Wales' time on the grandest stage draws ever closer.
Euro 2025 got into full swing on Wednesday night as Iceland lost to Finland in the opener before hosts Switzerland were beaten by Norway.
The spotlight will shine brightly on Rhian Wilkinson's side on Saturday as they face Netherlands at Lucerne's Swissporarena in their major tournament debut.
Few, if any, outside of Wales give Wilkinson's team any chance of progressing from a daunting looking Group D that also features France and defending champions England.
But ex-Wales international Laura McAllister is under no illusions that Wales are more than capable of reaching the quarter-finals if they can hit their top levels in the group stages.
"If we can perform off and on the pitch in the way that we want to, this can be game-changing for Wales," McAllister told Dragon Sports.
"At the peak performance of the Cymru women's national team, we're good enough to get through that group. But it will require peak performance."
Currently sitting 30th, Wales are the lowest ranked of the 16 sides competing in Switzerland.
Prior to the tournament, Opta gave Wales just a 9% chance of qualifying from their group.
READ MORE: Outsiders Wales Ready To Kick-Start Historic Euro Campaign In Switzerland
But McAllister feels the level of Wales' opponents could lead to the Red Dragons being underestimated.
"I've never been worried about the group. The advantage of being in such a tough group is you go under the radar," she added.
"The big three countries in our group are worrying about each other, they're not worrying about Wales.
"I know the way Rhian is approaching this, we won't worry about the outcome, we worry about the performance.
"If we go out against the Netherlands and play as we can, we'll get something out of that game, and once you've got something out of your first game, as the men showed (at Euro 2016) you've got momentum."
Wales topped their qualifying group before beating both Slovakia and Republic of Ireland over two legs in the play-offs to secure their place at this summer's showpiece.
While qualification itself represents a major step forward for women's football in Wales, McAllister remains hungry for more.
READ MORE: Rhian Wilkinson’s Wales Will Be The Underdogs With Bite To Match Their Bark
McAllister has seen at first hand the positive impact The National Lottery’s funding has had on women’s and girls’ grassroots football in Wales.
And the hope is that football throughout the nation can continue to thrive and grow.
"All of this has to be about what we do beyond the tournament," explained McAllister.
"We have to make sure the investment we've had, particularly from the National Lottery, to invest in the elite pathway and facilities, is used smartly to get the next Jess Fishlock or Sophie Ingle.
"I've said all along that Euro qualification has the potential to be stratospheric.
"Qualification was incredibly important and it took a huge load off all of our shoulders because, if you speak to any coach or player, not qualifying repeatedly for tournaments has a big psychological effect.
"I know from talking to Rhian Wilkinson and the team that we see this as the first of many qualifications.
"We go and perform in Switzerland and we show that we've got this great performance structure that's bringing through the Under-17s and Under-19s that will be the future Jess Fishlock or Sophie Ingle. And then we qualify for the World Cup and then expect to qualify.
"If we can qualify for two out of every three tournaments, I think that would be a real sign of the sustainability of success in Wales. That's more important than anything."
READ MORE: Sophie Ingle Makes Wales’ Euros Squad After Year Out Injured
The foundations have long been laid for Wales' women to finally achieve their dream of playing tournament football.
Those dreams will be realised over the coming weeks, and McAllister knows only too well as a Uefa Ex Co member that a certain Welsh quality will be envied by others this summer.
"What we've got that other big countries haven't got often is a closeness and a real sense of togetherness and a sense of belief in the whole rather than the individuals," she added.
"I think that team spirit is something other countries recognise in us."
Over the last 30 years, The National Lottery has invested £6bn into grassroots sport – changing the game for women’s and girls across the UK. Every week, National Lottery players raise £30 million for good causes helping sport thrive from grassroots to elite.
