By Dylan James
Wales face Netherlands in their first-ever match at a women’s major tournament. Their success follows the men in 2016, who featured at their first major tournament in 58 years. The men’s side, along with the help of Gareth Bale, went on to achieve great success in the years following, and the women’s side are hoping Euro 2025 will follow in a similar vein, and it’ll be their catalyst for long-term success. Joining Poland as tournament debutants, it is a landmark moment in the history of Welsh women’s football. First up for the women in red is a match against Netherlands, which is a tough task straight off the bat for Rhian Wilkinson’s outfit, but they are embracing the challenge. Opta stats say Wales have a 71% chance of finishing bottom of their group, but Welsh players have assured supporters they are comfortable with being written off. “You want to come to a major tournament, and you want to play against the best teams,” said Gemma Evans to 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.” Manager Rhian Wilkinson has assured football fans her team is ready to take on Europe’s elite. “When you watch Wales, you can expect to see a courageous team. A team that’s ready to compete with the very best in the world,” she said. “I’ve inherited a team at the exact right moment for them to do something special. They’re a testament to all the people that came before and all the players that came before, and that my arrival was maybe just that kind of new coach at that right time who was able to ask them to do things that maybe in the past they weren’t ready for, and that now, they’re ready to try. “My staff has done a great job at creating an environment where error is not punished, and it is a safe environment where we ask them to push themselves to the limits of their ability – because why wouldn’t we?” Here’s everything you need to know about the match. Wales v Netherlands kicks off at 5pm UK time on Saturday, July 5 in Lucerne, Switzerland. The match is being played at Allmend Stadion. Wales v Netherlands is being shown live on BBC One and S4C. If you would like to live stream the match, then you can do so on BBC iPlayer, S4C Clic and the BBC Sport website.