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    Cymru vs. Croatia | 2025 European Women’s Championship – WEQ League Stage – Grp B4

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        Live ReportMatch Summary

        1. MATCH SUMMARY

          Rhian Wilkinson began her reign as manager with a stunning victory in Cymru’s opening match of the UEFA European Qualifiers against Croatia at the STōK Cae Ras in Wrexham.

          The Red Wall created a fantastic atmosphere at the oldest international football stadium in world and they rewarded with four goals.

          Any nerves were settled after just 4 minutes as Cymru’s positive attitude brought them their first goal of the match when Rachel Rowe provided the assist to set Jess Fishlock free in the box and she slotted the ball away with absolute composure.

          Wilkinson’s team were in complete control and looked dangerous, with the home crowd expecting Cymru to score again. They created the chances to do so but somehow Croatia kept the ball out of their net for the rest of the first half.

          Cymru started the second half in style and Croatia were unable to stop the piercing attack and Fishlock scored again after playing a one-two off the crossbar. Fishlock had chipped Croatia goalkeeper Doris Bačiċ but the ball bounced back off the bar and she tapped it over the line.

          Less than a minute later it was 3-0 as Fishlock turned provider for Rachel Rowe, who scored after shimmying her way past a defender before a reverse shot into the goal.

          Cymru were on a roll and it was 4-0 soon after as Gemma Evans sent a searching long ball forward into the box where Angharad James volleyed home with an outstretched leg from close range and a tight angle.

          It’s Kosovo next for Cymru with the European Qualifier taking place in on Tuesday (9 April) at the Zahir Pajaziti Stadium in Podujevo. The match kicks off at 1:00pm.

        2. 🎥 Rhian Wilkinson got her Cymru career off to a fine start. She shares her views with BBC Wales in her post-match interview.

        4. Jess Fishlock speaks to BBC Wales after scoring two goals.

        5. FULL-TIME: CYMRU 4-0 CROATIA

          A dominant display from Cymru as Rhian Wilkinson begins her reign as manager in style with Jess Fishlock scoring twice before Angharad James and Rachel Rowe also find the back of the net.

        6. 86'

          Substitution

          GRIFFITHS Alice replaces INGLE Sophie

        7. 85'

          Substitution

          FATJESA GEGOLLAJ replaces KRISTINA NEVRKLA

        8. 85'

          Substitution

          JANJA ČANJEVAC replaces MARIA KUNŠTEK

        10. 79'

          Nearly a fifth goal for Cymru as Ceri Holland sees her effort crash back off the crossbar.

        11. 77'

          Substitution

          JOEL Lois replaces FISHLOCK Jessica Anne

        12. 77'

          Substitution

          JOEL Lois replaces FISHLOCK Jessica Anne

        14. 73'

          Cymru are still enjoying the majority share of possession here as Croatia do their best not to concede any more goals.

        16. 65'

          Substitution

          PAULA VIDOVIĆ replaces RUŽICA KRAJINOVIĆ

        17. 65'

          Substitution

          IVANA SLIPČEVIĆ replaces ANDREA GLIBO

        18. 65'

          Substitution

          MCATEER Mary replaces ROWE Rachel

        19. 65'

          Substitution

          HOLLAND Ceri replaces HUGHES Elise

        20. 65'

          Substitution

          PAULA VIDOVIĆ replaces RUŽICA KRAJINOVIĆ

        21. 65'

          Substitution

          IVANA SLIPČEVIĆ replaces ANDREA GLIBO

        22. 65'

          Substitution

          MCATEER Mary replaces ROWE Rachel

        23. 65'

          Substitution

          HOLLAND Ceri replaces HUGHES Elise

        24. 65'

          Substitution

          PAULA VIDOVIĆ replaces RUŽICA KRAJINOVIĆ

        25. 65'

          Substitution

          PAULA VIDOVIĆ replaces RUŽICA KRAJINOVIĆ

        26. 65'

          Substitution

          IVANA SLIPČEVIĆ replaces ANDREA GLIBO

        27. 65'

          Substitution

          IVANA SLIPČEVIĆ replaces ANDREA GLIBO

        28. 65'

          Substitution

          MCATEER Mary replaces ROWE Rachel

        29. 65'

          Substitution

          MCATEER Mary replaces ROWE Rachel

        30. 65'

          Substitution

          HOLLAND Ceri replaces HUGHES Elise

        31. 65'

          Substitution

          HOLLAND Ceri replaces HUGHES Elise

        32. 📸 Rachel Rowe runs away in celebration as after netting for Cymru.

        33. 📸 Angharad James celebrates her goal alongside Sophie Ingle and Jess Fishlock.

