Olivia Clark column: Slovakia, Ingle injury and Twente 'whirlwind'

Uefa Women's Euro play-off: Slovakia v Wales

Venue: National Training Centre, Poprad Date: Friday, 25 October Kick-off: 16:30 BST

Coverage: Live on BBC Two Wales, iPlayer, BBC Radio Wales and Radio Cymru, the BBC Sport website and app, plus live text commentary

Highlights: S4C, 21:30 BST and later on demand.

In her latest BBC Sport column, Olivia Clark discusses Wales' upcoming Euro 2025 play-off against Slovakia, coping without Sophie Ingle, moving to FC Twente and playing in the Champions League.

It’s obviously a big camp for us as we face Slovakia in the semi-finals of the play-offs for Euro 2025, but we are definitely not looking to get too far ahead of ourselves, one game at a time and we will play the game and not the occasion.

I think we have learned from previous campaigns and previous occasions and disappointments, and we are not dwelling on that.

It feels like a lot of players have arrived feeling good about where they are playing their football and how many minutes they are getting, a lot of players have moved to get more football, myself included.

Slovakia gave Scotland a tough game and we know it will be a tough game for us, they will see us as beatable and like any game at this level it is going to be intense, because it is a play-off.

We are confident as a group going into this game but we are very focused.

This is our first camp since Sophie Ingle’s ACL [anterior cruciate ligament] injury and surgery and obviously as a group we are all absolutely gutted for Soph.

We were probably all a bit shocked really, because she has never been injured and it feels like she is always in the squad and is a real mainstay for us.

She is such a good person and great to talk to, even though she isn’t captain anymore, she is just such a big person in this group.

We haven’t had a camp without her for so long, but we will try and win this for her. Whoever comes into her role will try and do that as well.

It feels like the squad is in a really good place. Everyone is playing football for their clubs; all the youngsters are trying to get senior moves and minutes.

Training has been really good and I feel we should go into these games feeling really confident.

This is my first Wales camp since moving to the Netherlands and joining FC Twente, and it was actually on the last Wales camp where I first heard there was interest from Twente.

I told my agent I was interested in the move and I was impressed at what they said, and I feel like at this point in my career it was a good time to move abroad and experience something completely different.

I was very comfortable at Bristol City, the set-up is great, but I was not guaranteed playing time and I wanted to test myself at the highest level I could and I have joined a team playing in the Champions League.

Moving abroad has felt like a bit of a whirlwind and things moved very quickly.

I didn’t know what to expect. I’m not in Amsterdam or somewhere touristy, we are on the German border and it is quite a traditional place, rural and in some ways reminds me of where I grew up in Lincolnshire.

The first few weeks were hard and I did think to myself, ‘I’m not sure I have done the right thing’, but I am so glad I have made the move now.

I think this is the best thing I could have done for myself. It feels like the right time in my life to be experiencing it.

I am really enjoying the culture – Dutch people are very direct! – but everyone has been incredibly welcoming and supportive.

Probably the hardest element of moving abroad is the language, I am trying to learn Dutch.

The culture of the club is really interesting, the focus on player development, I am one of the oldest players in the squad and I am 23 years old.

I have really enjoyed taking on a more senior role.

Olivia Clark in action against Chelsea in the Champions League

Playing Champions League football

I have been shocked by the standard of the league in the Netherlands in a good way, the players are so technical.

As a goalkeeper it has been really interesting, there is a big focus on passing and the training drills are really focused on playing a style that is similar to what we are doing with Wales.

I did speak to Wales boss Rhian Wilkinson about moving to the Netherlands and her advice was a massive help.

FC Twente have the ball a lot and it’s been a big switch, joining a team that wins a lot of games and is challenging to win the league.

I am learning to deal with the pressure.

Obviously, it has been great to play Champions League football, a really incredible experience having already played against two massive British clubs, Celtic and Chelsea, so far.

The Celtic experience especially was amazing, listening to the ultras behind the goal who never stopped singing.

Our next Champions League game? We play Real Madrid.

Sometimes it can be hard to fathom. My Facebook memories pops up; six years ago I was at Boston United playing in the Lincolnshire Women and Girls League. It wasn’t that long ago I was in tier four.

I’ve worked my way up the pyramid and I haven’t even always been playing in that time.

As a goalkeeper you have to be so patient waiting for your chance and I wouldn’t change the way I have done things at all. I don’t take anything for granted.

I used to work in McDonalds and now I play in the Champions League. It’s surreal, an experience no-one can ever take away from me.