Friendly 2025 UEFA Women’s European Championship qualifications 1 Netherlands Vs Wales 1 Full-time Match 1
This is the pick of the topics and talking points from Rhian Wilkinson and Garin Hughes as they reflect on Wales’ Euro 2025 qualifier against Holland.

Main Themes:
Tough Group & Learning Curve: Wilkinson admitted that Wales was in a “tough group” and that this tournament was a “learning curve” for this side. For the “low est rated side,” the issue is not necessarily where things stand, but the attention on growth and not getting too much credit for results over the next year and four years.
Accountability & Tactical Missteps: Rhian Wilkinson held her hands up at halftime when the side changed tactics, blaming the adjustment for a loss of shape that she said “cost us a second goal”, Wired in what she calls a “technical learning for us”. Garin Hughes concurs with that, adding: ‘They’ve gambled and one of the most hugely important things is they haven’t got to the players quickly enough, the bit they didn’t get to quickly enough was the second goal.
Resilience and fighting spirit: Both pictures sum up the positive news that Wales was not going to “fold”, “lie down” or “fall over” – and wanted to keep fighting to the end, despite the record defeat. They just never lie down at all; they collapse that behaviour on their USP for this team. KENNETH OKWAMblah blah what about Bradman? Having lain at all, they didn’t fall apart. They don’t’t bottle all that good. I had to replace a couple, but otherwise,e no new brushes were needed. They don’t want to lose this courage to keep standing tall against all odds.

The “World Stage” & Intimidation: The world stage is a big,, and this comes up over and over again. “It’s so daunting, it’s the first first game,” Wilkinson says, acknowledging the weight of the moment. But she’s taking them as “lessons” she has to keep in step with.
‘Red Wall’ Support: That the Red Dragon of the loyal Welsh supporter base will be bolstering the “red wall” at all times cannot be a negative. ‘“They’ve got 4 and a half thousand fans here and the fans never stopped singing for the lads and booing the ref, it was electric throughout the game. Their bond and relatability between the team and fanbase were further solidified.
Close review and thinking of France: There is no sense in dwelling on the game, what’s done is done, instead let’s review where things went wrong & the work that needs to happen before we take to the field next against France. “You don’t get too many opportunities at tournament football the next game comes around quickly,” Hughes says of his team’s prospects, and they “won’t be overawed they will see it as an opportunity.”

Most Important Ideas/Facts:
Outcome: Wales were pummeled 5-1 by the Netherlands in the opener of their Euro 2025 campaign.
Key Concession Moment: All in all, the Miedema goal just before the half was brutal (“classy as hell was that”), so was the first. The second was down to the “panicked” and badly explained half-time change of shape which they let in, “so early in the second half.”
Accountability Wilkinson Says: “I made some changes at half, and I think that cost us a second goal, so that’s the technical learning for us.
Team USP (Unique Selling Proposition: Welsh territorial Army (nothing But soldiers, these are the soldiers who’ll never stop their fckin barrage of pain, because they’ve already decided a very long time ago that no matter what The hurt will never stop.

Learning Not Catastrophe: Wilkinson, for his part, wants nothing to do with talk of “catastrophe”, either, describing it all as part of the “learning journey”.
Game Result Better for Wales: Instead of running out of the torch, Wales “really stepped up in the last 2to to 0 25 minutes,” and it had “moments of playing well and moments of being able to create things.”
Rapid Review Process: The team will review the match on the bus returning from the match to their base, and again on the day before to prepare for France.
Emotions Out The team was putting itself under “strong emotional pressure” and even “nervous excitement” before the first game. Reeth’s villagers are feeling “relieved that’s over” now, Hughes says.
Next Opponent: Wales plays France in St. Gallen on Wednesday.
Crowd: An army of 4,500 had come from Wales and they sang lustily in support of their boys.