Tournament near misses have helped Wales build and evolve
She won her first Wales cap in Switzerland 14 years ago and was part of teams that went close to qualifying for Euro 2022 and the 2023 World Cup.
Ladd said: 'It is frustrating when you're in those moments and you feel the team can do better.
'But I reflect on those campaigns under different managers and I believe it has built us up to where we are now.
'We've learned different styles and we've got different attributes as a group. We've been tested along the way and that experience has rolled into us being in a really good shape now.
'It helps us that we've got to a major tournament having been through all that heartache. We've evolved and with time we've added more layers to our game.
'Losing the World Cup play-off to Switzerland (to a last-gasp goal in extra time) hit hard, especially being in the back line, but I didn't feel in that game we're as confident as we are now.'
Ladd returns to Switzerland at the Euros having made her debut in the Swiss town of Saviese against New Zealand in June 2011.
Only team-mates Jess Fishlock, Sophie Ingle and Angharad James have won more caps than the 31-year-old.
She said: 'I've got such fond memories of that first camp. It was up one of their amazing mountains and it was magical getting my first cap there.
'To go back to Switzerland with this group, with all the hard work we've put in, is a really special moment.'
Wales, the lowest-ranked team at Euro 2025, are also in the same group as France and defending champions England.
Ladd was born in St Albans in Hertfordshire but qualified to play for Wales through her Haverfordwest-born father.
Prep time 🏃♀️ pic.twitter.com/PyxEMoFjCD
— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) July 1, 2025
'I couldn't believe the draw,' said Ladd. 'I had to take another look and let it sink in.
'England is a derby game and the teams in our group are particularly good. But you realise it's the biggest stage and you're going to play the top teams.
'There's the added element that teams may underestimate us because the group is so strong, and that could play to our advantage. But there is no shying away from the quality of the teams in our group.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
15 minutes ago
- The Sun
Wimbledon 2025 LIVE RESULTS: Jack Draper TRAILING to Marin Cilic, Djokovic BEATS Evans, Sinner and Shelton feature
WIMBLEDON is well underway at the All England Club as attention turns to Day Four - and Jack Draper is on NOW against former finalist Marin Cilic! Earlier on today, Novak Djokovic knocked out Brit Dan Evans in straight sets as he eyes a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam. Meanwhile, Ben Shelton, Jannik Sinner, Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina all feature on Day Four. WIMBLEDON 2025 FREE BETS AND SIGN UP OFFERS Follow our live blog below... 30th Jun 2025, 08:25 By Connor Greaves When will play begin? The first matches of Wimbledon 2025 will get underway at 11am BST. Two Brits feature in the opening set of matches with Oliver Crawford facing Mattia Bellucci on Court 16 and Oliver Tarvet playing Leandro Riedi on Court 4. Centre Court action begins at 1.30pm BST as reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz goes head-to-head with Italian Fabio Fognini. By Connor Greaves Brit watch Here are all the timings for the key British names in action on opening day: Centre Court: Katie Boulter vs Paula Badosa - from 3.30pm Court One: Jacob Fearnley vs Joao Fonseca - from 3pm and Emma Raducanu vs Mimi Xu - from 4pm Court 3: Sonay Kartal vs Jelena Ostapenko - from 11am Court 4: Oliver Tarvet vs Leandro Riedi - from 11am and Henry Searle vs Ethan Quinn - from 3.30pm Court 12: Hannah Klugman vs Leylah Fernandez - from 3.30pm Court 15: Arthur Fery vs Alexei Popyrin and Billy Harris vs Dusan Lajovic - from 1pm Court 16: Oliver Crawford vs Mattia Bellucci - from 11am Court 17: Harriet Dart vs Dalma Galfi and Mika Stojsavljevic vs Ashlyn Krueger - from 3.30pm Court 18: Cameron Norrie vs Roberto Bautista Agut - from 12.30pm 30th Jun 2025, 08:05 By Connor Greaves Good morning and welcome to SunSport's live blog of Wimbledon! The iconic British tennis tournament gets underway today at the All England Club, and some huge names are in action! A whopping FOURTEEN Brits will begin their campaigns with the likes of Emma Raducanu, Katie Boulter, Jacob Fearnley and Cameron Norrie all competing in SW19 on opening day. Carlos Alcaraz headlines on Centre Court as he starts his bid for a third title against Italian Fabio Fognini. The likes of Jack Draper and Novak Djokovic will have to wait until Tuesday to get their tournaments underway. SunSport will bring you all the action from SW19 over the next 14 days right here.
