Wales' most-capped player Jess Fishlock says she "believes 100%," that her side can spring a surprise against France at Euro 2025 and has urged her teammates to put their 3-0 opening defeat to Netherlands "in the bin".
Wales' most-capped player Jess Fishlock says she "believes 100%," that her side can spring a surprise against France at Euro 2025 and has urged her teammates to put their 3-0 opening defeat to Netherlands "in the bin".
Fishlock, Wales' all-time leading scorer, has won league titles in six different countries but like the rest of her teammates, is competing in a major international tournament for the first time.
Already huge underdogs in group D, Wales are being written off as no-hopers by many having suffered a chastening defeat in their opening game in Lucerne.
Their next match is an equally daunting test in St Gallen as Wales face a France side who won their opening contest 2-1 against reigning champions England.
"I know us as a group, we will refocus, we will learn really fast and we're really excited to get back on the field on Wednesday," Fishlock told BBC Sport Wales.
"If you're going to ask me if I still believe that, then I will sit here and say wholeheartedly; I still believe.
"The biggest message is not to dwell too much on the game and the loss. I think we really need to take what we need to take from it and move forward and throw the rest in the bin.
"I think that's my favourite saying all the time is take what you need to take and throw the rest in the bin. It's not going to help you and if it's not going to help you it's just going to hurt you."
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Fishlock, 38, feels Wales have the mindset to bounce back and pull off a shock.
"Do I think we can surprise people? Absolutely," she said.
"I think this team is still on a journey, it's not like we qualified for the Euros and all of a sudden everything is perfect, that's just not how this sport works.
"We are in a group with three unbelievably great teams and yes we have to learn perhaps a little bit faster than usual but do I believe that we can do that? 100%, I have full confidence in this group to continue on this path now.
"We had our journey to get here, we've done that, now our journey is getting up to another level… and if there's a team that can bounce back and do that, it is Wales."
Fishlock believes the key to Wales shocking France will be nullifying their threat and picking their moments to strike, having failed to register a shot on target in their opening match.
"France are a great team," she added.
"They'll cause us different problems to Holland, I think. They're very powerful, very comfortable on the ball, love wide areas.
"They're very good but we can be very good too and we just have to work together and nullify them as much as possible and then try and expose them with the players that we have. So we'll be doing a lot of work on that, I'm sure.
"We don't have to win it in the first five minutes. We have to stay in it as long as possible and use the players that we have. We have some fantastic players that can cause damage to any team."
Wales have received a boost for the game against France with the news that midfielder Ceri Holland is fit to start.
The Liverpool midfielder was substituted against Netherlands after going down with what appeared to be a muscular injury, but thankfully from a Welsh perspective it was only cramp.
"I am ready to go," Holland confirmed.
Category: General Sports
