I'm feeling really good – Sophie Ingle relishing Euros dream after knee injury
Former national team captain Ingle suffered ACL damage in a Chelsea pre-season friendly in September and has not played since.
Ingle has taken a full part at Wales training in Switzerland, but it remains to be seen whether the 141-times capped midfielder will make the starting line-up for their Euros opener against the Netherlands on Saturday.
Speaking before the Lucerne clash, Ingle told Sky Sports: 'I've probably got a stronger knee than before, which is the crazy thing.
'That's already hard to process in your mind. It's definitely mentally (tougher) than physically. 'Can I do it? Can I get back to the level I was at?'
'You go through all those stages, but I'm very laid back and had full confidence in my medical team. That fully helps and it's paid off now I'm here.
'A lot of the girls have said to me over the last few days they can't believe I've been out nine months and look basically the same as before.
'I'm just pushing every single day and, whatever role I'm needed, I'll be there for the team. I'm feeling really good, which is the main thing.'
Ingle revealed how a Christmas card from the Football Association provided extra motivation for her to make Rhian Wilkinson's 23-strong squad in Switzerland.
She said: 'The FAW sent out a Christmas card of our photo when we qualified, the whole team, and there were a few words inside.
'So I put it up on my kitchen shelf. Every time I was in the kitchen that evening I'd look up, and that was just always my focus to get back for this tournament.
Hoher Kasten 🚡📍 pic.twitter.com/PVe6U4wZtl
— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) July 2, 2025
'Once the girls qualified in December, that was then my aim, to do everything I could to be in with a chance of getting selected.
'Then, once I got selected it was such a special feeling that all that hard work and those lonely days on your own in the gym kind of paid off.'
Ingle is currently without a club after her second spell at Chelsea ended in May following seven trophy-filled years in west London.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Sophie Ingle OBE (@ingle08)
But the 33-year-old remains a standard-bearer for Welsh football, leading the national team 83 times between 2015 and 2024.
Ingle said: 'I think us qualifying for the Euros helped my recovery, to have an aim in place.
'I always had the mentality that if I don't make it, at least I've tried and I've done everything that I can.
'They always say on average, it's nine to 12 months (to recover from an ACL injury), but it all depends on your body, how your surgery went, what actually was wrong with your knee.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BreakingNews.ie
7 minutes ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Liverpool postpone pre-season return following death of forward Diogo Jota
Liverpool have cancelled the phased return of players for pre-season training as they continue to mourn the death of forward Diogo Jota. The first group of Arne Slot's squad were scheduled to attend the club's AXA training complex on Friday for the opening round of physical tests after their summer break. Advertisement However, the PA news agency understands that has been postponed as the club deals with the aftermath of the shocking tragedy which saw 28-year-old Jota and his brother Andre Silva killed in a car crash in Spain in the early hours of Thursday. Mourners gathered at a wake in Portugal on Friday morning, ahead of the brothers' funeral at the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar in Sao Cosme at 10am on Saturday. Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez said the country had lost 'one of its heroes'. 'We feel the family's pain and, in this tragedy, we question life in general,' he said in a video released by the Portuguese Football Federation. Advertisement 'We have created a family in the national team that goes far beyond football and Diogo is an important part of that – on and off the field. 'Portugal will miss one of its heroes.' Liverpool head coach Arne Slot said everyone associated with the club owed it to Jota to 'stand together and be there for one another'. Our lad from Portugal. Forever ❤️ — Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 3, 2025 'For us as a club, the sense of shock is absolute. Diogo was not just our player. He was a loved one to all of us. He was a team-mate, a colleague, a workmate and in all of those roles he was very special. Advertisement 'We need everyone at the club to stand together and to be there for one another. We owe this to Diogo, to Andre Silva, to their wider family and to ourselves.' Jota's team-mates have spoken of the struggle to comprehend his death, with captain Virgil van Dijk writing on Instagram he was 'absolutely devastated and in total disbelief'. 