Telegraph
18 minutes ago
- Telegraph
‘Diogo will live in perpetuity now' - sense of grief at Anfield will not subside for years
The eternal flame at Anfield is a permanent, sobering reminder that for all Liverpool 's triumphs, tragedy has a habit of shadowing the club like the cruellest of imposters. Appropriately and poignantly, it was at the Hillsborough Memorial shortly after 9.30am when the first mourners paid their respects to their idol Diogo Jota, a day which began with supporters praying news of his fatal car accident was a sick social media rumour rapidly turning to one of incomprehension and heartbreak. By mid-afternoon, the expanding collection of bouquets prompted club stewards to relocate tributes, a temporary barrier erected as a steady flow of the sorrowful bowed before an impromptu shrine, yards from a mural immortalising another of Liverpool's great goalscorers, Ian Rush. It is the image of the young Portuguese striker celebrating in front of the Kop that lives in perpetuity now. When processing the grim bulletins from Spain, some immediately spoke of retiring Jota's number 20 jersey. One can imagine they will never allow another Liverpool fixture to pass without chanting his name. The lingering vision of Jota will be that of his final appearance in the stadium in May, joyously accepting the applause as he danced with the Premier League trophy. 'Forever a champion,' read one of the more prominent messages on freshly wrapped flowers. 'No words,' said another, echoing the universal sense of disbelief. The tapestry of colours was not only those of Liverpool's jerseys. Everton, Manchester United and Rangers supporters naturally expressed their solidarity, football tribalism non-existent in the immediate aftermath of trauma. Several Wolverhampton Wanderers fans laid a wreath, Jota having established his Premier League reputation at Molineux, before a Newcastle supporter gifted a half-and-half scarf which had been a cherished souvenir from the recent historic Carabao Cup victory. In such terrible circumstances, the smallest of sacrifices become the grandest of gestures. 'I live in Liverpool, but I have been a Newcastle fan all my life,' explained Frank Chialton, 67. 'It felt right to be here to show respect. He was such a great player.' Others immediately headed to Anfield on behalf of loved ones grieving millions of miles away, the global impact of Jota's death as profound as of any elite sportsman at their peak in living memory. 'I have friends and family in Melbourne who are big Liverpool supporters and they could not believe the news this morning,' said Gail Williams. 'They actually used to live in the houses right here, just across from the Main Stand. They called an hour ago and asked if something could be left on their behalf. None of us can believe what has happened.' The connection between football and spirituality is never so conspicuous than in bereavement, supporters flocking to their place of worship. On a matchday, this particular area of Anfield reverberates with excitable pre-match chatter and clamouring feet scampering towards a turnstile. On Thursday, hundreds of mourners could be seen from a distance, steadily making their way across Stanley Park to join the eerie silence, their steps as heavy as their hearts. After leaving each token of respect, many located a quiet spot for further reflection, some alone, others with partners, sons and daughters, staring into the distance, plenty admitting they were contemplating those deeper questions after such chilling events like 'how?' and 'why?' 'I was working my ambulance shift this morning when I heard the news,' said Paul Gamble, who lives and works around Anfield. 'I was absolutely shocked. Obviously in my line of work you get used to hearing about accidents and such, but - I don't know - when you hear it is a top player. I can't explain, really, but for some reason, you just don't believe it, do you? 'It puts life into perspective. I mean, I don't really want to talk about the football side of Diogo. All I can think about today is his family, his wife, his children. And for his parents to lose two sons in that way. Two young lads. It is just absolutely devastating. 'When someone dies, especially as young as 28, everyone feels it, and because of our love for the club it does feel like we have all lost a member of our family. That's why we all come here. It feels right to come to Anfield today. We all have the same emotions. 'It's a small thing, I know, but we want to be around each other and friends. I laid a scarf for Diogo on behalf of myself and my daughter.' Nearby, a father and son sat looking visibly shaken, the youngster close to tears when asked to share his memories of Jota's numerous match-winning contributions so fundamental to a golden Anfied era. 'I woke up to the news and I could not believe it. I'm trying to process it,' said Matt Tomlinson, 20. 'You can't help but think about life; and the unfairness of it,' said his father, Vinny. 'This was a lad in the prime of his life, just married, and then it has been taken away from him just like that. 'I have been going to the Kop since 1978. This feels like such a personal loss. I know it shouldn't. We think of these young men as remote, highly paid footballers. But there is a collective spirit within a football club, a solidarity between us as supporters and those players we come to love so much. For Diogo to have lost his life this way. It is just wrong, isn't it? 'This club just echoes our life. None of us can escape tragedy in life at some point, can we? We spend our lives seeking out the good times and the successes. But you always know there is sadness around the corner, and we've had to suffer so much of it in our love for this club. 'I wanted to say thank you, as much as anything else. 'That's what our message said: Thank you, Diogo, for everything you did. Because you are a massive contributor to some of the greatest of times for this football club. What you did means so much to us all and it always will.' In the shadow of the Kop end, another poignant message was placed at the feet of the Bill Shankly Statue. 'Rip Diogo Jota. You are not alone,' it read.
The Herald Scotland
24 minutes ago
- The Herald Scotland
Manchester City name Denmark Women boss Andree Jeglertz as their new head coach
Former City head coach Nick Cushing stepped in on an interim basis after Taylor departed five days before the club's League Cup final defeat to Chelsea. We are delighted to confirm that Andrée Jeglertz has agreed to become the new Head Coach of Manchester City Women. The 53-year-old Swedish coach and former professional player will join the Club from the Denmark women's national football team after this summer's Euros. — Manchester City Women (@ManCityWomen) July 3, 2025 Director of football for City's women's team, Therese Sjogran, said: 'Andree brings a wealth of experience at the top of the game as well as a real hunger to drive Manchester City forward.' Sjogran added: 'Andree really impressed us with his attitude and ambition, and the way he sees the game aligns perfectly with our own vision. 'We wish him luck at the Euros this summer with Denmark and are all very excited to see what impact he can make in our bright future.' Former Malmo defender Jeglertz has an extensive CV. He won the UEFA Women's Cup – later the Champions League – with Swedish side Umea in 2004 and led them to successive finals in 2007 and 2008. After a spell in men's football with Djurgardens in 2009, Jeglertz spent six years in charge of Finland Women until 2016 before a brief return to Umea was followed by a two-year stint in charge of Linkopings. He was appointed Denmark's head coach after the 2023 World Cup and led them to this summer's Euros after they finished second behind world champions Spain in qualifying. Jeglertz said: 'Manchester City are one of the biggest clubs in the world. There is so much talent in this group. 'One of my key things is to continue the job that's been done and take it to the next level. 'We would like to win, develop players and want the players every day to become better. 'I will do everything I can to take this to the next level and make sure we can play attractive and winning football.'
