Wales manager praises Charlie Estcourt ahead of potential 50th cap
SWANSEA, WALES - 05 DECEMBER 2023: Wales' Charlie Estcourt during the UEFA Women’s Nations League A Group A3 match between Wales and Germany at The Swansea.com Stadium in Swansea, Wales. (Pic by Lewis Mitchell/FAW)
As Wales prepare to take on Poland in Newport, manager Rhian Wilkinson has praised Charlie Estcourt, who could win her 50th cap at Rodney Parade.
Estcourt made her Wales debut against Bosnia and Herzegovina in March 2015, and now just over ten years later, could reach her half century against the Poles.
It’s certainly not been an easy few years for the defender, who has made sporadic appearances under Wilkinson, and went through a terrible ordeal at Reading.
All that being said, the Canadian was full of admiration for Estcourt.
“I think Charlie is an exceptional person first and foremost. She hasn’t had an easy time under me and not had any minutes, but the way she always puts the team firsts and supports her teammates is incredible.
“She always asks hard questions, but she never causes disturbance. If she does win her 50th cap, it will be well earned.
“Charlie has had two years of challenge at Reading. She had to take a huge leap because of the situation there, and she’s gone to the USA, which is far from home, and maybe hasn’t got the minutes that I and she would like.
“That being said, she comes to Wales and is so supportive. She really is a team first type of person, and we know we can rely on her. You’ve seen what she did against Australia, and I was so confident putting her in because she trained so well all week.”
Hayley Ladd, who will captain Wales on Tuesday night, has been in squads with Estcourt throughout her national team journey, and she praised her eagerness to learn whenever she comes onto camp.
“Charlie is an amazing person. She always put the team first. Charlie is so insightful and she’s someone who really wants to learn.
“She’s so easy to work with, especially when she’s playing in new positions because she just takes everything on. Nothing seems to phase her. She’s a wonderful person and a great player.”
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No “new” Jess Fishlock
Wales are now in the post-Fishlockian era after the record breaker retired from international football after the game against Australia this past weekend.
Plenty of talk was centred around Fishlock, and rightly so, but one player who also grabbed the headlines was Mared Griffiths.
Griffiths scored her first senior goal against the Aussies, and that has led to some on social media comparing her to the now departed Fishlock.
Comparing someone to the Wales icon always brings with it plenty of pressure, and Wilkinson stressed there can be no new Jess Fishlock. However, the manager did say that Griffiths has the ability to pave her own tremendous journey.
“There is no “the next Jess Fishlock”. That is not a thing. Jess Fishlock is Jess Fishlock.
“She forced herself to travel, play all over the world, won all these trophies, and she’s retiring as a Champions League winner, a European Championship player and so on because the intrinsic drive within her.
“Mared is at the beginning of that journey, and that’s an exciting place to be at. I don’t want her to look any further than that. She will be a product at the end of the career thanks to the decisions she makes now.
“She’s playing for a big club, but how does she push on now and what does that look like? Maybe Jess can give her advice and support, but to pretend or think anyone can be the next Jess Fishlock is not fair and it’s not right.”
There is a new era feel around Wales. Gwen Zimmerman, Scarlett Hill and Tianna Teisar all made their senior debuts on Saturday. Meanwhile, Teagan Scarlett, Mia Ross and Annie Wilding are some of those who can win their first caps against Poland.
It’s rare that so many young players make it into the senior squad at the same time, but Ladd has been impressed with how quickly they’ve all settled in and how keen they are to make an impression.
“The first day was a bit strange in a way in the sense that there were a lot of new faces and, as older players, you get used to things being a certain way. But it’s been amazing to see these players come in and flourish.
“They’ve been unbelievable in training in terms of their application, their concentration, their talent, and it makes me so proud to see that calibre coming through into the team.
“We all want to leave the shirt in a better place, and I’m so confident that these players will carry on that legacy and they will make this country proud.”
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Poland test
Tuesday will see Wales take on fellow Euro 2025 debutants Poland in Newport.
The Poles will be without their injured superstar Ewa Pajor, but they have plenty of experience in their squad.
Goalkeeper Kinga Szemik is West Ham’s number one, defender Emilia Szymczak is on loan at Liverpool from Barcelona, while Natalia Padilla-Bidas turn out for Bayern Munich.
Poland secured a 0-0 draw in a friendly against The Netherlands last Friday, and Wilkinson knows how tough the game against Nina Patalon’s side will be.
“Poland are a strong attacking unit. They are aggressive and they work together as a team well.
“I’ve known Nina a long time and so I’m excited for the opportunity to match up against her. Overall, they are a good test for us.
“I think it will be evenly matched in certain parts of the game, and I think it could be a bit of a chess match.”