'What a human being, what a player, but most importantly what an unbelievable family man,' he added. 'A champion forever, number 20 forever. It's been a privilege to have stood by your side on the pitch, and to have been your friend off it. Advertisement Andy Robertson, who attended Jota's wedding to long-term partner Rute Cardoso less than a fortnight ago, posted: 'I can't believe we're saying goodbye. It's too soon, and it hurts so much. But thank you for being in my life, mate – and for making it better.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Andrew Robertson (@andyrobertson94) 'Heartbroken' former manager Jurgen Klopp, for whom his Christian faith has played a big part in his life, wrote on Instagram: 'This is a moment where I struggle! There must be a bigger purpose! But I can't see it!' Liverpool, who are supporting Jota's family, have opened a book of condolence, both physical in the Anfield Road Stand and online, lowered flags to half-mast and closed all stores and the museum and suspended all tours until Monday. Fans continue to leave flowers, scarves and shirts at a makeshift shrine outside Anfield and there are similar scenes at Wolves' Molineux Stadium, where he spent three years before his move to Liverpool. Advertisement
Wales Online
14 minutes ago
- Wales Online
Truth about Emma Raducanu boyfriend now emerges as new man turns up after Alcaraz hotel visit
Truth about Emma Raducanu boyfriend now emerges as new man turns up after Alcaraz hotel visit The tennis star's love life has been in the spotlight at Wimbledon Raducanu was seen watching Alcaraz in action at Queen's last month All eyes will be on Emma Raducanu at Wimbledon on Friday as she takes on top seed Aryna Sabalenka in the third round of the women's singles at SW19. The 22-year-old has impressed in the opening two rounds of this year's tournament, easing past Welsh teenager Mimi Xu with a 6-3, 6-3 victory in her first match before beating Marketa Vondrousova by the same scoreline in round two. However, the biggest challenge of her campaign so far awaits on Centre Court on Friday afternoon, with Sabalenka currently the top-ranked women's player in the world. With the home crowd behind her, however, Raducanu will be hoping to cause an upset as she looks to let her tennis do the talking, having never really lived up to the 2021 US Open triumph that catapulted her to fame as a teenager. Going into this year's Wimbledon, however, much of the conversation around Raducanu revolved around her life away from the court, particularly her personal relationships. While there's lots of rumours, there is no confirmation Raducanu is currently in a relationship. Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz rumour The British star has seen herself romantically linked to a host of different men both within and outside of tennis, with rumours swirling ahead of the tournament of a potential relationship between her and reigning Wimbledon men's singles champion Carlos Alcaraz. Article continues below Suggestions that the pair were more than just friends first emerged last summer, but gathered pace last month when it was announced that they would partner each other in the mixed doubles competition at the US Open later this year. Raducanu was also seen cheering on Alcaraz as he won the men's singles event at Queen's, while reports emerged that the Spanish star had visited her at her hotel during the tournament. But while tongues were wagging, the British ace soon shut down the speculation at a Wimbledon press conference, telling reporters: "We're just good friends". Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper rumour Despite Raducanu's insistence, rumours linking her to Alcaraz have persisted with Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios stirring the pot by claiming that she is in a 'love triangle' with the Spaniard and fellow British player Jack Draper, who she has also been linked with having known him since childhood. "I don't know, I think it's a love triangle," he told talkSPORT. "They're [Alcaraz and Draper] fighting over Raducanu I think, I'm not sure." However, the links between Raducanu, Alcaraz and Draper have since been superseded by rumours of a new man in the British women's No.1's life. The new man in the crowd Former tennis prodigy Benjamin Heynold was seen supporting Raducanu at Wimbledon earlier this week, sitting alongside her coach Nick Cavaday as she beat Vondrousova on Wednesday. Now a 24-year-old student at the University of North Carolina, Heynold has known the British star since they were six, while they both represented Team GB together at junior level. While not much else is known about Heynold, his long-standing friendship with Raducanu has led to speculation that their relationship may have evolved into something more serious, as he was also seen in her corner at Queen's last month, as well as other tournaments previously. Emma Raducanu