While Wales fans might be nervous about what’s to come against the Republic of Ireland, Rhian Wilkinson and her squad are calm ahead of a huge double header.
Throughout the campaign, the manager has been keen to highlight the opportunities her squad have had, and Friday night is yet another chance for her team to make history.
“We’re excited and we’re looking forward to it. We’ve talked a lot through the campaign about opportunity and the privilege of wearing the jersey, and for the Welsh and Irish teams, this is a fantastic series of games.
“It’s going to showcase the growth of the women’s game, and we’re enjoying this opportunity.”
Many neutrals have Ireland as favourites heading into this tie, despite only five places separating the two Celtic nations in the FIFA Rankings.
You’d think an underdog tag would suit Cymru well, but Wilkinson has played down that talk.
“I don’t pay any attention to being favourites or underdogs. There’s seeding for a reason, and that’s for someone else to talk about. I don’t talk up these labels at all, we don’t even mention it.
“It’s not anything that’s helpful or a hindrance, it’s just something that’s used to figure out home and away legs really. It’s been very even for whenever we’ve played against each other, it’s often tight, and tomorrow is about us showing up.”
A playoff final isn’t something new to Wales. Two years ago, they were defeated 2-1 by Switzerland, with the Swiss scoring a 120th minute winner.
Wales might feel more prepared and familiar with what’s going on this time around, but captain Angharad James says the feelings are similar when comparing both games.
“The feeling is the same. The group is ready, and the group is prepared to put everything on the line and leaving everything out on the field.
“We’re a proud group who are passionate about representing Wales and putting the red jersey on. There’s no other feeling like it.
“To be able to try and change the game the way we like in Wales and achieve something as a group that we’ve tried to do for so many years is really exciting. We’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain.”
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Surviving Slovakia
It could have been very different for Wales, as they almost fell to Slovakia in the semi-final.
While the outcome was eventually a positive one, Wales were forced to work hard for their win, and Wilkinson believes the result and the manner of it will help her side against Ireland.
“This team’s fortitude was tested against Slovakia, and we are getting to know each other.
“I haven’t been here that long, but I already knew this was a tough and prideful group of women, a passionate group of women, and that was front and centre in how they turned it around in the face of utter exhaustion in the second leg.
“Slovakia pushed us all the way and were a great test for us to see how deep we really can push and how high we can rise.”
Slovakia sprung a few surprises over both legs that Wales didn’t deal with initially, but they responded well and recovered to win.
Facing tricky challenges and getting by them is perfect preparation ahead of the final, according to James.
“We’ve prepared for Ireland to set up in different ways, and we’re ready for that. The two games against Slovakia have put us in good contention for these next two fixtures, not having an easy game will help us in the long run, especially as we had to overcome a lot of obstacles.
“I thought our second leg was one of the best games we’ve played in recent years, and if we can replicate that in the next two games, then we have a good chance of achieving our goal.”
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Record breakers
Whatever happens in Cardiff tomorrow night, it will be a historic night for Welsh football, with a record crowd attending the game.
Over 16,000 tickets have been sold, as the Red Wall will try and roar Wales to a first leg advantage.
Wilkinson has been to World Cups, has Olympic medals, and has an NWSL championship to her name, but Friday will be yet another highlight in her career.
“It’s probably going to be one of the proudest moments of my career, but equally, I’ve arrived in this role at the sprint end of a marathon.
“Other people in this group from my coaching staff to those behind the scenes have known these women longer than I have and have known their journeys in a way that I can’t.
“However, seeing them all achieve something special will be something I’ll never forget.”
The last time Ireland played in Wales was in 2011, with 440 fans attending the game at Newport Stadium.
That game came one month before James’ senior debut. A lot has happened since then, and the captain is determined to keep breaking record after record.
“When you talk about figures like that, it is unbelievable to see how far the game has come in Wales and how far it can still go.
“It’s a record attendance tomorrow, and hopefully the next time we play in Wales, we will keep breaking it.
“We’re trying to leave the shirt and Wales in a better place than when we found it, and that’s something we are achieving right now.”
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Irish view
Ireland are heading into this clash off the back of a thumping aggregate win over Georgia in the semi-finals.
Yet, manager Eileen Gleeson knows how difficult a test Wales will be, and is anticipating a close game.
“It’s a huge game for both nations. There’s a big reward at the end of it, so we’re expecting a fairly even game and tie.
“Both teams have similar profiles, and we know Wales are really well-organised and have good mobility. We’re expecting it to be very even.”
Of course, Wales won the last meeting between the two back in February, picking up a 2-0 friendly win in Dublin.
Gleeson is fully aware that both sides have changed since then but says it’s a game that showed the strength in this Wales team.
“I don’t think we learned anything that we didn’t know. What we learned was about ourselves in that game.
“We know it was a friendly game and both teams were perhaps missing a few players and using different squads.
“What I do know is that we’re a different team to what we were in February, and so are Wales. You’re never the same team twice.
“That game, if anything, highlighted the quality Wales have, and I do think it will be an evenly matched tie.”
That game back in 2011 saw Ireland pick up a 2-0 win, and scoring a brace that day was current midfielder Denise O’Sullivan.
The match in Newport was O’Sullivan’s Irish senior debut, and reflecting back on it, she is proud of how far the women’s game has come since then.
“Representing my country for the first time was obviously a huge honour, and I remember being really nervous before that game, but I had Emma Byrne and Ciara Grant giving me a few words, and I went on and scored two goals!
“It was a special day, but it shows the growth of the women’s game. 400 attended that game, and now over 20,000 maybe at this game. The game is kicking on and it’s great for women’s football.”
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