        34. 📸 Jess Fishlock celebrates her second goal of the game,

        35. 57'

          Substitution

          ANA MARIA MARKOVIC replaces IZABELA LOJNA

        36. 57'

          Substitution

          ANA MARIA MARKOVIC replaces IZABELA LOJNA

        37. 57'

          Substitution

          ANA MARIA MARKOVIC replaces IZABELA LOJNA

        38. 57'

          Substitution

          ANA MARIA MARKOVIC replaces IZABELA LOJNA

        39. 56'

          Goal

          JAMES Angharad

        40. 56'

          Goal

          JAMES Angharad

        41. 56'

          Goal

          JAMES Angharad

        42. 56'

          Goal

          JAMES Angharad

        43. 56'

          Goal

          JAMES Angharad

        44. 56'

          GÔÔÔL!!!! Cymru are putting on a show here as Angharad James nets the fourth goal.

        45. 54'

          Yellow card

          ANDREA GLIBO

        46. 54'

          Yellow card

          ANDREA GLIBO

        47. 54'

          Yellow card

          ANDREA GLIBO

        48. 54'

          Yellow card

          ANDREA GLIBO

        49. 54'

          Yellow card

          ANDREA GLIBO

        52. 51'

          Goal

          ROWE Rachel

        53. 51'

          Goal

          ROWE Rachel

        54. 51'

          Goal

          ROWE Rachel

        55. 51'

          Goal

          ROWE Rachel

        56. 51'

          IT’S 3-0!!!! Cymru are being clinical here in Wrexham as Rachel Rowe finishes with confidence.

        57. 51'

          Goal

          ROWE Rachel

        58. 50'

          Goal

          FISHLOCK Jessica Anne

        59. 50'

          Goal

          FISHLOCK Jessica Anne

        60. 50'

          Goal

          FISHLOCK Jessica Anne

        61. 50'

          Goal

          FISHLOCK Jessica Anne

        62. 50'

          Goal

          FISHLOCK Jessica Anne

        63. 50'

          Goal

          FISHLOCK Jessica Anne

        64. 50'

          GOOOOAAAALLLL!!!!! JESS FISHLOCK!!!

          Fishlock doubles her tally and the lead for Cymru. After chipping the ball over the advancing Doris Bačić it bounced back off the top of the crossbar and Fishlock puts it over the line!

        65. 50'

          Goal

          FISHLOCK Jessica Anne

        66. 46'

          Substitution

          MORGAN Ffion Alys replaces POWELL Ella

        67. 46'

          Substitution

          MORGAN Ffion Alys replaces POWELL Ella

        68. 46'

          Substitution

          MORGAN Ffion Alys replaces POWELL Ella

        69. 46'

          Substitution

          MORGAN Ffion Alys replaces POWELL Ella

        70. 46'

          Substitution

          MORGAN Ffion Alys replaces POWELL Ella

        71. 46'

          Substitution

          MORGAN Ffion Alys replaces POWELL Ella

        72. 46'

          Substitution

          MORGAN Ffion Alys replaces POWELL Ella

        73. SECOND-HALF

          We’re back underway at STōK Cae Ras.

        74. 📸 Slotted

        75. HALF-TIME: CYMRU 1-0 CROATIA

          Rhian Wilkinson will be pleased with that first half as her Cymru team go in at the break having enjoyed 80% of the possession and finding the back of the net through Jess Fishlock.

          The goal was well worked and settled any nerves as Rachel Rowe provided the assist for Fishlock to score on her 149th appearance for her country.

        77. 32'

          Some lovely play from Elise Hughes in the box to hold the ball up then sees her lay it off for Sophie Ingle to strike. There was venom in the shot but it was blocked by a Croatian defender,

        78. 23'

          Croatia are not seeing much of the ball at STōK Cae Ras as Cymru go in search of a second goal. Every time Croatia gain possession, Cymru win the ball back.

        80. 📸 That goal deserved a celebration like this.

        81. 10'

          It’s been a very confident start by Cymru here in Wrexham and are displaying confidence in these opening exchanges and deserve their lead.

        82. 4'

          Goal

          FISHLOCK Jessica Anne

        83. 4'

          Goal

          FISHLOCK Jessica Anne

        84. 4'

          Goal

          FISHLOCK Jessica Anne

        85. 4'

          Goal

          FISHLOCK Jessica Anne

        86. 4'

          Goal

          FISHLOCK Jessica Anne

        87. 4'

          GÔÔÔL!!! WHAT A START!!!!

          Jess Fishlock is set free in the box and slots the ball into the back of the net!

        88. KICK OFF!

          The European Qualifiers are underway as Cymru take kick off.

        89. 🇭🇷 The Croatia starting line-up is also confirmed.

          Doris Bacic, Maria Kunstek, Leonarda Balog, Kristina Nevrkla, Tea Vracevic; Tea Krznaric, Ruzica Krajinovic, Ana Jelenic, Petra Pezelj, Andrea Glibo, Izabela Lojna.

          Ana Filipovic, Laura Fiket, Ivana Slipcevic, Janja Canjevac, Ivana Kirilenko, Karla Jedvaj, Veronika Terzic, Paula Vidovic, Ana Maria Markov, Fatjesa Gegollaj

        91. Jess Fishlock and Angharad James start for Cymru against Croatia this evening.

          Fishlock earns her 149th cap when she takes to the pitch as another milestone approaches for the Cymru legend.

