Wales U19s eager to keep pace with Europe’s elite
NEWPORT, WALES - 26 NOVEMBER 2025: Players of Wales pose for a team photo during the 2025/26 UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship round 1 fixture between Finland WU19 & Wales WU19 at Dragon Park, Newport, Wales (Pic by Kara Thomas/FAW)
It’s a typically cold November night in Newport and Wales U19s are stepping out to play their first game in their attempt to qualify for next summer’s European Championships.
Last time out, this Cymru team did something that no other gender or age group have done, and that is to survive in League A of a qualifying or Nations League group.
In sun-drenched Llanelli, Nia Davies’ side came second in a group containing France, the Republic of Ireland and Serbia. To stay in and amongst Europe’s elite is some achievement, and Davies says it’s helped them in their preparation for this upcoming campaign.
“Last April was a massive learning curve for us. We come in ready for this campaign. We know the level of opposition is going to be high, but we’ve learned to not stress about it and to be composed.
“On top of that, this 2007 group that we’ve got currently, a lot of them were in last year’s U18s and now they’re with us in the U19s.
“They had that experience last year and that’s what’s probably made that difference, to have that understanding to be composed when things sometimes go against you.”
When you look at how this team is made up, there is a good mix of youth and experience involved in this camp.
Defender Gwen Zimmerman and midfielder Scarlett Hill are coming off the back of making their senior debuts under Rhian Wilkinson last month. Teagan Scarlett, Olivia Francis and Soffia Kelly are other examples of young stars getting a chance with the senior side.
When those players come back from their time with the firsts, captain Elena Cole explained that they are ready and willing to teach others about what Wilkinson is looking for.
“Gwen and Scarlett are brilliant players but are also brilliant listeners as well. If any of us have any questions about the first team or what Rhian is looking for, we as a squad are more than happy to go them and they are more than comfortable to answer anything that we want to know in order to push ourselves.
“We know Rhian wants people that are mature and humble, and those two are definitely that. They are top players but great people too.”
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Wales’ first opponents in this mini tournament were Finland, a nation who themselves are on the up. Suomi narrowly missed out on a place in the last European Championships, only missing out on goal difference to Germany and Poland.
On paper, the game itself looked challenging, but this young Cymru side showed some grit and determination throughout the 90 minutes.
In the opening three minutes alone, the explosive nature of Davies’ team was on show. Cole played a first-time ball into Ffion Bowen down the wing. She took one touch forward before sending in a dangerous ball into the box to Casi Gregson, and the striker will be disappointed to not put the ball in the back of the net.
But that opening attack highlighted what this team is all about. It took three touches to get the ball from the halfway line into the opposition box. It’s a move you would be delighted to see the first team execute. There’s a real attack first attitude to the U19s, but overall, this is a group of hungry players who want to deliver any gameplan they’re given.
“We did have opportunities to score against Finland,” Davies said. “But to stay compact and resilient for so long says a lot about this group of players.
“Whenever they come and play for Wales they show so much character. The work rate is always high and I’m so proud of how they handle these kinds of games. They battle all the way till the end.”
The dream of every play in this team is to get to the first team, and when you look at them play, you see attributes that would make them thrive in the senior side.
Take striker Casi Gregson for example. The striker’s energy knows no bounds. She was busy throughout the 90 minutes. Whether it was leading Wales on a promising counter or harrying the Finnish defence. Gregson never gave the defensive line a moment’s peace.
Captain Cole is another. A deep-lying playmaker who certainly has the ability to play an eye-catching pass. But on top of that there’s a steely, tenacious player who does not shy away from any tackle that she needs to make.
Casi Evans and Shurima Vine are others. Two full backs whose first thought is to attack, but they have the engines to get back and cover ground so quickly.
You look at every player in this U19 setup, and you could match them with someone in the current first team in terms of their attributes and likeness, and that in itself should be cause for excitement for those in the Red Wall.
That excitement rises when you look at some of the clubs that these players play for. Defender Cadi Rodgers is at Chelsea, there’s a trio of players with Manchester United, Teagan Scarlett is a regular in the Arsenal youth team, while Gwen Zimmerman and Cadi Doran have spent time with clubs in the USA. These are clubs who know talent when they see it, so to see so many at huge clubs is intriguing.
To tag a group as a golden generation comes with it plenty of unnecessary pressure, and it’s a tag that can weigh players down. However, Davies knows how talented this group is and does believe many of them will have long careers in football.
“It’s up to the players themselves to make the right moves club wise. It is important for them to get gametime and learn from moments in games.
“A lot of them are at top clubs, but we have a real mix of players playing senior football and others still playing in U21 teams. We have a blend here, and in a way that makes it more difficult to raise those same levels because they aren’t at the same level at club level.
“However, when they come to Wales and put that red shirt on, they morph into what we want and they’re excellent in transferring the information we give them onto the pitch.”
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In terms of the Finland game itself, Wales displayed plenty of attacking quality in the first half, but their task became harder when goalkeeper Cadi Doran was sent off. However, a glaring offside call was missed by the assistant referee in the build-up and Wales certainly felt robbed.
Yet, Davies’ side showed superb resilience to thwart the Finns at any opportunity, and that was despite some rather dubious officiating that went the way of the visitors more often than not. Dealing with adversity is something the first team have struggled with at times, but this U19 team stared adversity in the face and were more than willing to face it head on.
Türkiye and France lie in wait next for Cymru. Their analysts who attended the match at Dragon Park gave a number of appreciative nods towards Wales and what they were trying to do. They know full well that their games against Wales will be big tests.
But for Cole and her teammates, it will be a matter of one game at a time. However, there is a real desire and optimism that this team can once again keep their spot in League A.
“I thought we played brilliantly against France the last time we faced them in April, and I even think we could have come away from it with a win.
“Against Türkiye and France, I think it’s important for us to stick to what we know, help each other out, and take on board what the coaching staff say.
“If we can do that, hopefully we can exploit their weaknesses and get the three points in both games. We’re all looking forward to it.”
Wales’ U19s will play Türkiye on Saturday November 29th before taking on France on Tuesday December 2nd. Both matches will kick-off at 2pm and both will take place at Dragon Park.
