Rhian Wilkinson PROFILE

Wales are getting better and better as they get nearer and nearer to the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 finals this summer.

Wales take on Denmark in Cardiff on Friday night, but that's not even the half of it in what promises to be a monumental few months for Welsh women's football.

Rhian Wilkinson has warned defending champions England that Wales will be armed and dangerous when they head into a Battle of Britain shoot-out at Euro 2025. The Wales coach was reacting to the seemingly inevitable draw that landed Wales – playing at a major tournament for the first time – in a tough Group D against the old enemy, France and the Netherlands in Monday evening’s draw in Lausanne.

Sometimes it pays to look beyond the obvious as Welsh footballl seems to be proving with both Craig Bellamy and Rhian Wilkinson. The former is still unbeaten after being named men’s national senior coach six games ago, while the latter is heading for the Euros next summer with the senior women.

Wales made history by qualifying for their first major tournament after goals from Hannah Cain and Carrie Jones gave them a 2-1 Euro 2025 play-off second leg victory over the Republic of Ireland in Dublin. hian Wilkinson’s team triumphed 3-2 on aggregate as they progressed to next summer’s European Championship in Switzerland.

Wales and the Republic of Ireland have created some friction to turn up the heat ahead of their Women’s Euros play-off final second leg in Dublin. Tuesday’s Celtic derby will determine who secures a coveted spot at next summer’s Women’s European Championship finals.

Rhian Wilkinson’s Wales squad will celebrate Christmas early before aiming to unwrap the perfect present – qualifying for Euro 2025. Honours were even between Wales and the Republic of Ireland in the first leg of their Euro play-off final on Friday as Olivia Clark’s own goal cancelled out Lily Woodham’s fine strike for the hosts.

Rhian Wilkinson believes Wales should embrace their opportunity in the Euro 2025 play-off final as they aim to reach their first major tournament. While history beckons, captain Angharad James has underlined the importance of her teammates staying focused on the task at hand, rather than being overwhelmed by the occasion.

Ceri Holland finally settled Wales’ near fatal anxieties with the goal that puts her team on the edge of history. After missing countless chances in a one-sided second leg of their play-off semi-final at home to Slovakia, Holland scored the crucial goal eight minutes from the end of extra-time.

Rhian Wilkinson has admitted Wales have “work to do” if they are to keep alive their dream of making Euro 2025 after a shock 2-1 defeat in Slovakia. Wales’ hopes of reaching their first women’s major tournament finals are on a knife-edge following a massively disappointing performance in a 2-1 play-off first-leg defeat in Poprad.

Wales manager Rhian Wilkinson is confident Chelsea midfielder Sophie Ingle will be fit for next summer’s European Championship should they qualify. Former Wales captain Ingle underwent surgery last month after sustaining anterior cruciate ligament damage during a pre-season friendly, an injury Wilkinson described as “horrible”.

Wales take on Slovakia in a two-legged semi-final at the end of this month as they seek to qualify for Women’s Euro 2025. It would be the team’s first major tournament finals and the fulfilment of a cherished ambition for so many past players, as Alys Haynes reports. Wales may be on the threshold of history, but they have not forgotten their past.