        92. Rhian Wilkinson has selected her first starting line-up as Cymru manager. This is who will play against Croatia.

        93. The oldest international football stadium in the world.

        95. The players have gone on their pre-match walk.

        96. All of the match officials for today’s UEFA European Qualifier come from Slovakia:

          Zuzana Valentová (Referee)
          Miroslava Pastoreková (Assistant Referee)
          Alexandra Vargova (Assistant Referee)
          Kristian Michel (Fourth Official)

        97. The Football Museum Wales has provided a nice flashback to the first ever women’s football match to be played at Wrexham’s Cae Ras.

        98. If you can’t make it to STōK Cae Ras in Wrexham for the game this evening, here’s how you can watch the game.

        103. JESS FISHLOCK

          Cymru came so close to qualifying for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in their last qualifying game but suffered heartbreak in a play-off against Switzerland. Jess Fishlock has been speaking to BBC Wales about how that experience will spur the squad on ahead of today’s European Qualifier against Croatia.

          “Having reached the play-off final for a place at the last World Cup we know we have the ability and desire to qualify, we have had that feeling for the past few campaigns.

          “I think ultimately our near misses for qualifying have helped us to grow as a squad, It drives you on because it hurt so much. It was such a hard thing to push through as a group. I guess when you have that feeling of utter devastation, you don’t really want to feel that again.

          “This campaign now, you take that feeling from Switzerland and use it as extra motivation as you don’t want to feel it again.”

        104. Qualifying for EURO 2025 kicks off today in Wrecsam!

        105. Rhian Wilkinson’s Cymru trained in a rainy STōK Cae Ras this evening ahead of tomorrow’s match against Croatia, which will mark the start of the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 qualification campaign and Wilkinson’s first match in charge of the side.

        106. Looking for something to watch ahead of the European Qualifiers kicking off with the match against Croatia in Wrexham?

          Check out Sophie Ingle: Fire & Ice on RedWall+. The documentary explores her incredible career and how Ingle has a positive impact on those around her both on and off the pitch for club and country.

          CLICK HERE TO WATCH NOW

        107. HOW DOES QUALIFICATION WORK?

          Cymru are in European Qualifiers Group B4 along with Croatia, Ukraine and Kosovo. Cymru are the highest ranked team in the group but how does qualifying work?

          There are no automatic qualification places from League B groups but plenty of play-off spots are on offer, as well as the chance of promotion for group winners.

          In qualifying, as per the league stage of the Nations League, teams compete in groups of four or three teams (League C) and over six matchdays between April and July, with each team playing one home match and one away match against all the other teams in their group.

          For qualifying itself, the top two teams in each League A group will gain places in the July 2025 finals alongside hosts Switzerland (who will compete in League B although their automatic qualification is assured). The remaining seven spots will be decided by two rounds of play-offs in October and November/December.

          The first round of the play-offs is split into two paths. In one path, the teams finishing third and fourth in League A will play the five group winners and three best-ranked runners-up in League C (for ranking the three best runners-up, results against fourth-placed teams are not counted). The eight winners progress to the second round.

          In the other first round path, the four group winners and two best-ranked runners-up in League B will be drawn into six ties against the remaining two runners-up and four third-placed teams in League B. The six winners progress to the second round.

          In the second round, the teams from both paths come together and will be drawn into seven ties, with seeding for the seven highest-ranked teams based on the European Qualifiers overall league rankings. The seven winners progress to the final tournament.

        108. WILKINSON HAD EYES ON CYMRU

          Rhian Wilkinson has been speaking to BBC Wales and has told them that she’s had her eye on the Cymru job for quite some time.

          “When the job came up after Jayne Ludlow stepped down, I was sorely tempted to apply. I thought what an amazing opportunity it would be, but I had already verbally agreed to another job, it wasn’t great timing for me.

          “When the job came up, I had decided that I was going to work on creating a league in Canada. I was invested in continuing to be there, but I couldn’t sleep when I saw this job had come up. It’s something I’ve been thinking about for a long time. It was the perfect job for me.”

        110. The Cymru squad has been training at the FAW’s Colliers Park facility in Gresford, prior to their match against Croatia at STōK Cae Ras on Friday.

          🎟️ Tickets for the game can be purchased by clicking here.

        111. New Cymru manager, Rhian Wilkinson has overseen her team train for the first time at Colliers Park as she prepares them for Friday’s European Qualifier against Croatia in Wrexham.

        113. Cymru have arrived back on camp ahead of Friday’s opening 2025 EURO qualifier against Croatia at Stōk Cae Ras.

        114. There is no live report available for this match

        Lineups

        Starting

          Substitutes

            Starting

              Substitutes

                Table

                P
                Gd
                Pts

                Match Info

                Stadium

                Date & Time

                Referee

                Fourth Official

                Assistant Referees

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