00:00Wales coach Rhianne Wilkinson used her team's painful 6-1 defeat to England to issue a passionate call for more sporting opportunities for girls as the gulf between the two nations was laid bare in Lons on Sunday.
00:14Wales crashed out of Euro 2025 after losing all three group games, conceding 13 goals.
00:21While Wilkinson praised England's thorough and deserved victory, she underlined the urgent need to build a stronger sporting infrastructure back home.
00:30I need to get back to Wales and keep pushing for opportunities for young girls in all sports, she said.
00:36Wilkinson pointed to England's post-Euro 2022 progress, referencing London-born defender Lottie Wobin-Moy, who helped lead a successful campaign to guarantee equal access to football for girls in schools.
00:50That has to be something we continue to fight for in Wales, she added.
00:54That's what I ask of this team is that they make sure that they stick together as a team and just are around each other for a while and then bigger life decisions can be made in the future.
01:05The contrast between the teams was stark.
01:08England's line-up including several London-based stars such as Chelsea's Lauren James and Arsenal's Beth Mead, both instrumental in the win.
01:16James deployed wide on the right, continued her sharp form while Agnes Beaver-Jones' substitution turned out to be key, returning a goal and assist.
01:26And of course with that loss, the urgency came and I think the team really responded well on that and now hopefully we can show that again against Sweden.
01:37Despite Wales making history, including a first major tournament goals from Jess Fischlach and Hannah Kane, Wilkinson highlighted the harsh realities behind the scenes.
01:47England manager Serena Weigmann praised her side's urgency and togetherness as they advanced to face Sweden in the quarter-finals.
01:55While England look ahead, Wilkinson hopes this tournament marks a turning point for girls in sport in Wales.
02:02If the legacy of Euro 2025 is to mean anything beyond medals and scorelines, it must be measured in access, opportunity and the future of these players it inspires.
Comments