and Romeo Beckham rumour It comes after Raducanu was also linked to David and Victoria Beckham's son Romeo after he watched her in action against Elise Mertens at Wimbledon last year. The former Brentford footballer took to Instagram while at the match to post a picture of Raducanu playing, which he accompanied with two love heart emojis. While the post again set tongues wagging, Raducanu played down suggestions of a romantic link after the match as she said: "I mean, I think he's, yeah, he's really cool. "His dad is, you know, someone that I think every athlete looks up to, especially every British athlete, you know what he's kind of gone through with the media, with his career, with the pressure moments." Emma Raducanu's split from billionaire's son Speculation around Raducanu's personal life follows her split from Carlo Agostinelli, the son of billionaire Robert Agostinelli and a footballer previously on the books of Tottenham Hotspur, last year. The couple reportedly first started dating in May 2023 and were seen on trips together, including one to Mexico as they attended Dior's 2024 Cruise show. They were also seen walking arm-in-arm and smiling together at Paris Fashion Week as their romance was confirmed. However, they later split up, with Raducanu unfollowing Agostinelli on social media just weeks ahead of last year's Wimbledon. Parents intervention While her love life is a hot topic at present, the tennis ace has revealed that her parents imposed a 'boyfriend' ban on her when she was younger, in order to keep her focused on her training. "My parents were very much against [boyfriends] as it interfered with training," she told The Times. "When I was younger I wasn't even allowed to hang out with my girl friends. Article continues below "A lot of the time I was very resentful [of the ban]. But it made me very confident and comfortable in my own company, which is also a big strength."
North Wales Chronicle
18 minutes ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Matt Sherratt ‘doubles down on the basics' in bid to end Wales' losing streak
Wales are in Japan for a two-Test series against Eddie Jones' Brave Blossoms and attempting to end a run of 17 successive Test defeats – a record for a Tier One nation. Cardiff boss Sherratt has overseen the last three of those losses after replacing Warren Gatland during the Six Nations Championship in February. 📸 Final prep 💪#WelshRugby — Welsh Rugby Union 🏴 (@WelshRugbyUnion) July 3, 2025 Sherratt initiated improvement in losing narrowly to Ireland in his opening game, but Wales were well beaten in Scotland before producing a late fightback and then hammered 68-14 at home by England on one of Welsh rugby's darkest days. 'I learned a lot during the Six Nations,' Sherratt said ahead of Saturday's opener in Kitakyushu with Wales targeting a first Test win since beating Georgia at the last World Cup in October 2023. 'What we've really focused on for this tour is going back to basics. 'Over time the way I like to play is multiple passes and for my teams to be brave, but at the moment it's laying the foundations for Welsh rugby. 'So we've really doubled down on the basics and gone back to the foundations of the game – kicking, defence, contact area. 'We can build on that in time, but those basics are the platform for everything else and the foundation for any team.' Skipper Jac Morgan and Tomos Williams were unavailable after being selected for the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia. There are only four survivors from the side humbled by England in March – number eight Taulupe Faletau, prop Nicky Smith, centre Ben Thomas and full-back Blair Murray. Faletau makes his 109th appearance and winger Josh Adams (61), Smith (54) and scrum-half Kieran Hardy (23) are the only others with more than 20 caps in the starting line-up. Asked what winning would mean for Wales, Sherratt said: 'It's massive. I spoke to the players before we came away and wondered what their motivation was, and why they were coming here. 'The short answer was that they want to win for Wales. 'For the future this tour is probably the end of something. Let's hope it's the also start of something and they start on a level playing field (under the new head coach).' Jones has been his usual bullish self ahead of the series, which concludes in Kobe next week, saying he is hoping for a 'nice hot day and we can really run Wales off their feet'. The former Australia and England boss refused to budge from the 2pm local kick-off time when the temperature is expected to be above 30 degrees Celsius with high humidity. Sherratt said: 'Both countries are in a very similar situation as lots of experience has come to an end at the same time. 'The key to the win will be who controls the key moments. 'With the wet ball (due to the humidity) field position will be very important and, with that, who takes the chances.'
