At a point where nerves may be jangling and feelings of trepidation can kick in, Jayne Ludlow MBE provided a truly refreshing outlook.
"I'm just in a really happy place and looking forward to the games. I'm so happy for the players, watching them compete will mean a lot to me," Ludlow told Dragon Sports.
"I've just been a little part of their journey, but the amount of work they've put into it over many years, to see them now have an opportunity to get out there and be at that place they've always wanted to be, it's so exciting."
Rhian Wilkinson's side are on the eve of what will be Wales women's first ever appearance at a major tournament.
Netherlands await the Red Dragons at Lucerne's Swissporarena on Saturday evening, and while Wales are firm underdogs at Euro 2025, Ludlow's message to the squad is simple.
"I just hope the team go out with a smile on their face. If they do that, they'll perform well," she explained.
"I think if we do perform well collectively, we could cause an upset."
Few have given Wales a chance of winning any of their three group stage matches against the Netherlands, France and England, let alone giving them any hope of progressing into the knockout stages of the tournament.
Stats experts Opta gave Wilkinson's side - the lowest ranked of the 16 sides competing in Switzerland - just a 9% chance of qualifying from their group.
But Wales will at least have the luxury of being able to play without a hefty weight on their shoulders, as each of their three group stage opponents will.
"I think internally they'll want to get out of the group, that'll be success," explained Ludlow, who managed Wales between 2014 and 2021.
"For us as fans, just being there is success. The fact we can knock on the TV and see the girls playing against the top teams in the world, it's just fab.
"All of the preparation is done now. We know what we're coming up against tactically, the pressure comes off because all of that learning would have been done.
"That 24 hours before is just relaxing, looking forward to it, taking the pressure off.
"If you look at the other three teams in our group, the pressure is on them because one of those big ones, at least, is going to miss out. For us, nobody expects us to be there.
"If we could come away with a point (against the Netherlands) that's a great step to then build confidence going into what are probably going to be even more challenging games.
"We've got some strengths as well that could cause problems, so I'm just looking forward to seeing them step on the pitch and competing."
READ MORE: Rhian Wilkinson’s Wales Will Be The Underdogs With Bite To Match Their Bark
Ludlow herself knows only too well the pain of being unable to compete on the grandest stages with her country.
But - as both a team-mate, a manager and a friend - the former Arsenal star has been able to help other Welsh icons on their journey to greatness - none more so than Jess Fishlock.
The Seattle Reign midfielder, 38, has won a record 162 caps and scored a record 47 goals for her country and is arguably the most deserving, even beyond Wales, of a place at the top table of international football this summer.
"I'm sure it'll just wind off her career in a really nice way - if she decides to step away in the next few years," Ludlow said of Fishlock.
"I know it was a bit of a demon for her, it was a huge frustration because even though she's won medals at the highest level of the game worldwide, that bit of not being able to compete at that level for your country, and having been there and done that myself, it's a huge frustration.
"But now, herself, Sophie Ingle, Kayleigh Barton, that older generation of players who are still in there, this will mean a huge amount to them."
READ MORE: Outsiders Wales Ready To Kick-Start Historic Euro Campaign In Switzerland
Progress, little by little, has always been the mantra, even prior to Ludlow's own playing career for her country - which began in 1996.
And while summer of 2025 represents a real watershed moment for Wales, the hope is that it is not the peak of the nation's rise.
"In 30 years plus, the generation before me and the challenges they had, but they challenged and they got change to happen," she explained.
"We were the same in my generation, we did it in a different way.
"This next generation, yes, they do have more support, but it doesn't mean they have everything they need.
"There's a huge potential for growth still.
"It's all stepping stones. When Jarmo [Matikainen] came in, he had a big job to do. He progressed it so much and we got to a certain level.
"I came in, my team of people, we took it to that next step. Gemma [Grainger] came in, she added bits and took it to the next step and now Rhian has come in and she's added her bits.
"What we've all done is connected really well to the culture and tried to support the players as best we can."
But what of the next step?
"Women's sport still needs a huge drive here, ideally women's football in particular - but getting girls interested in the game, because of all of the benefits it brings," added Ludlow.
"To do that we have to have the right cultures. We have to have the infrastructure and the opportunity to get into places to play and resources are a big thing with regards to making sure we have suitable environments.
"The National Lottery has been a huge factor in that over the last few years and if you think of the FAW and how the performance programmes have grown there, that's partly because of The National Lottery funding too.
"But for me, living in Wales, you want it to be more the done thing - kids playing more sport."
READ MORE: How Euro 2025 Could Be ‘Game-Changing’ For Wales And What The Future Holds
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.
