Advertisement
Wales manager Rhian Wilkinson. Alamy Stock Photo

'Our Welsh women are on a mission,' warns manager ahead of Ireland play-off showdown

The winner of the upcoming double-header qualifies for Euro 2025.

WALES MANAGER RHIAN Wilkinson has warned that her side are โ€œon a missionโ€ ahead of their Euro 2025 play-off final against Ireland.

Cardiff City Stadium hosts the first leg of the decisive double-header three weeks from today, on Friday 29 November, before the return clash at Dublinโ€™s Aviva Stadium on Tuesday 3 December.

The winner qualifies for their first European Championships in Switzerland next summer.

The Welsh FA say over 6,000 tickets have been sold for their home showdown.

Wilkinson reacted to that news and offered her thoughts on the play-off at yesterdayโ€™s 2025 Uefa Nations League draw. 

โ€œIโ€™m so looking forward to it,โ€ the former Canadian international said. โ€œI got nervous in this draw, but looking forward to Ireland in every way. Just pure excitement. 

โ€œOur Welsh women are on a mission. Theyโ€™re out there playing for more than just themselves, and when you can play with that freedom and show up for that Welsh badge and just give everything you have that you can deliver as an individual athlete, thereโ€™s nothing more you can ask for. I know theyโ€™re going to do that, so as theyโ€™re coach weโ€™re going to do everything we can to give them every tool they need to deliver.

โ€œOn the night, I have no doubt Wales is going to show up. And for fans, these are privileged moments, games like this that everyoneโ€™s giving everything for, [from] both teams, theyโ€™re few and far between. That red wall will be a difference maker, and I look forward to seeing even more ticket sales.

โ€œI know theyโ€™ll show up and they definitely will play a part in delivering a really important boost to my women on the night.โ€

In separate comments to the BBC, Wilkinson boldly said Wales would look at the Nations League as โ€œsome of our preparation for the Eurosโ€.

The Dragons were drawn against Italy, Denmark and Sweden in League A, Group A4, while Eileen Gleesonโ€™s Ireland find themselves in League B, Group B2 with Tรผrkiye, Slovenia and Greece.

Speaking after yesterdayโ€™s draw in Nyon, Gleeson insisted full focus is on the upcoming Euro 2025 play-off.

โ€œWe now know our opponents for the next Uefa Nations League campaign, which will help us with planning and preparation for the games,โ€ the Irish head coach said. 

โ€œPromotion to League A is the overall aim for the upcoming Nations League campaign to ensure we compete at the highest level and maximise opportunities to qualify for major tournaments. 

โ€œFor now, our focus remains on the Uefa Euro 2025 qualifying play-off against Cymru with two huge games away in Cardiff on 29 November and home at the Aviva Stadium on 3 December. We look forward to seeing our fans at the Aviva and thank them for their continued support.โ€

Close
Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel