Wales fans take over Lucerne as the Red Wall arrive for Euro 2025
'If we win, I think I'll just faint!,' said one fan
Zara and Carl are ready for Euro 2025!
Wales football fans took over Lucerne in Switzerland on Friday night as the national women's side prepare to play their first-ever match in a major tournament. Rhian Wilkinson's outfit go up against Netherlands in their first pool game of Euro 2025 on Saturday, July 5, and The Red Wall descended on the host city ahead of a massive day for Welsh sport.
Bucket hats, retro jerseys and a general party vibe was on the menu for the fan zone outside Lucerne train station. A special performance from singer Aleighcia Scott provided the perfect backdrop as red shirts continued to stream into the fan zone. WalesOnline spoke to Welsh fans about this landmark moment, and what it's like to be in Switzerland as history is made.
First up were Zara and Carl from Swansea, who drove all the way from south Wales in a campervan, and were elated to be out in Switzerland ahead of a monumental moment for Welsh women's football.
"It's sort of unbelievable," began 16-year-old Zara. "I don't think it will sink in until we are out there in the stadium. You can see how many Welsh fans have travelled out here, it really is crazy. The team really deserve this, they've worked so hard for so many years and yeah, I can't wait now!"
Carl added: "What's nice to see is we have been going to Wales away games (a while). First there were 20 of us, we went to Greece. It started growing, growing. It grew to 400 in Dublin and now there is going to be 2000+, absolutely amazing. This is what the girls deserve, they've earned this."
When asked about the prospect of a win, dad Carl was buzzing about the prospect of it. "We just want the girls to give 100% and we know they will, if we win, I think I'll just faint! Yes baby! We're going… final, final!"
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"If we do win tomorrow, I don't think he'll be able to drive for a few days!" joked Zara.
"And I'll be skint!" added Carl.
"These are things you dream of," continued Zara. "Not only as a fan but as a player, this team, if you asked them when they were younger, they probably never would have believed they would make it here. To be here, it shows that anything is possible, so it is incredibly inspirational."
"Dreams do come true," said Carl.
Dafydd Griffiths, who is "just over 80", was at the fan zone with his wife, and the couple were dressed to the nines in Welsh football apparel.
"It's been something that the girls have been working so hard for," began Dafydd. "And it's got a bit of a momentum now in Wales, they're catching up pretty well now with the Euros of 2016, so it's pretty nice for us to be part of another Euro campaign, but with the ladies this time.
"We just feel that the fans of Wales are always very respectful of our opposition and there seems to be a nice atmosphere, and very often we meet lots of people that we know back home."
Summing up the experience so far, Dafydd said: "Just amazing, and grateful as well."
Dafydd and his wife looking the part! Apparently they have their grandson to thank for the swish jerseys
Ffion, who has come from Caernarfon with fellow supporters, explained that she felt right at home after arriving to a Welsh-packed Lucerne.
"We've been here since Wednesday and I thought, we've seen one or two, but today we've just seen a wave of red, the t-shirts, it's just so nice to see the support the women are finally getting," she said.
"We've been waiting for this forever really. We were there for the Ireland game and it was just surreal then, we were there and we were thinking: 'Oh my God, we have to go. Doesn't matter what, we're going!' "
When asked to say one word that sums up being here this week, Ffion said: "Ardderchog!", which translates to 'excellent' for any non-Welsh speakers!
Ffion feels right at home in Switzerland
Mr and Mrs Thomas, who are from Hay-on-Wye, said: "There's no way we were going to miss this".
"This could really kick us on, and even if it doesn't work out, we've got some really good young players coming through. I don't think this is the last time we'll see Wales in a major tournament," explained Mr Thomas.
"The women's team is so inspiring for young girls wanting to play football, so yes, it's absolutely amazing. It's such an achievement and so inspiring," adds Mrs Thomas. "It has definitely put Wales women on the sporting map to achieve success in whatever sport women would like to do, to play in."
Mr and Mrs Thomas weren't going to miss this
Father and daughter Rhys and Elin Williams were blown away by the Welsh support.
"It's incredible, the atmosphere has been amazing today, with the fan zone, with all the Welsh fans," explained Rhys.
"It's amazing how many Welsh people live are here," adds 11-year-old Elin. "I didn't think that many people would come, but there are so many, it's amazing! I never thought I would be able to experience something like this."
Elin and Rhys Williams looking the part in their Wales kit
"It's like 2016," says Rhys. "It was the first one in my lifetime. But to be here with my daughter for the first ever major tournament for the women's (team) is incredible. The atmosphere tomorrow... the anthem is going to be incredible, it's going to be like Bordeaux in 2016, packed out with Welsh fans."
Elin, who is a midfielder for Nantyglo Women's side, adds: "I feel very proud and I feel like it's going to make history doing this."
When asked if he could describe in one word what it's like to be in Lucerne for the match, Welshman Hywel simply responded: "Awesome!"
Hywel, who is from "all over Wales"
"It's wonderful that the women are here, it really is tremendous," he explained.
"I'm hoping that we will win all three games. The Wales men's team did so well in 2016, against all the odds. So working off that, and if Jess Fishlock stays fit, I think we could possibly win all three games. I'm hoping there will be a huge crowd and I'll give it some good welly with the singing, because that's important."
Ffion, who is from Cardiff, explained that the importance of Wales being on this stage cannot be underestimated.
Ffion says 'Wales have taken over!'
"Women's football is on such a high, it's just amazing to support, we supported the man, now it's time to support the women," she said. "It makes such a huge impact on women's football in the UK, in Wales, just seeing the women on centre stage, playing against top players, it's just going to be amazing. There's loads of young girls here and they're just watching their idols play, it's amazing."
Speaking about the support in Lucerne, she adds: "I think Wales have taken over! This isn't the fan zone, it's the Wales fan zone!"
Nick is hoping Jess Fishlock can stay fit
Nick, who is originally from Newport, pin-pointed the importance of Jess Fishlock in Wales' Euro campaign, as she returned from injury not long ago.
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"The women are making a name for themselves," he said. "It's well deserved, it's well overdue. The fact that the men have done so well over the last 10 years, hopefully that will continue with the women.
"I'm also really pleased for Jess Fishlock, because I've always believed she is the talismanic 'Bale' of the females. Arguably, it's going to be her last tournament."
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