Pride. That is what came across from Rachel Rowe as she prepares to take on Bosnia and possibly earn her 50th cap.
Rowe has sustained some bad injuries during her career, but to now be standing on the doorstep of such a milestone is a moment she’s delighted about.
‘It’s a massive achievement, and I think every cap is a big achievement. But you hit your 50, you hit your 100, they all feel the same, they make your heart feel so warm and proud’
‘My family are so proud of me, I’m proud of myself and it does feel like a long time coming’
‘I’m 30, and some people are way ahead of me in caps, but for me this is such a big achievement for myself. I didn’t think I would get to 50 caps, and I’m honoured’
‘It’s been a real big journey for me, I know everyone’s got a story, but wow, write it down on paper and there’s a lot in there’
Her half century could come against Bosnia on Thursday. Bosnia were the lowest ranked team in the playoffs, and Rowe couldn’t hide how happy she was with the draw.
‘I wasn’t training that day, so I had the live draw on, and I nearly screamed the roof down!’
‘Obviously, we all have expectations and everyone, I don’t care who you play for, looks at a draw and wants to get certain teams’
‘A home fixture to start with against Bosnia, the lowest ranked one in the playoffs, that’s what we wanted.’
With drawing Bosnia, there comes a sense of expectation from fans and pundits alike. The Reading player, however, stated that they don’t feel too much pressure ahead of the game.
‘It’s difficult isn’t it, controlling your emotions for anyone not just for footballers. But we’ll do that, we’re in an environment where it lets us stay calm’
‘It’s very neutral here, we don’t get too above ourselves and we reiterate that around the group’
‘So yes, there is expectation there, that’s the silent thing, but we all believe in ourselves and know we can achieve things, and that’s all we need.’
And that atmosphere around the group has been created and spearheaded by manager Gemma Grainger.
This has been Grainger’s first campaign in charge as manager, and Rowe was full of positives for the manager.
‘I think everyone would say she’s such a mellow person to be around. She lets people be who they want to be’
‘You don’t have to conform to any kind of stereotype, whereas you can get some managers who want you to be a certain way’
‘I’m a big character, and she allows me to give off my best attributes within the group, and she allows everyone else to do that’
‘You can say what you want to say, ask any question you want, and they’ll never not be an answer.’
Wales have sold over 12,500 tickets ahead of the game on Thursday as the rise of women’s football continues across the country.
Rowe, who has been a part of the squad since 2015, couldn’t contain her excitement about what’s happening in the women’s game.
‘It’s humongous for us. Obviously, you see in the men’s team, they’ve never really had a spike in growth, or we’ve never had to watch that growth’
‘But obviously a lot of us have been a part of it when we were only getting a couple hundred fans and now the last few games the trajectory has been massive’
‘For us, to be a small part in someone’s inspiration or why someone wants to do something, or it makes them happy for an evening coming to watch us and brings a smile to their face’
‘It’s such a huge thing for us and makes our hearts full.’
Wales take on Bosnia & Herzegovina in a World Cup playoff match at the Cardiff City Stadium on Thursday October 6th. Kick-off is at 19:15.
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