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Disappointed Wales fans look to next game after defeat

Chris Wathan
BBC Sport Wales
FAW A picture of a crowd of fans sitting during the match. They are all wearing red shirts. Some have their arms folded while others look disapointed by the result. FAW
Wales held their own for the majority of the first half but were defeated 3-0 by the Netherlands.

It was a game many waited a lifetime for, but Wales fans now have their sights set on their next game, as the team lost 3-0 in their first Euros match.

The Wales squad started their Euro 2025 campaign against the Netherlands in Lucerne on Saturday.

Wales held their own for the majority of the first half and were going to hold the 2017 champions to a goalless first half, but a strike from Dutch captain Vivianne Miedema meant that wasn't to be.

An estimated 3,800 Welsh supporters were expected at the Allmend Stadium as the team debuted at their first ever major women's tournament.

Rhian Wilkinson's side are back in action on Wednesday night against France.

In December last year, Wales' women made history a reaching a major women's tournament for the first time.

It follows a journey that saw the national team not formally recognised by the Football Association of Wales (FAW) until 1993.

Officials are now predicting an explosion in the women's game in Wales, while vowing to capitalise on the landmark moment with the side's largest ever television audience predicted for today's game against the Dutch.

First minister Eluned Morgan was in attendance as Wales faced the 2017 European champions.

Earlier this week she summed up her feelings in a message on social media containing an image of her playing football in her younger days.

"I was once a young girl who loved to play football, so I know the heart, dedication and passion you've put in to get here," she said.

Speaking prior to the game, Carol Bell, the first woman to serve on the FAW board when she was appointed an independent director in 2019, called the team "trailblazers".

"This marks the beginning of a new era for women's football in Wales," she said.

A family pose and smile at the camera. Dan and Christina, stand at the back of the group while their children, Dylan and Mali, stand behind them. Dan is wearing a grey top and has his hand on Dylan's shoulder. Christina is wearing a black top and stands behind Mali. Dylan is wearing a blue sports top while Mali is wearing a red and yellow top and hat.
Mali is travelling with her brother Dylan, 11, mum Christina, 37, and dad Dan, 36.

The moment was not been lost on fans who have been gathering in Lucerne in central Switzerland since Thursday.

Speaking ahead of the game, the Berrow family, from Caerphilly, say they are avid supporters of any Welsh sporting side - and felt they had to travel to Switzerland because of eight-year-old Mali's obsession with the Wales women's football team.

"I think they will manage to score in a couple of games and they will win a couple of games," said Mali.

Isabelle stands with her dad Leon. Isabelle is wearing a neon orange top with a flag with writing on it wrapped around her. She has her dark hair tied back. Leon is wearing a dark grey t-shirt and glasses. They are both smiling at the camera.
Isabelle travelled with her dad, Leon, to see the match.

FAW officials say they have been told Wales are expected to have more fans in Switzerland than all bar three other nations taking part in the 16-team tournament.

Isabelle, 12, from the Rhondda said she was very excited and couldn't wait to watch the fans.

Along with her dad Leon, 44, they had never been abroad to watch them but have been to every single home game.

She said it was "massive for women's football", and had a score prediction of Wales winning 3-1.

Many of the travelling supporters have congregated at the city's fan zone, where tournament organisers, Uefa, had arranged live music and activities to add to the celebratory feel.

Olivia, 16, is in Switzerland with her dad Lyndon and mum Nichola. She said her family were there "to support them, to encourage them and to make them feel more motivated to do well in the tournament".

Olivia, who plays football, believes Wales' involvement in the tournament will have an impact on domestic football.

"It will encourage people to play, to come and support them and watch the game," she added.

"The Welsh girls have made history just getting to the Euros," said Nichola, 52, from Cwmparc near Treorchy.

Three people looking at the camera. All have red Wales shirts on and the back drop is of Switzerland's mountains and sea. The man is on the left and has his arm around the girl in the middle, who is his daughter. He has a bucket hat on, in green, red and yellow and sunglasses hanging from his shirt. The girl in the middle has sunglasses on her head and long brown hair. The woman on her right has dark brown hair tied up and sunglasses on.
Lyndon says he thinks back in Wales, the team qualifying for Euro 2025 will help the women's game grow

Russell Wallis, 66, who is originally from Swansea, has travelled regularly to support Wales' men's team but is another on his first trip following the nation's women's team.

He believed Fishlock and the team were capable of causing some surprises.

"They have done really well to get here in the first place, but I think they have a little surprise in them."

Russell's wife Catherine Wallis, 65, says reaching Euro 2025 has put Wales "on a bigger world stage".

"We have been speaking to people who were saying they didn't follow women's football but now they are and it's great that Wales are there."

Excitement was also building back home. Gwyl Cymru events have been taking place in the build up to today's game - including breakdancing competitions in Canton, Cardiff, live music in Clwb y Bont in Pontypridd and at Llofft Y Felinheli, all followed by a chance for fans to watch the match together.