Wales fans still have Euros pride despite France defeat

Jess Fishlock saluted the fans in St Gallen after her goal made history as Wales' first at a major finals

Wales fans were given a moment to savour with a first ever goal in a major tournament - but it wasn't enough to earn a first win at Euro 2025.

Jess Fishlock ensured the 1,800 Wales fans in Switzerland - and many more at home - witnessed history when she drew Rhian Wilkinson's side level in the first-half in St Gallen.

But Wales - the lowest ranked side in the tournament - couldn't stop heavily-fancied France powering to a 4-1 win.

It leaves Welsh hopes of reaching the knock-out stages hanging by a thread as they take on England in Sunday's final group game.

But that prospect did not stop fans celebrating a landmark moment as they watched Wales compete at the highest stage.

Former Wales striker Helen Ward said supporters had every right to be proud.

"The fans are fantastic," she told BBC Radio Wales Sport. "They have sung their hearts out for the majority of the game.

"In Lucerne and again tonight they've been brilliant. They've enjoyed it, embraced the moment and supported these girls from the kick-off until the end - and they'll be proud of this team despite the scoreline.

"And they'll know this isn't the end of the journey, it's just the beginning."

An estimated 1,800 Wales fans were at the game in St Gallen to watch Rhian Wilkinson's side in action

France had taken an early lead before Fishlock - Wales' most capped international and record goalscorer - levelled the scores after 13 minutes.

But a penalty in the dying stages of the first-half restored France's lead, before they went on to score twice more after the interval.

Former Wales men's international Danny Gabbidon said the significance of reaching this stage should not be underestimated.

"Wales are starting another chapter now. To be here is a massive achievement. A proud, proud moment," he said.

"But Wales want to be here every time there is a major tournament. Wales want to be a part of it."

Jess Fishlock's first-half goal was the first Wales have scored at a major women's international tournament.

Watching back home at a watch party at Newport's Corn Exchange, Oliver Larkins from Newport said: "It all started off very well, we were competing well and when we pulled the goal back I was very hopeful.

"When they scored the third goal heads may have dropped a bit and it was downhill from there. It is disappointing but you can see how hard they've worked, they're different to how they were on Saturday. We need to keep our heads high, realise we can perform on this global stage and we belong here."

Also at the venue, Alisha, 18, from Newport said: "I quite enjoyed it, even though we did lose, I did have a lot of fun watching it. The women in Wales did a great job."

"We'll definitely learn from what happened tonight and they'll bring it back as best as they can."

Welsh band Adwaith - Hollie Singer, Heledd Owen and Gwenllian Anthony - said they were "buzzing" to hear one of their songs played before the game at Arena St Gallen

Wales play again in St Gallen on Sunday when they face holders England at 20:00 BST who - having beaten the Netherlands earlier on Wednesday afternoon - are not yet guaranteed to go through.

But Wales would need to beat the Lionesses by five clear goals if they are to qualify at England's expense.

Fans are expected to again attend in big numbers having made the most of the pre-match atmosphere in St Gallen's fanzones.

Among those creating the atmosphere were Welsh Music Prize winners Adwaith, with the west Wales band joining the crowd at the game.

Vocalist Hollie Singer, 27, said she had lost her voice "from screaming" while bass player Gwenllian Anthony said she was proud of the performance, admitting the wait for the video assistant referee to award Fishlock's goal was "tense".

"It's been an amazing experience," she added. "The atmosphere has been so positive, everyone is just buzzing to be here. It doesn't matter what the result is, people are happy to be here."

Wales were beaten 3-0 in their opening match of the tournament against the Netherlands in Lucerne on Saturday.

But supporters in St Gallen remained upbeat, especially after holding France for much of the first-half following Fishlock's goal.

Sian Goodson, 48, from Cardiff, said she lost her voice after the goal, while the VAR check meant fans were able "to celebrate twice, so that was an epic moment".

Jo Powell, 55, also from Cardiff, added: "Wales have put themselves on the map for the future."

Gary Lewis, 62, from Cardiff said: "It is hopefully the first of many tournaments with young girls thriving to play football, excited from the team getting here and the way we've performed."

Sian Goodson, Jo Powell and Gary Lewis had travelled from Cardiff and Penarth with their families to be among the Red Wall in St Gallen

Rhys O'Rourke made the trip to Switzerland from Newport for the game and said the team had "done us proud" with reaching the tournament but admitted Euro 2022 semi-finalists France showed their strength.

"They were very good and we made a lot of mistakes - but we'll move on and I think there's more to come," he said.

"Jess Fishlock looked like the best player on the pitch. They worked very hard and sometimes the decision-making wasn't there, but with players coming through in the future it will come. We want more women and girls taking up football and us consistently qualifying."

With England next up, he added: "It doesn't get any easier - we couldn't have had a harder group. They are an amazing side looking to win the tournament but we'll give it a go!"

Dylan Rhys, 71, from Caernarfon wouldn't rule out a shock against England saying: "You never know", while adding that, despite France showing their class, Wales had done all they could and deserved their goal.

Elgan Rhys Jones, 30, of Waunfawr added: "You could see the difference the goal made and the confidence that came through.

"Unfortunately a few mistakes let us down but to score a goal at the Euros is fantastic and even at 4-1 down they kept fighting.

"It's a tough game coming up but we'll see."

Dylan Rhys and Elgan Rhys Jones from north Wales were both proud of the performance.

First Minister Eluned Morgan attended Wales' opening game against the Netherlands in Lucerne, men's head coach Craig Bellamy was in the crowd in St Gallen to cheer on Wilkinson's side.

Although qualification for the quarter-finals now looks difficult, reaching the tournament still has officials are predicting an explosion in the women's game in Wales, with more women and girls playing the sport as well as watching the national side.

Before the match, Lily Woodham's grandmother, Doreen Woodham, said she was "welling up thinking about it".

"They're determined. I don't care what the result is as long as they put in a performance and I'm sure they will."

Lily Woodham's mother and grandmother said ahead of the game they were nervous for the game but are "so proud"

Wales' preparations for the match had been disrupted the day before the game when their team bus was involved in a crash on the way to training at Arena St Gallen.

The FAW said all players and staff who were on the bus were uninjured, though an ambulance was at the scene attending to the driver of another vehicle.

The Wales training session scheduled to be held at the stadium on Tuesday was cancelled as a result, though the squad trained later in the day at their team base in Weinfelden, about 30 minutes from St Gallen.

The mother of midfielder Ffion Morgan reassured supporters the players were unaffected by the incident when she spoke to Radio Wales Breakfast.

"Our other daughter was on Facetime to her when it happened so we knew instantaneously what had happened," said Ruth Morgan.

"Nobody was hurt thankfully. The news was getting out and everybody has been a bit nervous, but everybody's okay and they continued to train yesterday."

Players were pictured smiling at training as they looked to cause an upset against a France side ranked 10th in the world - 20 places above Wales.

As well as those in Switzerland, Wales were cheered on by fans at home with watch parties arranged by clubs and communities throughout Wales.

FAW chair Alys Carlton said: "It's incumbent on us to use the momentum of Euro 2025 as a platform to drive further investment into the Women's game so that all girls in Wales have a chance - to represent their country on the world stage, but also just to play with their mates in the communities in which they live."