This video can not be played Excitement building as Wales given 'amazing' welcome Wales' players say they are happy to be written off at Euro 2025 as they bid to cause an upset in Switzerland. Having been drawn against defending champions England and formidable opponents in France and the Netherlands,Opta gives Wales just a 9% chance of getting out of their group, a 2% chance of reaching the semi-final and a 1% chance of reaching the final. Wales are the lowest-ranked side at Euro 2025, their first major tournament, and have never beaten a side ranked in the world's top 10. Opta suggests Wales have a 71% chance of finishing bottom of their qualifying group, but Wales' players say they are comfortable with being dismissed. "You want to come to a major tournament, and you want to play against the best teams," defender Gemma Evans told BBC Sport Wales. "We are fine with the group. We're fine with outside noise, or people who don't have any faith in us or are underestimating us. "We know the talent we've got in the group. We know what we've got to do. We are happy with the position we're in, and we know what we will do." Wales kick off their tournament on Saturday, 5 July against the Netherlands and midfielder Rachel Rowe says the players are ready to show they belong on the biggest stage. "The pressure comes from within our group and what our expectations are of ourselves," Rowe explained. "I think we're fully focused on doing the nation proud and doing ourselves proud first and foremost. "We want to put in performances so that we can step off the pitch and say we gave everything. On our best day, as long as we perform, we can put in a performance and get results." Striker Elise Hughes says "it is a Wales thing", to embrace the tag of underdogs. "When you qualify for a major tournament there's only 16 teams here, and that's 16 of the best in Europe," she said. "Any group that you go into is going to be tough. Ours is obviously particularly tough. "But yeah, it's a Wales thing to do. It's a Wales thing to be an underdog - we are relishing that opportunity. "We want to come here and play in the biggest games, and our group is allowing us to do that, and we'll be more than ready."
'Underdogs' Wales happy to be written off at Euro 2025
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"Wales Embraces Underdog Status Ahead of Euro 2025 Debut"
Bbc News
8.5
TruthLens AI Summary
Wales' women's football team is gearing up for their debut at Euro 2025, where they have been labeled as significant underdogs. The team has drawn a challenging group, facing off against defending champions England, as well as strong contenders France and the Netherlands. According to Opta, Wales has a mere 9% chance of advancing beyond the group stage, with even slimmer odds of reaching the semi-finals and finals at 2% and 1% respectively. As the lowest-ranked team in the tournament, Wales has never secured a victory against any team ranked in the world’s top 10. Despite these daunting statistics, the players express a sense of comfort with being underestimated. Defender Gemma Evans emphasized the importance of competing against top teams, stating that they are unfazed by external doubts and are confident in their abilities and preparation for the tournament ahead.
The tournament kicks off for Wales on July 5 against the Netherlands, and the players are determined to prove their worth on such a prestigious platform. Midfielder Rachel Rowe noted that the pressure the team feels is self-imposed, rooted in their own expectations rather than external opinions. She highlighted their commitment to representing their nation proudly and emphasized the importance of performing to their best capabilities. Striker Elise Hughes echoed this sentiment, describing the underdog status as a traditional aspect of Welsh football culture. She acknowledged the tough competition they face in their group but expressed excitement about the opportunity to compete at such a high level. The Welsh team is eager to show that they belong among Europe's elite and aims to make a mark in their first major tournament appearance.
TruthLens AI Analysis
You need to be a member to generate the AI analysis for this article.
Log In to Generate AnalysisNot a member yet? Register for free.