Wales Women's Football Team Embraces 'Unforgettable' Swiss Welcome Ahead of Euro 2025

'Truly Overwhelming' Swiss Reception for Wales Women's Football Team

Captain Angharad James described the reception the Wales squad received upon their arrival in Switzerland as 'truly overwhelming.' The team, making their first major tournament appearance, is set to face the Netherlands in their opening group match of Euro 2025 on Saturday, 5 June.

Arrival and Training in Weinfelden

The players arrived at their training base in Weinfelden on Sunday, 29 June, where they were greeted by hundreds of local school children before their first training session. 'It is truly overwhelming. The locals are supporting us, and it has been a crazy welcome, unforgettable,' James told BBC Sport Wales.

Preparation and Acclimatization

After a week-long training camp in Lagos, Portugal, the team has arrived in Switzerland amidst soaring temperatures across Europe. 'It feels real now. Our backroom staff have done a great job of making us feel at home here,' James said. 'It's a pretty cool experience. There is pure excitement from the group, we can't wait to get started.'

Confidence Despite Tough Group

Despite being drawn into a challenging group with matches against France and England, James remains confident. 'Our fans have been amazing. It's been a progression over the years. We want to inspire the next generation,' she said. 'I am really excited and proud of this group of players. I really do believe we can go into this tournament and upset a few teams.'

First Training Session in High Temperatures

The first training session was conducted in temperatures over 30°C, but James assured that it was no issue for the team. 'We acclimatised in Portugal, we had a really good training camp and an in-house game that was very competitive,' she added. 'What more do you want? A beautiful day here in Switzerland… the group is excited.'