchered off."I saw the tackle quickly on my Ipad, to me it looked like two women fully committed to a tackle," Wilkinson added."We will make sure we get updates as soon as possible. I am concerned, of course."But I don't want us to be guessing. She was obviously in a lot of pain and discomfort. We don't know anything at this time. We will deal with it when we know."Former Wales international Nia Jones told Match of the Day Wales that Holland's injury overshadowed the whole game."I am sure Rhian Wilkinson will say there's plenty to take from that game but it's really difficult to look beyond what happened to Ceri Holland," she said."We are all hoping it's not as bad as it looked."Wales international Sophie Ingle, who is currently sidelined after ACL surgery, says Holland is a vital component in the Wales side."She is such a key player for us. She's on the trajectory of being really strong and always being a starter," Ingle told Match of the Day Wales."It didn't look nice. It was contact. I didn't really see a twist or anything."Sometimes it is better if it's straight contact but the fact she was upset and stayed down is not like her. She usually gets up pretty much straight away." Wilkinson said she was a "proud coach," after a performance where Wales again went toe-to-toe with a nation ranked far higher than them in world football, with Denmark ranked 12th and Wales might have led moments before Denmark scored their winning goal as Hannah Cain missed a big chance and Wilkinson says the experience can only help her side."I've always said results are one measure. The other is a commitment to playing in a way we can be proud of," she added."I can look at these women and see them going toe-to-toe with these top nations."Not long ago losing 2-1 to Denmark would have been seen as a positive result. But we've come away feeling we missed a chance and they scored a chance. I think probably Denmark deserved the three points… but we went for it and we can only be proud of the performance."
BBC News
22-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Mr Calm' Bellamy looks to Skopje after opening win
2026 World Cup qualifying: North Macedonia v WalesVenue: National Arena Todor Proeski, Skopje Date: Tuesday, 25 March Kick-off: 19:45 GMTCoverage: Watch on BBC One Wales, iPlayer, BBC Sport website & app, plus S4C via iPlayer. Text commentary and highlights on BBC Sport website & app. Listen live on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru, BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra Wales captain Ben Davies described head coach Craig Bellamy as "Mr Calm" after his side made hard work of their opening World Cup qualifier to beat were well below their best but won 3-1 against a stubborn Kazakhstan side, who are ranked 110th in the world, in Cardiff on had a reputation for being a fiery character during a successful but often controversial playing career at clubs such as Liverpool, Newcastle United and Manchester taking charge of Wales last year, however, the former Wales captain has shown himself to be more mature and considered."They made it really difficult for us, they were compact. You could see in the first half we forced a lot of balls when we didn't really need to," Davies, who scored Wales' second goal, told Match of the Day Wales."In the second half we were much more disciplined and we got the job done, which is the most important thing. The goal [Davies scored] came at such a perfect time for us, the longer it goes on at 1-1 it makes it a bit of a tense game."We've all been in games like that where you go into it as favourites, you have a lot of expectations to walk all over a team, but you know it's never the case. They're a proud nation that's out on the pitch trying to win a game just like us."The players were the ones that were the most frustrated at half-time, whereas Bellamy came in Mr Calm, he came in with a plan, was clear in the messaging he gave us and what he expected in the second half, he simply asked for more energy and keep doing what we're doing." Bellamy 'excited' by North Macedonia challenge Next for Wales is Tuesday's trip to North Macedonia, who started their campaign with a 3-0 win over Group J's bottom seeds was North Macedonia's sixth successive victory and, while Wales may start as slight favourites in Skopje, they will need a vast improvement on their performances against Kazakhstan to make it six points from who are yet to play, are Group J's top seeds, with Wales second and North Macedonia third seeds, while lowly Kazakhstan and Liechtenstein complete the the group winners will qualify automatically for the World Cup, with the runners-up entering the have already all but guaranteed themselves a play-off place by winning their Nations League group, and could give their hopes of automatic qualification a significant early boost by beating North Macedonia."They're a good team," said Bellamy. "We have to be at our best. Do I have sleepless nights over it? No. There's more important things."I like the challenge of being able to prepare a team to go to somewhere like North Macedonia. I would like the opportunity to prepare a team to go to Brazil. I want to improve and I want the players to improve."I don't look at everything like living with a knife between my teeth. It's the challenge you have to embrace and be excited about. North Macedonia leaves a lot to be excited about."
BBC News
21-02-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Wilkinson 'proud' despite Wales' narrow defeat in Italy
Wales boss Rhian Wilkinson says she is a "proud coach," despite Wales losing their opening Nations League match 1-0 to Italy in Bonansea's early header proved the difference at Stadio Brianteo in a contest where Italy were never as firmly in control as many would have might have even snatched a draw, but saw Angharad James' audacious first half effort strike the upright."It's a 1-0 loss and I am annoyed, which is a testament to the team and how well they played," Wilkinson said. Italy are currently ranked 13th by Fifa, 17 places ahead of Wales and drew with World Cup winners Spain and beat Olympic champions Germany in their previous two felt her side paid the price for being "too nervous," in the opening 10 minutes when it looked like Italy might run rampant after going 1-0 ahead."We weren't caught cold at the beginning, I think we were nervous and we let our fear root us to the spot a bit," she said."It took four minutes and a kick in the teeth for us to realise we can play."I thought our system worked, our players found great spaces and I'm a proud coach." Davies can win 100 caps Wilkinson has promised Wales will experiment in the Nations League ahead of their first major finals appearance in the summer at Euro 2025 in Switzerland and was true to her word as 18-year old defender Mayzee Davies was handed a first start, while 17-year old forward Mared Griffiths was handed a debut off the performance earned her the player of the match accolade and on a night where Hayley Ladd won her 100th cap for Wales, Wilkinson says Davies can match that feat."We gave a first cap to Mared Griffiths and a first start for Mayzee Davies, so there are a lot of positives to take away, but we are frustrated with the score," she added."We had a 100th cap from Hayley and I wouldn't be surprised if Mayzee gets 100 caps as well, if not more."Davies said her debut was "amazing.""I have been dreaming about my first start for a while," she told Match of the Day Wales."It was my first full start for Wales and obviously I am over the moon."Obviously we are disappointed about the result, but these are the teams we want to play in preparation for the Euros."
